FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- It is common for players eligible for a long-term extension with their team to hold out of practice until a deal is reached.
That hasn't happened with the New York Jets and their young studs, though.
All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson are eligible for long-term extensions this season. Both are key building blocks for the young Jets under head coach Aaron Glenn.
Both were in attendance throughout offseason workouts.
While stars around the league, such as Washington's Terry McLaurin, Cincinnati's Trey Hendrickson, and Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt, were all absent from mandatory minicamp, the Jets had their young stars in attendance.
There was a reason for that, according to Gardner.
"I want to win, I want to change the organization, and I want to be a part of changing the organization," Gardner said on Thursday.
New York has navigated this offseason with as few distractions as possible. This has allowed them to operate "in the shadows," as Glenn has previously coined it. The next step, though, is locking down their young talent.
Both Gardner and Wilson sent a clear message with perfect attendance this offseason. They do not want to be distractions to the team; they just want to be paid their worth and be a part of the changing culture Glenn wants to build.
By participating in offseason workouts, the two young stars have essentially operated in good faith that a deal will eventually be made this offseason.
And it certainly sounds like that is going to happen.