There's a different energy about Cam Jordan at this year's training camp, or at least it's one that he's putting front and center as he heads into Year 13.
It's one of urgency and belief, because of all his accolades in what is likely a Hall of Fame career when all said and done, there's one that he still can't claim.
"God has bless my family with … going on 27 years of Jordan man football in the NFL between two teams, and you know what we don’t have is a Super Bowl," Jordan said. "A hell of a legacy … there’s all the accolades you want in there. Leading sacker, leading receiver for the team, leading whatever it is, but you know what there’s not? A Super Bowl. Job not done yet.”
Cam was referring to his father, Steve Jordan, who was a 6-time Pro Borlwer over 13 seasons as a tight end for the Vikings. The Saints DE, now 35, has only missed two games his entire career and only one due to injury, but his injury plagued 2023 season certainly weighed heavily on the idea that his career is nearing its end. Jordan suffered an initial ankle injury during a Week 10 loss to the Falcons and reinjured that same ankle weeks later. He was also dealing with a significant shoulder issue. All that led to offseason surgery and rehab, but he "feels great" as he takes to the field for the first of 18 training camp practices in Irvine.
A common theme early on in practices has been this Saints squad having a "chip on its shoulder" with some low expectations greeting them across the league. Cam's situation, as he puts it, "puts some did on your chip," particularly when he sees things like a recent episode of the St. Brown Podcast with Equanimeous and Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Lions standout told his brother that no one in the Saints locker room believes they can win a Super Bowl this year. Equanimeous disagreed, and Cam chimed in that he absolutely has that belief.
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"For me, I take all of it quite personally," Jordan said, listing the investments the team has made in its veteran players, including quarterback Derek Carr, Tyrann Mathieu and Demario Davis, and an offensive line consisting of three first-round picks (Cesar Ruiz, Treor Penning and Taliese Fuaga) and another high second-rounder (Erik McCoy).
"I think that does nothing but prove that we want to get a Super Bowl and we want it now. You … extend a guy like Demario Davis, you give a contract like a guy like Rashid Shaheed when you could’ve rode this year out," Jordan said. "The Saints are making the right moves and got guys believing in the whole organization not only because we’re the Saints but because we’ve got all the same mission. If we ain’t on a mission to win, then I don’t know what we’re doing here. Don’t waste my time. I don’t got any time left.”
And that last line is the message. It's what's led Cam to have a slightly less abrasive relationship with the offensive linemen he tries to beat every day in practice. At one point on Wednesday Jordan could be seen coaching up Trevor Penning, who will be facing significant pressure this year as he gets a fresh start at right tackle.
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"I don’t know what anybody else is seeing on the outside in, but right now between those lines, whatever it takes to win a Super Bowl," Jordan said. "So if I can talk to him, hey, calm down, don’t worry about it, throw hands, anchor, whatever it is, let’s get it right now because I don’t want to get to the season and so oh, we should’ve. I don’t have time for should’ve. I have right now.”
In the end, though, the urgency is nothing new. Cam says he's felt this way since the gutwrenching loss to the Vikings in 2017. You can only imagine what the NFC Championship loss in 2018 and an OT loss, again to the Vikings, in the 2019 playoffs did to that urgency.
The Saints are going off at +10000 odds on Fanduel. Jordan is coming off his least productive season since his rookie year. How much gas does he have left in the tank? Is that enough to get this team over the hump?
"You'll see," Jordan said. "Why talk about it when you can be about it."