Tyler Conklin didn’t make it to the Jets’ offense’s group trip to Idaho earlier this month, as he proposed to his girlfriend a few days before the trip took place and was caught up in the whirlwind of life events.
“It was eventful…I know the boys out there had a lot of fun, and it was a good experience,” Conklin smiled while describing his proposal during his media session on Tuesday as Jets training camp opened.
A bummer for Conklin in one way: as he explained upon the opening of training camp Tuesday, the chance to play with Wilson is why he left Minnesota to sign with the Jets.
“A lot of different things, but Zach is a young, talented quarterback, which was big for me,” Conklin said. “How hungry he is to be great, his work ethic, his arm strength and ability to make all the throws – I think he has everything you need in this league to be successful.”
Conklin has talked with Wilson a lot about the Jets’ goals, but he’s also very comfortable with the team brass and the new system that’s in place.
“Talking to Joe Douglas and coach (Robert Saleh), seeing the culture they want to create here, and it’s a West Coast offense I’m familiar with from Minnesota, so I think it was a really good fit for me” he said. “And it’s been easier to adapt because of the locker room we have here – there’s been a lot of communication between teammates, and a lot of bonds formed already. It’s made it a lot easier for me, and something that’s got me really excited about this team.”
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How easy, exactly, has it been?
“The bonds built in OTAs…I’ve built a lot closer bonds in OTAs already than I did in a couple years in Minnesota,” Conklin said.
After seeing their top two tight ends combine for just 43 catches and 434 yards last year, Gang Green signed both Conklin and C.J.
Uzomah, who was a big part of the Super Bowl-bound Bengals offense last season – and the two are excited to work together.
“C.J. and I have talked about what we can do, and we’re really excited about the position group,” Conklin said. “I think with the pieces we have on offense, we’re all going to complement each other well in all position groups.”
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Like Uzomah, Conklin is coming off a career year, his 61 catches and 593 yards more than doubling the output he had in his first three seasons, and he also has another leg up: he got to go to Tight End University this offseason and talk with 49ers TE George Kittle, who gave him some tips on how to be successful in a system like the one Niners expats Saleh and Mike LaFleur run.
“One of the reasons I was so excited to go down there was to talk to him and see what makes him successful in that system,” Conklin said of Kittle. “Getting a chance to talk to him about how he’s been successful in the running game, and in the passing game, was huge.”
But whether it’s Conklin or Kittle who is TE1, no matter who has the “better” season, it’s all about the team for the newcomer.
“The biggest thing for me,” he said, “is just being part of turning this team around.”
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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