EXCLUSIVE: Jets star reveals his biggest influence in the team locker room

The New York Jets have been one of the biggest surprise teams in the NFL through the first seven weeks of the new NFL season. They currently sit at 5-3 and are in second place in the AFC East in a competive division behind the Buffalo Bills.

AFC East standings:

🏈 Bills: 5-1
🏈 Jets: 5-2
🏈 Dolphins: 4-3
🏈 Patriots: 3-3

Patriots host Bears (ESPN, 8:15p) on “Monday Night Football” as they look to keep pace.

Part of their success is due to their balanced team. On defense, they rank 10th in points allowed per game and total yardage.

They are led by their secondary which features Sauce Garnder, DJ Reed, Lamarcus Joyner, Jordan Whitehead, and Will Parks.

Defensive back Will Parks spoke with the Sportskeeda team in an exclusive interview. He revealed which teammate had the biggest impact on him in the locker room. He also revealed the impact his cousin Vinny Curry has had on him in his career.

Parks said:

"Oh, man, it's often the guys in my room ... Marcell Harris, all my locker room, man, a lot of people don't know that me and Vinny Curry, we're like fourth cousins, you know what I mean?

"A lot of people don't know that, so he's always been in my ear since I was in Philadelphia with the Eagles, man, 2020. I think that's the biggest impact on me. He taught me to just keep my head straight. And then when I was going through a lot last year, he kinda was in contact with me the whole time.

"And next thing I know, I ended up on the same team as him, and I'm always giving my heart and soul to Vinny Curry for being a big brother. Him being on his 11th year, me being on my seventh year."

Jets' Will Parks rants about Robert Saleh's impact since taking over as head coach

Head coach Robert Saleh took over as the head coach of the New York Jets before the 2021 season.

They were in the first year of a rebuild and finished the season 4-13. So far, they are 5-2 through seven weeks in the 2022 NFL season.

Parks revealed the impact that Saleh has had on the team since taking over as head coach.

Parks said:

"Nothing but lights out. I mean, every day the guy is making sure we're on our stuff every day, the guys making sure we have what we need to be successful as a team every day.

"He's making sure we're holding each other accountable as brothers and doing all the necessary right things, and I mean, like you guys know, he's been a part of this so-called rebuild and a part of the organizations where they start from ground zero, man.

"He's done a tremendous job as far as putting guys in the right position. Saying the right things to us and building that team chemistry, man. He's actually given me another chance here in New York. So I mean it's like a family-oriented situation you got going on."

It sounds like, from Parks' perspective, Saleh is well-respected and liked in the Jets locker room, and he has a good relationship and chemistry with the players.

Not only has Parks' words been anything but positive, the results show that to be true. The Jets have already exceeded their win total from a season ago in just seven games.

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