Well, then stay away from the Jets, because they seem largely unmoved by their situation, only a year removed from a 4-12 disaster. Of course, that attitude is just the way coach Eric Mangini likes it, as per the example he sets in his mostly sleep-inducing news conferences with the media, which are that way by design.

"I think it's a good place to be," he said of the Jets (5-3) being in a three-way tie for first in the AFC East with Buffalo and New England entering New York's game against visiting St. Louis (2-6) on Sunday. "Obviously, I'm happy with where we are in relationship to the rest of the division. To me, it's more being pleased with the way that we played on Sunday (at Buffalo) and the style that we played with, having a complete effort, finishing the game, all three phases, and finishing the game and it being complementary football.

"That's what we need to consistently do to win," he added. "It's a tough division and we face tough teams every week, so that's what I'm looking for each time we go out."

"We're not worrying about that or focusing on that," defensive end Shaun Ellis said Monday when asked about the AFC East landscape, which also includes last-place Miami just one game behind at 4-4. "We can't worry about first (place) or who's winning or who's losing. We just have to keep a steady approach and keep going to work and practicing hard and taking it from there."

"Getting caught up in where we are right now really doesn't matter," right guard Brandon Moore said. "This next game is the most important game. ... Nobody will remember (today's standings) in December when it's all said and done in the final game against Miami, (but) it feels good where we are right now and we know there are still some steps to be made in a competitive division."

That's certainly the level-headed mindset Mangini wants his players to take at this point, and it does make sense.

"Yes, of course being here for a couple years it feels good to be in the hunt with our goals still being out in front of us as far as the things we want to accomplish," Moore added. "But as far as being in first place, it's a competitive division, that was one game, that was one step in that direction and (we're) looking forward to next week."

"We're definitely improving," nose tackle Kris Jenkins said, "and I don't think people can look at us like we're the Jets of last year. This is a new year and we're a new team."

And what's scary for upcoming opponents is that Ellis doesn't believe the team has peaked.

"It seems like we haven't put it all together," he said, "or (that) we can play a whole lot better than we've played. It's very encouraging for us to know that we haven't put it all together and once we do, it will bring good things. ... We don't want to have any letdowns. We want to keep improving and getting better."