NY Jets make sly punter move ahead of Week 1 contest

That isn’t the case.

As a right-footed punter, McNamara doesn’t prepare New York’s return team as much as he needs to. The Pittsburgh Steelers, New York’s Week 1 opponent, have a left-footed punter, Corliss Waitman. That means the trajectory of the ball comes out differently to returners as opposed to a right-footed punter.

Spangler’s arrival and tryout could be nothing more than the team preparing Xavier Gipson, their starting punt returner, for a different look on Sunday’s returns.

Past Jets regimes rarely displayed that kind of forward-thinking preparation. Aaron Glenn and special teams coordinator Chris Banjo are displaying their attention to detail and desire to be prepared for every situation.

It also shows their commitment to McNamara as well.

“He was an unknown,” Banjo said of McNamara on Thursday. “But for him, the thing we’re proud of is his relentless effort.”

Their attention to detail is something that has stood out for the organization’s new coaching staff. Time will tell if Spangler’s tryout will help Gipson and the return game on Sunday, but the third-year returner will at least be prepared for a different spin on the ball.

It’s a small yet important step forward for the organization.