Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams did not participate in any of the New York Jets’ offseason work to emphasize his desire for a contract extension. But on Wednesday, the former Alabama All-American reported for training camp – a day after he signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension.

“It felt good to be back with my brothers,” Williams said. “It felt good to be back with the team and different things like that. Just a rush of emotions. Can’t wait to start this journey this year, man, to get to the level we think we can get to.”

MORE NFL:

· ALABAMA ROOTS: TOP 10 IN STARTS

· WHERE ARE ALABAMA’S FORMER PLAYERS AS NFL TRAINING CAMPS OPEN?

· WHERE ARE AUBURN’S FORMER PLAYERS AS NFL TRAINING CAMPS OPEN?

Williams said he’ll be ready to work when the Jets start practice on Thursday even though he hadn’t been with the team since last season ended in an 11-6 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 8 as New York ended the campaign with six straight losses.

“It was kind of hard, man,” Williams said of being away from the team. “Not the working-out part and different things like that, but the part of just not being there with your brothers. Offseason, a big thing is to get to know each other off the field and on the field and different things like that, so not being able to be there to work with them really hurt me.

“But training, working out and different things like that, I definitely took it to a whole new level when it comes down to training and working out because I knew when I got back I wanted to be on my ‘A’ game because I knew those guys were training their butts off during OTAS and they were going to be on their ‘A’ game.”

During an offseason in which five defensive tackles signed contracts worth at least $84 million, his new deal makes Williams second in pay at the position behind three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. That wasn’t the objective, though, Williams said on Wednesday.

“It wasn’t important at all, man,” Williams said. “Just the person I am, just the person my agent was, we just really wanted what I deserved when it came down to the facts and the production and different things like that. Thank the Jets organization, (team owner) Woody (Johnson) and (general manager) Joe (Douglas), they really believe in me. They really see the potential that I can become – one of the best D-tackles in the league – and they basically invested in my life, invested in my family to be able to give the me the money that they gave me that I deserve to take this organization to the next level and be a part of when this organization goes to the next level.”

RELATED: QUINNEN WILLIAMS’ SIGNING PEN CARRIES MESSAGE FROM THE PAST

Williams said he was “super aware” of the examples of players who got big contracts and rested on their money.

“One of my coaches, he always told me money make a person who they already is,” Williams said, “so if you’re a bad person, you’re going to be a rich bad person. If you’re a good person, you’re going to be a rich good person, so I feel like I’m a good person, I feel like I’m a good athlete and I feel like I do all I can do on the field and off the field.

“My main thing is not the money or different things like that, but leaving a legacy and going out there with my brothers each and every day and putting my best foot forward helping them get better and them helping me get better.”

Williams could start laying down a legacy in New York by helping the Jets reach the postseason. New York hasn’t qualified for the playoffs since the 2010 season and owns the longest active postseason drought in the NFL.

But the outlook doesn’t match the history with the Jets entering this season’s training camp after New York landed four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers in a trade to play quarterback.

“Bringing a guy like him into the building just excites everybody in general because of the resume he has, the character he has, the guy that he is bring a spark to everybody,” Williams said. “A spark to the defense because we get to go against a Hall of Fame quarterback every single day at practice. Bring a spark to me because I get to ask him questions, pick his brain about all the great D-tackles, all the great D-linemen that he’s played against that gave him problems. And I’m pretty sure it brings a huge spark to the offense having a guy like that on the team. …

“It was super spectacular to see, super spectacular to be a part of a great organization that feels like we’re going to the next level and taking this thing to the playoffs, taking this thing to the Super Bowl.”

Williams earned first-team All-Pro recognition for the first time in his career in 2022, when he recorded 55 tackles, 12 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 28 quarterback hits, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. The former Wenonah High School star helped the Jets finished fourth among the NFL’s 32 teams in points allowed and yards allowed last season.

“It’s a lot of stuff I can improve,” Williams said, “and every year I say the cliché thing: ‘Oh, I haven’t felt like I’ve gotten to my best yet.’ But I definitely feel that way. It’s a lot of things me and my defensive-line coach talk about that I can improve. It’s a lot of stuff that I want to improve.”

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.