Muhammad Wilkerson isn’t keeping his feelings about the Jets close to the vest.
Whatever leverage the Pro Bowl defensive lineman might have had in his ongoing contract talks appeared to go right out the window Thursday when Wilkerson told The Post he had informed the team in January he wants to be “a Jet for life.”
“I told them at the end of the year last year that I want to be a Jet — a Jet for life,” Wilkerson said at a Play 60 appearance at the team’s headquarters. “I’m from the area [Linden, N.J.], I’m a local guy, so I would love to be here and finish my career here.”
Wilkerson also reiterated he will not hold out this summer if the Jets — as expected — pick up the cheaper fifth-year option in his current contract instead of signing him to a more lucrative long-term deal.
Wilkerson told The Post talks about a long-term contract are ongoing between his agent and the Jets, but the slow pace set by general manager John Idzik doesn’t worry him.
“That’s what I have an agent for,” Wilkerson said. “I’m not holding out. My agent is talking with Idzik, and that’s all I can say. I have nothing to do with that. I’m just going to let him take care of that. That’s his job. I’m just here to play ball.
“It is what it is. If [a long-term deal] happens, it happens. I don’t control what goes on upstairs.”
Wilkerson, in fact, praised Idzik and defended him against fan base grumbling about the GM’s relative inactivity in free agency.
“I’m all about all the moves they’ve made here,” Wilkerson said. “We have a great GM here in Idzik, and he’s a man with a plan. We’re going to rally behind him and do what we have to do.”
One of Idzik’s few moves this offseason was the signing of Michael Vick, another move that has Wilkerson smiling.
Wilkerson insisted Vick would help second-year quarterback Geno Smith instead of be a threat to Smith’s development.
“[Vick’s] a veteran leader, and I’m looking forward to him coming in here and helping out the offense as well as the organization,” Wilkerson said. “His résumé speaks for itself in the league. He was with [offensive coordinator] Marty [Mornhinweg] in Philly, so I think that’ll help. He’s used to the system, and I think that he’ll definitely help Geno move forward at this young stage in his career.”
