From an optics standpoint, it'll look bad if ex-Jets middle linebacker David Harris -- who has signed with the Patriots -- excels when the two teams meet this season.

After all, the Jets and Patriots play in the regular season finale, in New England. And that could be the final game for Jets coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan, if this season goes even worse than most people already think it will. (Which is to say, awful.)

Harris on the opposing sideline as the Patriots deliver a final blow to Bowles and Maccagnan would be an image that would sting Jets fans.

But in all practical reality, should the Jets really care that Harris signed with the Patriots? No, not really.

First of all, the Jets are in full-on, get-younger rebuilding mode. Harris, 33, wasn't going to be part of their long-term plans as he entered the final year of his contract in 2017 anyway. Yes, the Jets awkwardly handled his release. But cutting him wasn't exactly an ill-advised move.

Harris has a couple years left, and by the time the Jets are contending again -- presuming this rebuild works -- Harris will be out of the league, most likely. (It's not an overnight rebuild.)

Plus, it's not like the Patriots needed to add Harris in order to be better than the 2017 Jets. New England was already going to enter this season's two meetings as an enormous favorite.

Harris still has some good football left in him, but he's not a star at this point in his career. He is no longer a major difference maker. Will he make the Patriots somewhat better and give them a valuable veteran presence in their locker room? Absolutely.

But it's not like signing Harris is going to make the difference in whether or not the Patriots will beat the Jets this season. (A sweep by the Patriots was likely all along.)

The Jets are taking the correct approach by focusing their rebuild on younger players (tanking 2017?), and setting a foundation with the draft. Short-term pain for long-term gain is the thought process. (No guarantees it works, of course.)

Sure, Harris probably will be extra motivated to beat the Jets in 2017, considering how oddly his release was handled. But the Jets need not worry about this. They have bigger issues to navigate, as they evaluate quarterback Christian Hackenberg (and their other young players), in order to perhaps build a winning organization.

Regardless of whether Harris stayed with the Jets in 2017 or not, he wasn't going to be around the organization long enough to see how this rebuild turns out. And even though he landed in New England, the same is true for Harris' remaining days in the NFL.

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.