Content available exclusively for subscribers
There was a surprising story on NFL.com about the Jets. Let’s take a close look at this report about the Jets’ QB situation.
Here is what NFL Insider Ian Rapoport said . . .
“From the Jets sources I’m talking to, this is a week-to-week proposition. In fact, one said he believes Geno Smith could start as early as next week because they know Michael Vick is not the long-term solution for the New York Jets. He is in fact auditioning for other teams next year to try to prove that he is the starter. When they signed Michael Vick, they knew he wouldn’t be the Jets’ long-term option. They still want to see if Geno Smith is their franchise quarterback or if they’re going to have to draft one in the first or second round next year. This is being viewed as a break, a mental break, for Geno Smith to have Michael Vick start. He will do so today, maybe he earns another one next week and then the Jets will likely turn back to Geno Smith and try to see if he is their guy going forward.”
I talk to two high-ranking Jets officials in Kansas City yesterday, and they have no idea where this could have possible come from.
One of them jokingly wondered if a beat writer could be considered a Jets source.
This story appeared before the Jets-Chiefs game, and I find it amazing.
The fact that he says “Jets sources,” is hard to believe. I’m around there every day. It’s hard enough to get one source, and he’s saying he has “Jets sources.”
The narrative in this “scoop” is now outdated.
There are people who keep saying Mike Vick’s not the future.
First of all, that isn’t entirely steeped in reality.
Most of you saw Vick play on Sunday? Does he look like he’s on the down-side?
The guy still has a rocket arm, world class speed, and an innate skill to escape pocket pressure.
Honestly, if he does a solid job down the stretch, and can stay healthy, Vick should be in the conversation for 2015.
He’s a young 34.
Remember he missed two full seasons while out of the league.
Vick is way better than Geno Smith. Anybody who thinks otherwise is not dealing with reality.
“They still want to see if Smith is a franchise quarterback,” wrote Rapoport.
I don’t think that is how they are thinking. Anybody who saw the Jets-Bills game realizes this “franchise quarterback” talk is Pollyanna at this point. And it’s not like that was the only game Geno didn’t look like a franchise quarterback. Perhaps he can be serviceable backup. But this idea they need to put him back in to see if he’s their franchise quarterback is not where things are at right now.
Rex said after the game Vick is going to be the guy until further notice.
Rex can’t worry about the future
“When they signed Michael Vick, they knew he wouldn’t be the Jets’ long-term option,” Rapoport wrote.
What does long-term really mean?
There is no reason to think, barring a major injury, that Vick can’t play well for a couple more years, or at least through 2015.
The Jets could pick a QB high in next year’s draft, and handle the youngster much smarter than they handled Geno, who they rushed into action.
Vick could be the starter next year, and they could groom the replacement.
This idea being floated by some that they could pick Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, and he would be the guy, isn’t where the Jets are headed.
Yes, they could pick him, but they need to win next year, so this idea of writing off another year or two, developing a QB, is something they can’t afford to do in Florham Park. This is the fourth straight year they will miss the playoffs.
But the bottom line about this report is nobody – Jets officials I talked to, or writers, know where this came from.
And the fact that he claimed to have “several” sources is mindboggling. I know the lay of the land over there, and find that really hard to believe.
There isn’t a beat-writer in the press room right now who has “several” Jets sources. They have clamped down on that.
One maybe – several – no way.
November 3, 2014
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Tuesday.
