NY Jets: Bryce Petty being developed the right way

The NY Jets still don’t have their long-term franchise quarterback established yet, but at least they’re doing things the right way when it comes to Bryce Petty.

In his rookie year, Petty didn’t see a single snap during the regular season as he mostly saw action during training camps and preseason football. To many, developing a young rookie quarterback takes some time and patience with the hopes that they have developed enough when their number is called, they step right in and take care of business.

Sadly for the Jets, they’ve never truly established a long-term answer at the most important position on the team. They’ve tried in the past but never had someone capable of lasting a decade or so that brought consistent results that eventually led to a championship. One would have to go back to the days Joe Namath was under center to remember the last time the Jets had someone capable enough to bring one home to the big apple.

From Mark Sanchez, the media circus featuring Tim Tebow and most recently throwing Geno Smith to the wolves too soon, the Jets have a terrible track record when it comes to developing quarterbacks the right way. At least now, with the new leadership regime of general manager Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles in place, they’re finally doing things the way many other teams do.

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Unless you’re as gifted as Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck or even Marcus Mariota, most of the time young quarterbacks need at least two to three years before they’re able to absorb everything and execute at a high level.

Petty effectively rode the bench all of last season and enjoyed seeing his mentor Ryan Fitzpatrick light up the scoreboard straight to the franchise record books.

Fitzpatrick set the franchise record for most touchdowns ever by a quarterback of the Jets at 31, with Petty watching him every step of the way. Fitzpatrick spent a lot of time with Petty, especially in the film room showing him everything he knows and being his mentor.

In addition to the consistent quarterback play Fitzpatrick brought to the Jets last season, his mentoring to Petty could prove to be a valuable asset to his bright future. If the Jets can keep him on the sidelines and continue his progression this upcoming season, there is no doubt he should be ready to have his name in the starting quarterback conversation come 2017.

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It’s nice to see the Jets for once handle things the right way when it comes to their development of quarterbacks. The Jets should do their best to re-sign Fitzpatrick, keep Smith as a backup in the final year of his rookie contract and continue having Petty waiting in the wings before it’s time for him to be unleashed.