New York Jets: The Beat Goes On…And On

Feb 1, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan walks the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jet beat writers began to pound home their 2014-15 season narratives today. It wouldn’t be May without the writers beginning to stir the pot and get their go to talking points ready for the season. Yesterday it was everyone’s favorite curmudgeon from ESPNNewYork.com Rich Cimini leading the other writers.

Rich is especially adept at using a choice of word to rile up the fan base and today is no different. Today’s drama was over the characterization of the word open as it relates to the quarterback competition. Mike Vick says that it is a competition, just not an open one. He has clarified that to mean that if their play is equal then Geno will start and that Vick needs to beat him out to take the job. Vick said that he knew what he was getting into when he signed and that everything is going as promised. Rex Ryan has said consistently that Geno Smith will be tough to beat out but that Vick will have the opportunity to win the job. It’s laughable to think that the Jets would hand the team over to Vick if the two played equally through the offseason, of course you give it to the younger player who is ascending. So whether it’s “open” or not, it is a competition. Here is a “professional” quote from Cimini’s article: Full text here

The team responsible for the Butt Fumble is in danger of mishandling a potentially volatile situation. It’s probably Smith’s job to lose, but team officials haven’t characterized it that way.

I don’t know what it is about ESPN but they can’t write an article without mentioning “Butt Fumble”. This is a new general manager, new quarterback and different team. Let it go. Not to mention the quote is factually inaccurate. Here is an article from Pro Football Talk on April 29th of this year where Marty Mornhinweg explains how the competition at quarterback is going to work:

Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg told reporters Tuesday that second-year quarterback Geno Smith would open as the starter, with Vick expected to compete.

“We’ve got a plan,” Mornhinweg said. “Geno is in the middle of a progression. He’s a fine, young quarterback. You know I think highly about him. We brought Michael Vick in for a purpose. He’s going to compete, he’s going to push, he’s going to make Geno the very best. If he’s called upon to play and when he’s called upon to play, I expect Mike Vick to play at a real high level.”

This is a non-issue that Cimini and the other writers are trying to stir up to get page hits. Every quarterback in that locker room knows what their roles are and are aware of the parameters of the competition. Anything else is just smoke and mirrors drummed up by people with an agenda.