Aaron Glenn may have taken a page out of Bill Parcells' playbook in surprise Cade Klubnik start

Just hours before the New York Jets kicked off their preseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was revealed that starting quarterback Geno Smith would be inactive for the exhibition match as he nursed a sore foot.

The injury opened the door for rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik to get his first-ever NFL "start," and he impressed in limited action. The fourth-round pick completed five of seven pass attempts for 56 yards and led the Jets on two scoring drives to open the game.

It must have been a surprise for Klubnik, who hadn't taken first-team reps with the Jets' starting offense all summer long. Regardless, he handled the adversity well and looked calm, cool, and composed despite the short notice.

But was that a calculated decision by Jets head coach Aaron Glenn? Is it possible he knew in advance that Smith wouldn't be starting last Friday night and wanted to try to test the young quarterbacks' mettle?

Aaron Glenn may have been using an old Bill Parcells trick when starting New York Jets rookie Cade Klubnik

ESPN's Rich Cimini pulled back the curtain on Glenn's decision to start Klubnik for the Jets' preseason opener and explained how the head coach may have taken a page out of his mentor's playbook, Bill Parcells.

"It's a total Bill Parcells move; he used to do that. And Aaron Glenn, of all people, knows that. Parcells would tell guys sometimes the day of the game just to see how they respond. You know, do they shrink under the pressure, or do they rise up?"

Parcells, the former head coach and general manager of the Jets from 1997 to 2000, has been a key figure for Glenn throughout his journey from player to coach, and it only makes sense that he would take after him.

If Glenn did, in fact, take this move from his long-time mentor, it wouldn't be the first time he followed Parcells' advice, particularly at the quarterback position. When the Super Bowl-winning head coach was ever considering drafting a quarterback, there were several boxes that had to be checked before Parcells would consider using a draft pick on him.

• Be a three-year starter
• Be a senior in college
• Graduate from college
• Start 30 games
• Win 23 games
• Post a 2-1 TD: INT ratio
• Have at least a 60% completion percentage

Guess who managed to check every single one of those boxes throughout his four-year career at Clemson? That's right, Klubnik.

Maybe legendary football coach's fingerprints are still on this Jets team, thanks to his influence on Glenn. Considering the team's success during those four years under Parcells, long-time fans should be pleased with it.

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