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In a classic Friday afternoon news dump designed to gain as little attention as possible (oops), the New York Jets released fifth-year veteran Mark Sanchez, then announced minutes later that free agent quarterback Michael Vick would join the team on a one-year contract.
Both announcements had been rumored, though not necessarily expected. But while the first part makes sense Sanchezs time in New York was numbered ever since the drafting of Geno Smith last year the second is baffling. If Smith is supposed to be the answer at quarterback, why bring in a bigger talent to hold a clipboard? And if Vick is brought in as the starter, why did Smith only get 16 games as a starter. Better yet, why was he drafted in the first place?
Though hes not the same quarterback he used to be, Michael Vick can still turn a middling team into a playoff contender. What will the Jets do with him? Is he the starter? A backup-in-waiting? And how does any of this help the New York Jets beyond 2014?
If Vicks the starter, then the Geno Smith era is as good as over. The Jets will have forced out two young quarterbacks to sign a 34-year-old quarterback on his final legs. If Smith gets the nod, the instant he struggles, whether in the preseason, regular season or any point in between, the calls to start Vick will be deafening. The back-page headlines (Ge-NO!) practically write themselves.
(Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports)
It was just 11 months ago Smith, the West Virginia quarterback once penciled in as a potential No. 1 draft pick, fell to the Jets in the second round of the draft. Sanchez was still reeling from his miserable 2012 that included the infamous Thanksgiving buttfumble. Smiths drafting immediately put Sanchez on the hot seat.
But like with everything around the Jets, nothing was quite as it seemed, and that orderly transition never happened. Smith was erratic in the preseason and Sanchez figured to be the opening day starter, right up until Rex Ryan put him back into a meaningless preseason game and the quarterback suffered a season-ending injury behind a backup offensive line.
Smith started all 16 games, more because of the lack of options behind him than anything. He performed like rookie quarterbacks used to, back before Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson ruined the curve. There were flashes of greatness, but those were interspersed between three-and-outs and game-ending interceptions.
(Photo: Jim Brown, USA TODAY Sports)
The second season is when a young quarterback is supposed to show the most improvement. Will Smith get better? More importantly, if he doesnt, how much time does he get before Rex Ryan goes with Vick? The coach has a new contract, but hes fighting for his job too.
You can make the argument that the Jets made their team better by getting Vick. The problem last year was that there wasnt a viable backup to replace Smith when he struggled. Vick solves that. Or you take the opposite view, that bringing in Vick is a short-term fix that has potential long-term consequences. Any other number of serviceable backups could have been had in free agency, but New York went with the one who will bring the most roster drama.
Its almost as if the Jets enjoy the circus. Any chance they can bring back Tim Tebow to round out the madness?
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Source: http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/03/michael-vick-mark-sanchez-new-york-jets-geno-smith/
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