The New York Jets really had no good choice at quarterback, but it became painfully clear on Sunday that Geno Smith was no longer a viable option.
To nobody's surprise, after Smith threw three first-quarter interceptions against the Bills, the Jets will move forward with Michael Vick as their starting quarterback. Coach Rex Ryan announced it on Monday.
[Join FanDuel.com's $3M Week 9 fantasy league: $25 to enter; top 26,405 teams paid]
Vick, a former first overall pick and superstar in the league, is no longer the same quarterback he once was. He struggled on Sunday too, turning the ball over three times.
The Jets are 1-7. Vick will turn 35 before next season. This wasn't a move for the present or the future. It was just to pull the plug on Smith, who has never been able to get past the turnover mistakes that plagued him as a rookie last year. He has 19 touchdowns and a staggering 31 interceptions in 24 career starts. The change had to be made.
The move isn't necessarily permanent, Ryan said.
"I'm not looking past this week. This is truly about this week," Ryan said, according to Metro New York. "It's not any long-term deal."
Perhaps Smith rebounds after the benching and the Jets can try him again as their quarterback of the future, but it's probably a better bet that the Jets look at quarterbacks with a high pick in next year's draft (imagine the media frenzy if it ends up being Florida State's Jameis Winston), and maybe some other team gives the 2013 second-round pick a chance.
Smith said "without a doubt" he thinks he can be an NFL franchise quarterback, and seemed to take the news in stride, via Kimberley Martin of Newsday.
Perhaps Smith will get better as a result. It can't get much worse for him.
- - - - - - -
Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
from Yahoo Sports http://ift.tt/1DU65B6
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire