Michael Vick is very familiar to quarterback competitions. While with the Philadelphia Eagles, he and Nick Foles battled in a true open competition as Chip Kelly was adamant that everyone had the chance to be under center Week 1. Now with the New York Jets, Vick is admitting that things are a little different. While Rex Ryan continues to say that the best player will get the start, the quarterback is seeing this a little different.
Vick is now starting to see things as a backup. With Geno Smith back with the team after a year of starting every game, the veteran sees his place on the team and it is No. 2 on the depth charts.
"Going through the competition with Nick, we knew both of us coming in that it was open competition and the best guy was going to win the job," Vick said, via the New York Daily News. "Pretty much cut and dry. This situation is different. It's kind of unique. Even though it's not an open competition, we're both competing every day. Yeah I would assume that Geno would be the starter (in that case)."
Ryan and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg had been stressing that Vick had just as strong of a shot to start as Smith. Vick had said while still a free agent that he would not sign with a team that did not give him a chance to be under center at some point this season. However, now the team is singing a different tune, noting that they believe a quarterback competition would hurt the potential progress of Smith developing into an elite player.
"It's still tough right now...I won't lie," Vick said. "Because deep down you always want to be a starter. Hopefully that opportunity will come again one day and I've just got to keep working for it."
The lack of competiton should make the receiving corps very happy. Both Eric Decker an Jeff Cumberland have spoken out against the battling players noting that it hurts chemistry. Having Smith consistently with the first-team offense could do wonders for the Jets.
One person that was a big endorser of the Jets quarterback competition was running back Chris Johnson who told media when he signed that a starter had not been determined. Johnson's time with the Jets is getting a slow start after knee surgery will prevent him from participating in OTAs. Johnson has stressed that he will be healthy by the time the season starts. His injury helps the running back competition with Chris Ivory who still plans on being the starter.
