Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan spoke with reporters on a conference call Thursday and that meant a round of questions about the team’s quarterbacks that have become a staple of the team’s recent offseasons.
The Jets traded for Ryan Fitzpatrick to go with Geno Smith and Maccagnan isn’t naming any starters at this point in the offseason. He said, via Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com, that the team plans to have a “competitive environment” at quarterback but wouldn’t say if it will be an “open” competition.
The Jets pushed the notion of an open competition last year, but Michael Vick never played along and said that Geno Smith was going to be the starting quarterback come the start of the regular season. Smith was benched for Vick at one point in the season, but regained his starting job and remains in the mix for the job again in 2015. Fitzpatrick may get a boost from his history with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, although Vick might point out that his history with former coordinator Marty Mornhinweg didn’t matter.
It’s a new regime now, though, and the guy who drafted Smith in the second round is out of the picture, which should make for a more balanced competition this time around. Maccagnan also said that the team won’t rule out Marcus Mariota or any other quarterback in the draft, so there may be more competitors added to the mix.