The New York Jets started Michael Vick at quarterback in hopes that he could spark the offense. Geno Smith was continuing to struggle and the Jets needed to figure out a way to win games. Vick was there best option and the veteran quarterback repaid the team by upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10. Now securing the starting spot for another week, Vick believes the Jets would have been winning all along with him at the position.
During free agency, Vick noted that he only intended on signing with a team that gave him the opportunity to start during the season. The Jets gave him that opportunity and the veteran quarterback proved he could still break a few ankles on the field as he finished the game going 10-of-18 for 132 yards and two touchdowns as New York broke their losing streak. Vick has nothing but confidence in his abilities and believes the Jets' record would be a bit different if he had been playing all along.
"In my heart, I feel like on any team I can be the starter, as long as it's not an Aaron Rodgers or a Ben Roethlisberger," Vick said, via the New York Post. "The opportunities were there, but the coaches made the decisions not to do it. I understood everything that was taking place. It was about developing a young quarterback [Geno Smith] and giving him every opportunity to succeed. To sit here and say 'no' would show a lack of confidence in myself and in my teammates. Absolutely, I think if I was starting from Day 1, then maybe it would have been an opportunity. But that wasn't the case. Me saying that, please don't get it misconstrued, please don't go saying, 'Mike Vick felt like if he was the starter that we'd be winning.' I'm saying in front of all the cameras if given the opportunity, yeah, I believe our team would have maybe won some games.''
Vick's success throws a huge wrench into the future quarterback plans for the New York Jets. Smith has been benched and will not be seeing the field again for another week. Vick is playing on a one-year deal. Could both stay? Could both be on their way out? One thing is certain, Smith is not going anywhere. That does not mean he will return as the starter, but the Jets are not about to admit defeat and get rid of the second-year pro. Vick is playing well, but is it well enough to secure his future for another season?
The Jets are in play for a high draft pick. With players like Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Brett Hundley all coming out this season, is New York poised to draft another quarterback in hopes they might work out better than Smith is right now? The Jets were hoping drafting Smith secured themselves some stability at the position, but instead the quarterback drama is only getting worse and Vick's comments do not help the situation.
