The Michael Vick era in New York appears to be over. The Jets have been making their way through the season with a quarterback carousel. Neither Geno Smith nor Michael Vick are bringing the team any kind of success and as Rex Ryan risks getting fired at the end of the season, he is struggling to determine a starter week in and week out. Against the Miami Dolphins, it appears Smith will be getting the nod.
According to the New York Daily News, the Jets will start Smith on Monday Night Football as Ryan calls it a team decision. Team sources are reporting that offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterback coach David Lee actually prefer to put Vick in as a starter, but Ryan believes the switch is a "Jet decision" and will go with his second year pro instead.
"These reports, this guy wants so and so . . . I know the reality of the situation is that this was a Jet decision that Geno is our quarterback. That's just the way it is," Ryan said, via the New York Daily News. "Usually if it's going great, then you don't have those situations. One guy is in there and that's it. That would be it in a perfect scenario. That would be it. But clearly we haven't had a perfect scenario here. I'm not going to verify or discredit any kind of source, I'll let you guys figure it out. All I know is that the Jet decision was to play Geno Smith."
For Smith, this decision is his audition for 2015. It is expected that New York will undergo a lot of changes in the offseason including coaching and front office personnel. A new head coach and general manager might not be interested in keeping around the struggling Smith. However, if he can show signs of life in these final weeks, his future might be more guaranteed than before.
The New York Post is reporting that Ryan is well aware he will be fired at the end of the season and starting Smith is to help with 2015. Vick is not the long-term starter and never was. However, Smith might be able to stick around if he looks strong in these final games. The Jets will most likely add a quarterback to the rotation in the offseason. That could come by way of Robert Griffin III, Brian Hoyer or Jameis Winston in the NFL Draft. For now, it remains the Smith show in New York.
