The New York Jets show continues. Contrary to the belief that general manager John Idzik would decide the Jets' starting quarterback, coach Rex Ryan reportedly now has the final say between starting Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith.
With Idzik not demanding who starts, Ryan will have the final say for which quarterback takes the field in Week 1, according to the NY Daily News.
"I'm sure John will have his say," a Jets team source told The News. "But at the end of the day, Rex will consult his coaches and make the decision."
Idzik has long been reported to favor Smith, his hand-picked rookie, to start in Week 1. Smith's latest preseason performance, which included three interceptions and a safety, however, likely dissuaded any notion Idzik had of the rookie immediately being ready to take the reins.
While it's good news for Ryan, who was seemingly undercut last month by the new GM, it might now be irrelevant. Sanchez is dealing with a shoulder injury and neither he nor the Jets have given a timetable for his return.
Sanchez's injury drew even more scrutiny on Ryan, who placed Sanchez in during the fourth quarter of the Jets-Giants preseason game. Ryan cited the quarterback competition as his reasoning, although it did little to assuage the steady stream of criticism.
"Who's pushing the buttons?" Ex-Jets quarterback Joe Namath said, via ESPN. "We know the fan base would like to see Geno Smith on the field. The reality is, Geno might not be ready. Now Sanchez might not be ready.
"... Why did he go on that field with backup players when, Thursday, your offensive coordinator is happy with what Sanchez has been doing? I mean, what are you doing?"
Sanchez was playing with the third-stringers when he entered the game. Although speculative, it's plausible Ryan placed Sanchez in the game in hopes of the embattled quarterback having a tremendous game against non-starters.
A great game from Sanchez could have quelled, or at least lessened, the daily quarterback questions Ryan is hammered with. The great game never happened, though. Now Sanchez is sidelined for an undetermined amount of time, which could be days or weeks.
One thing is certain: Ryan's future in New York depends on this season.
