While some criticized New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick for admitting he hadn't prepared enough for the San Diego Chargers game, coach Rex Ryan applauded the veteran for taking responsibility. Starting quarterback Geno Smith, meanwhile, reportedly is losing support in the locker room.
Vick admitted on Wednesday he didn't prepare as well as he should have for the San Diego game on Sunday, when Ryan ended up putting him in the game for an ineffective Smith. The veteran struggled against the Chargers' defense and managed to complete just 8 of 19 passes for 47 yards in the 31-0 blowout loss, looking like a shell of his former self.
"...Maybe I didn't prepare or I wasn't prepared," Vick said, via ESPN, "but let me tell you it won't happen again."
He later said he phrased it wrong and didn't mean to imply he slacked off at practice during the week. While some criticized him for his remarks, Ryan appreciated his honesty.
"I wanted guys to take a stand and admit that, 'You know what? I can do more,'" Ryan said. "I think that's what Mike is doing. He knows what's going to be said about him, yet he chose to take that stand."
Smith, meanwhile, reportedly is losing support in the locker room because of his antics and his poor play. He was criticized recently for cursing out a fan and for missing a meeting before the Chargers game, and Ryan pulled him from Sunday's game after an ineffective first half.
"Although Smith said Wednesday that he received support from his teammates after apologizing for his gaffe, the Daily News received less-than-favorable feedback from team members, who are not thrilled with how the quarterback has acted recently," Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News wrote Wednesday. "One starter, who actually attended every meeting, believed Smith's flop in the first half that got him benched was predictable given his sloppy preparation the night before."
Ryan said Smith would start against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, but another poor performance could land him on the bench and give Vick another shot at the starting job.
