With New York Jets coach Rex Ryan naming veteran quarterback Michael Vick the starter for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, what does that mean for the rest of Geno Smith's season?
The turnover problem Smith had his rookie season didn't improve eight games into his sophomore season, culminating with Ryan benching Smith for the second time this year after the signal caller threw for five yards and threw three interceptions against the Buffalo Bills.
One day later, Ryan named a new starting quarterback: Vick.
"This is not looking long term, this is about the immediate," Ryan said Monday, via ESPN. "My focus is on Kansas City and finding a way to get a win. That's why this decision was made."
Ryan's to-the-point remarks were telling: he's on the hot seat, and he needs to win now for a shot to save his job.
Sitting with a 1-7 record and seven straight losses, it's unlikely Ryan turns back to Smith this season. Smith was second-year general manager John Idzik's draft pick, not Ryan's. Ryan is on a sinking ship, and the best hope for him to salvage the season and to save his job is to tether himself to Vick for the rest of the year.
"I think it's a great opportunity," said Vick, who'll be making his first start as a Jet against his former coach, Andy Reid. "Any time you get named to be the starter, it's a great thing. I think you have to relish it, but also take it extremely serious, and understand what's at stake and what needs to be done."
While Smith is likely finished for the season, Ryan made it clear the team hadn't lost hope in Smith one day becoming the franchise quarterback.
"I don't think anybody in this organization is looking at him any differently," Ryan said. "I don't think a bad outing like this will be a determination on anyone's long-term opinion about somebody. If it is, it's pretty naïve."
