The New York Jets introduced new head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan to local media earlier today. Bowles wasted no time in expressing his view of the type of team he hopes to put together in New York.
"Going forward, we're going to be a tough team, we're going to be an intelligent team. We're going to do things the right way," Bowles said.
I guess that means everything up until this point was the wrong way, eh?
In order to become a tough and intelligent team, the Jets will have to get more out of the quarterback position. Neither Bowles nor Maccagnan would commit to a QB currently on the roster as their sure-fire starter.
Michael Vick is set to become a free agent this offseason. Vick, 34, didn't do much to inspire a lot of confidence in his limited playing time this past season. The Jets lost four of the five games in which he attempted at least 18 passes. Vick's passer rating of 68.3 was his lowest mark since his rookie season.
Geno Smith, meanwhile, will still be on the team, though it is unlikely that he is the long-term answer.
Maccagnan refrained from making any proclamations about Smith, saying he doesn't "want to get too far ahead of ourselves." Bowles said that Smith was "a great college quarterback" without clarifying if he thinks he is a good NFL quarterback. But after two seasons in which Smith has thrown 25 touchdowns against 34 interceptions, it's safe to assume that the new decision makers in New York don't have much faith in the 2013 second-rounder.
The Jets have been rumored to possibly be interested in trading up in the draft for Jameis Winston.
"Gotham and everything it has to offer a rich 21-year-old would certainly set off the klaxons in regard to Winston," Nate Davis of USA Today wrote. "But the Jets have been rolling the dice for decades seeking the heir apparent to Joe Namath and will doubtless continue doing so until they stop coming up with snake eyes."
Regardless of what happens, it's clear that New York's new head coach and general manager aren't ready to commit to Smith or any other quarterback right now.
