Didn't see this posted, not sure whether Shady is sticking up for his ex-teammate or whether he really believes it. I think this is going to be a much more heated competition that some folks here are hoping to believe. http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/sto...hael-vick-new-york-jets-way-better-geno-smith McCoy: Vick 'way better' than Geno Updated: April 29, 2014, 9:41 AM ET The New York Jets may not have identified their starting quarterback yet. But as far as LeSean McCoy is concerned, Michael Vick is the easy choice over Geno Smith. McCoy, speaking Monday at a Philadelphia Eagles charity event, told the New York Post that Vick is "way better" than Geno Smith and should be the Jets' starter in 2014. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsLeSean McCoy, who was Michael Vick's teammate in Philadelphia for five years, said that the veteran quarterback should start for the Jets. "Vick is going to be the starting quarterback this year," McCoy told the Post. "He's way better than Geno Smith. Way better. That's no contest." Jets coach Rex Ryan said that New York signed Vick this offseason to "push" Smith, a diplomatic way of saying they're not completely sold on the second-year quarterback. Smith said last week at the Jets' offseason program that he is confident he will be named the starter. Vick, however, has four years of background in offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg's offense thanks to their time together with the Eagles, which could give him an edge in the competition. But the 33-year-old Vick appeared in just seven games last season has been plagued by injuries since returning to the NFL in 2009. McCoy acknowledged that his former teammate will have to stay healthy in order to maintain an edge over Smith. "[Vick's health is] the big question, and that's the only thing," McCoy told the Post. "The thing here was, he didn't lose his job -- he just got hurt and lost his job to injury. But as far as who's the better quarterback, he's way better than Geno Smith. That's obvious." “ Vick is going to be the [Jets'] starting quarterback this year. He's way better than Geno Smith. Way better. That's no contest. ” -- LeSean McCoy, to the New York Post McCoy also told the paper that Vick would be a positive influence in the Jets' locker room, citing the veteran quarterback's leadership during last year's controversy after Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper was recorded using a racial slur. "He'll definitely be a leader in the locker room," McCoy said. "Who smoothed over a lot of that Riley Cooper incident? Mike Vick -- a great player who's been through some negative moments and is now positive about it. He's a great [veteran], and he'll help the team out in that way." Smith started every game last season, helping the Jets to a surprising 8-8 record, but he was wildly inconsistent over the first 12 games. The Jets cut Mark Sanchez and signed Vick to a one-year, $4 million contract this offseason. Vick has referred to Smith as the starting quarterback, but the coaching staff hasn't made any pronouncements. "I respect what Mike said, but I understand there's a competition," Smith said last week. "It comes down to what we do on the field." _
And much like with what happened with Foles, the Eagles long term benefited from Foles taking the job over from Vick getting hurt. He lost his job because Foles played his ass off and deserved to start. Not just because of the injury. Seems like kind of a back handed slap to what Foles did for McCoy to say otherwise. He earned the right to start when an opportunity came, he didn't let up and in fact made tremendous plays rather than game manage. Enough to take them to the playoffs. Same thing hopefully can happen here. I do think its crazy to give up on a QB after 1 year(Foles at least had 1 year to adjust to the NFL speed as a backup)
I don't think sitting Geno equates to giving up after one year. Geno needs a lot of improvement if he's going to hang with the big guys in the NFL, if he can't handle getting benched for a while, he's not likely to have the mental game to play. Until Geno proves otherwise, Vick is "way better".
Sitting Geno will not have a negative effect. If it does, then he wasn't the answer to begin with. It can't hurt a guy like himself to sit behind a Michael Vick and learn some things before making more strides as a starter. This whole Andrew Luck and RG3 start from day one nonsense is really starting to frustrate me. For YEARS quarterbacks sat behind other starters and learned before making an impact. Because of a handful of guys, all QB's should start from day one?
Vick hasn't been "way better" than anyone in a while. His best asset isn't as good as it once was. If both guys are equal or neither guy blow away anybody, I still let Geno start and only take him out once he puts together a string of poor performances. Foles would have beat Vick in training camp(It was like one of the final starting QB announcements made last training camp) but Vick had more experience and was the "more sure thing" enough to let Vick start the year. It was a very even and equal competition by plenty of accounts.
Sitting Geno if its a down year for Rex/Marty to the point they get fired would open the door for a 1st round QB to get chosen and its a wrap for Geno if so. Geno needs to show something this year. Not play like a superstar QB but one who helps the team win. He can't do it on the bench....
I was wondering how long it would take for Cimini to start fanning the QB controversy flames, I figured it would be sooner than this, actually.
If it's close with Vick slightly leading then Geno should start. It's basically Smith's job to lose IMO. He's younger and has more upside at this point over Vick. Geno would have to shit the bed for consecutive weeks for Vick to step in and play.
Well, to be fair, it wasn't Cimini saying it, he just reported what he was told. It's a softball question to ask an Eagle player. _
So you're more interested in a player than the team? What does "Sitting Geno if its a down year for Rex/Marty to the point they get fired" even mean? What if they sit Geno and it's an UP year for Rex and MM? _
I'm more interested in a team but I look at it as far as the future of the team goes, which right now Geno is. What I mean is if we bring in a new coaching staff, they'll want their own guy unless Idzik can convince a quality head coach that Geno can be a successful franchise QB. Its why its important that Geno shows something this year....that way if he establishes himself regardless of if Rex and co. stay.....we have the position locked down and maybe even attract some hot coordinators or Gruden/Cowher(Or whatever big name coach) to come in and like what they see in Geno rather than want to use a high pick on a QB to get their guy. You'll never find out with him on the bench, which is why unless Vick blows Geno out of the water in training camp/preseason or if an injury happens to Geno, Geno needs to be the guy, even if its a stalemate. Geno should only lose the job if he is single handedly costing the team games, which is when you owe it to your team to then put the next man up ala Vick. That means Geno is still an unknown and we pray and hope we can get another successful year out of a now 35 year old Mike Vick if Rex/Marty stay. We have to be doing backflips if Vick is the starter and starts all 16 games.
I agree with McCoy but don't put much stock into a former team mate saying something like this. I'm sure McCoy knows a lot more about the game than most of us but he is also taking about his friend.
I think you will start seeing rookies sit the bench again with the new rookie wage scale. Salaries had gotten too high to have that money sitting the bench.
Sounds like you're assuming if Vick starts, the Jets lose and Rex gets fired, but if Geno starts and the Jets lose but he looks great in a losing effort, Rex still gets fired, but because Geno looked great in getting his coach fired, Idzik will convince a hot commodity to come in and hitch his wagon to Geno. I want the best QB to play. This year. _
Certainly a guy like Bortles can use some seasoning and probably Manziel too. Had Mariota come out, I could have seen him sitting for a year. _
9 times out of 10 i would agree if we had an ideal situation in a starter that Geno could sit behind and learn long term. With Vick its nothing more then a band aid (double pun intended). Vick has the same turn over issues that Geno does just moderately better. Come next season would you benefit more from Geno having another season of play under his belt or a Vick lead offense this season with a still wet behind the ears Geno taking over, My personal issues aside i think you still start Geno.
At the end of last season, Vick was a better QB, no doubt, BUT the CS / NFL has yet to see what Geno Smith has improved on. Any improvements will tighten the gap between Geno and Vick. Shady is right.
McCoy is hardly an impartial observer so his response is not exactly surprising. If Vick is way better than Geno he will start. If he is marginally better he won't. We don't need commentary from someone who is emotionally tied to Vick to understand that concept.
