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Silence surrounds Colin Kaepernick’s free agency

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Players have been signing contracts at a lightning-fast pace around the NFL for the last three days, with almost all of the top players already signed just 72 hours after free agency started. But there’s no news about one of the most talked-about players during the 2016 season: Colin Kaepernick.Kaepernick, the quarterback who once led the 49ers to the Super Bowl and more recently began a national controversy when he declined to stand for the national anthem, has yet to be publicly linked to any team. It’s possible that some team has quietly reached out to Kaepernick or his representatives, but if so it’s been very quiet, with no leaks to the media.

Does that mean no teams are interested in Kaepernick at all? It’s possible, both for on-field and off-field reasons. There are probably some NFL owners and personnel people who are turned off by Kaepernick’s anthem stance, even though he now says he’ll stand for the anthem. But dozens of NFL players followed Kaepernick’s lead and kneeled for the anthem last year, and there were no reports of repercussions against any of them. NFL teams are willing to employ players who don’t stand for the anthem, so that can’t be the only reason for the lack of interest in Kaepernick.

On-field problems are probably the bigger problem. Although Kaepernick’s raw passing stats (16 touchdowns and four interceptions last season) don’t look bad, the reality is he played poorly and compiled his numbers mostly while trailing in the second half for the 2-14 49ers. More advanced statistics used by Football Outsiders and ESPN both rank Kaepernick 30th among NFL passers last season.

Still, Kaepernick has had some success in the NFL, and it seems likely that some team will eventually offer him a contract. The Broncos reportedly had some interest in Kaepernick last year. The Jets, Browns and Texans are all in the market for a quarterback. All it takes is one team to offer Kaepernick a contract.But the mere fact that we’re just wondering about one team offering Kaepernick a contract speaks to how far he’s fallen. Five years ago, he was the toast of the NFL, having led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Four years ago, some saw him as having the potential to be one of the all-time greats. And now we’re just wondering if he’ll be able to compete at training camp for the Jets or the Browns.

>      http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/12/silence-surrounds-colin-kaepernicks-free-agency/

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1 minute ago, kelly said:

Four years ago, some saw him as having the potential to be one of the all-time greats. And now we’re just wondering if he’ll be able to compete at training camp for the Jets or the Browns.

>      http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/12/silence-surrounds-colin-kaepernicks-free-agency/

 

I read this and thought, what moron said that?  

Oh. 

Quote

“Colin Kaepernick could be one of the greatest quarterbacks ever,” Jaworski said on ESPN.  

I knew it had to be Jaws or Gruden.  

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The longest-running quarterback soap opera (outside Cleveland) continues to provide new characters and compelling storylines.

The latest script for "All My Quarterbacks" -- the New York Jets' annual search for the next Broadway Joe -- contains a couple of intriguing plot twists.

Our latest rankings, based on the likelihood of landing with the Jets :

1. Jay Cutler, free agent: The Jets reached out to him last week when he was released by the Chicago Bears and remain interested. He reportedly will take a visit. He's the most accomplished quarterback on the list, so his price tag will be higher than the others. There's also the baggage. It'll take a sell job by the Jets because Cutler probably isn't hot for a rebuilding situation at 34. If they wait until April 29 for the visit -- his birthday -- maybe they can try the cupcake ploy.

2. Chase Daniel, free agent: He was released Monday by the Philadelphia Eagles, who paid him $7 million last season for one pass. They still owe him another $5 million for 2017, but that includes an offset. Daniel, 30, drew interest from the Jets last offseason during the Ryan Fitzpatrick contract mess, and he probably will get another call. He has thrown fewer passes in seven years (78) than Bryce Petty has thrown in two (133), so we're talking about a No. 2 quarterback at best. His familiarity with Sean Payton's offense is a plus. New coordinator John Morton also spent time with Payton at the New Orleans Saints. He never overlapped with Daniel, but they'd have some common ground, which helps when a new offense is being installed.

3. Josh McCown, free agent: When aren't the Jets interested in McCown? It seems to be an offseason ritual. McCown, 37, has a reputation for being a good teammate and would be a terrific mentor for Petty and Christian Hackenberg, but has started only 11 games over the past two seasons.

4. Trevor Siemian, Denver Broncos: If John Elway lands Tony Romo, he could put Siemian on the trading block. The Jets like him. He's young and cheap, with a big arm, but they want to hold on to their draft picks. Maybe they could peddle Sheldon Richardson to the Broncos. This wouldn't be the first Jets-Broncos trade for a quarterback (See: Tim Tebow).

5. Brock Osweiler, Cleveland Browns: They're reportedly trying to flip Osweiler for a couple of draft picks, but they won't find any suckers and will have to release him. He was horrible last season for the Houston Texans (16 interceptions), but this is a player who was once envisioned by Elway as Peyton Manning's heir apparent. Unlike McCown, Daniel and Cutler, Osweiler has some upside. The Browns are on the hook for his $16 million salary, which includes an offset. The Jets could get him on the cheap, letting the Browns foot most of the bill.

6. AJ McCarron, Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals are open to trading their No. 2 quarterback, who has one year left on his rookie deal. McCarron is a borderline No. 1/No. 2, so you really wouldn't want to give up too much in a trade, especially without a contract extension.

7. Robert Griffin III, free agent: He got an audience with Jets officials last year at the outset of the Fitzpatrick situation, but nothing came of that free-agent visit. The once-promising RG III, cut by the Browns, is battling to stay in the league.

8. Colin Kaepernick, free agent: He and Morton crossed paths with the San Francisco 49ers from 2012 to 2014, so there's that. Kaepernick improved his numbers last season on an awful team, but he owns the fifth-lowest Total QBR over the past two seasons (52.0), based on a minimum of 400 attempts.

9. Geno Smith, free agent: If his surgically repaired knee were healed, he'd be higher on the list, but there's some concern about the timetable. At the same time, Smith probably wants a change of scenery after four adversity-filled seasons in New York.

10. Mark Sanchez, free agent: For old times' sake?

>    http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67477/jay-cutler-heads-cast-of-characters-being-considered-for-jets-qb-vacancy

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The Jets’ search for a quarterback has taken on the feel of a season of “The Bachelor.” Will they choose Jay Cutler for a one-on-one date? Will Josh McCown get a rose? Is Chase Daniel a new, surprise contestant? And like those on “The Bachelor,” each contestant for the Jets starting quarterback job has plenty of flaws. People who look for a partner on a TV show tend to have warts, and so do quarterbacks available in March.

The most intriguing option for the Jets might be a quarterback who is not yet a free agent, but is expected to become one soon: Brock Osweiler.The Browns plucked Osweiler from the Texans last week in a blockbuster trade. Cleveland is now shopping Osweiler, trying to get some picks for him. But all indications are the Browns will cut him if they don’t find a taker.

It would make no sense for the Jets to give up an asset in a trade for Osweiler, but signing him once he is free makes total sense.

Osweiler, 26, is not a perfect option (there are none), just the best one for the Jets. For one thing, they will be able to get him cheaply. The Browns owe him $16 million as part of the four-year, $72 million monster contract he signed with the Texans last year. Because of offset language in the contract, Osweiler won’t make more money than that this year. The Browns will get relief for whatever another team pays him, but ultimately Osweiler will make $16 million. So, the Jets could pay him $1 million and let the Browns pick up the rest of the tab for 2017. That is a cheaper option than Cutler, whom the Jets are interested in, but only at the right price.

Osweiler also makes sense from a strategic standpoint. Even though they won’t say the word, the Jets are clearly rebuilding. The 2017 season is more about finding out who is a keeper for 2018 and beyond than trying to win the Super Bowl.Everyone knows what guys like Cutler and McCown are capable of. We have enough of a sample size. Despite flopping in Houston last year, Osweiler remains an unknown. He still has upside. Remember, this is a guy John Elway drafted and reportedly offered $16 million per year over three years last year before Houston swooped in. He went 5-2 as a starter with Denver in 2015 and beat the undefeated Patriots in overtime.

There could be concerns about what happened in Houston. A report surfaced this week that Osweiler balked at being put into a game in Week 17 and had an argument with Texans coach Bill O’Brien. It should not be hard for Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan to investigate. He spent 15 years in Houston before coming to the Jets and worked with O’Brien in 2014.

Even with whatever transpired in Houston, though, this would not be a long-term commitment. The Jets just need someone who can provide competition at the position for Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, with the hope that an answer can be found for beyond 2017. If Osweiler falls on his face, they can move on after this year. If he shows potential, they can keep him around as part of the rebuild.

Every decision made about 2017 for the Jets should be with an eye on 2018. Forget a 33-year-old Jay Cutler or a 37-year-old Josh McCown. The Jets need to go young and cheap. Osweiler fits the description.

Give him a rose, Maccagnan.

>      http://nypost.com/2017/03/14/brock-osweiler-perfect-for-jets-if-theyre-honest-with-themselves/

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One quarterback leaves, another arrives. Well, something like that.

Free-agent quarterback Josh McCown, who spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, will meet with the New York Jets on Friday and Saturday, league sources confirmed. NFL Network first reported the visit.News of McCown's visit came shortly after it was revealed that free agent Geno Smith is expected to sign with the New York Giants, assuming he passes a physical over the weekend.

This is an interesting turn of events.

General manager Mike Maccagnan's affinity for McCown began two years ago, before swinging the trade for Ryan Fitzpatrick. McCown, who turns 38 on July 4, has played with seven teams. He's the ultimate bridge quarterback, known throughout his career as a great teammate and mentor for young signal-callers. He has only 60 career starts (with an 18-42 record), including 22 starts in the past three years.

McCown went 0-3 for the Browns last season, throwing six touchdowns, six interceptions and 1,100 yards. The Dallas Cowboys also have expressed interest.The Jets have been linked with almost every available quarterback, most notably Jay Cutler, McCown's former teammate with the Chicago Bears. The Jets flirted with Mike Glennon and Brian Hoyer only to see them sign with the Bears and San Francisco 49ers, respectively.

Basically the Jets are looking for a cheap, one-year rental who will buy them time as they continue to develop Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty.Smith was thought to be a fallback option, but the Jets evidently didn't show a strong interest in re-signing him. If they did, he passed up a starting opportunity in favor of riding the bench behind Eli Manning, one of the most durable quarterbacks in history. Chances are, Smith will never see the field. He can rehab his image and his surgically repaired knee in a less stressful situation.

With the Giants, he wouldn't been under the same harsh spotlight that has followed him from Day 1.

>      http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67593/source-qb-josh-mccown-set-to-visit-jets-as-geno-smith-departs

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Why aren't the quarterback-needy Jets trying to sign Colin Kaepernick ?

We're nine days into free agency, 40 days until the draft and there's plenty to talk about. Our New York Jets question of the week:

 

#jetsmail Why aren't the Jets going after Kaepernick? Play, politics, fear of media circus, or all of the above?

@RichCimini : It's a compelling dynamic, isn't it? Colin Kaepernick is a 29-year-old quarterback with four postseason victories on his résumé, including an NFC championship, and he can't get a job. Interestingly, new San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said in a radio interview Friday that Kaepernick was on the verge of signing with a team last week, but "it fell through apparently." He didn't name the team.

You're right, the Jets aren't pursuing Kaepernick despite a need at the position and John Morton's familiarity with him. The Jets' new offensive coordinator was the 49ers' receivers coach when Kaepernick was a rising star.

I suspect the answer to your question is "all of the above." Let me explain.

Despite solid numbers last season on a bad team (16 touchdowns, four interceptions), Kaepernick's game has regressed since his signature season, 2013. The Jets saw it with their own eyes in a game in December. Kaepernick came out on fire and led the 49ers to a 17-3 lead, but he went into a shell, completing only 8 of 18 passes for 38 yards over the final three quarters and overtime.

You'd like to think the Jets based their free-agent evaluation on football only, but let's not be naive: There's more to it than that.

Even though Kaepernick has indicated he won't continue his national-anthem protests, his reputation will precede him wherever he goes. And, yes, that would create a media circus, particularly in New York, where it takes very little for us to roll out the big top. Jets coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan have tried hard over the past two-plus years to distance themselves from the Rex Ryan craziness. It hasn't been a smooth ride -- far from it -- but it's not as though they're willingly looking for distractions.

Let's not forget about owner Woody Johnson, a prominent Republican fundraiser whom President Trump has nominated to be ambassador to Britain. Johnson shared his feelings on the Kaepernick controversy last fall. Asked how he'd feel if one of his players took a knee during the anthem to protest racial and social issues, Johnson said, "It wouldn't be my first choice."

This isn't to suggest Kaepernick's political beliefs are the only reason he's not on the Jets' radar, but I certainly believe it's part of the equation. Johnson is the boss; he signs the checks.So instead of chasing Kaepernick, the Jets are courting the likes of Josh McCown and Jay Cutler -- a guy who has lost 20 of his past 22 starts and one who is coming off shoulder surgery, respectively.

Let's face it, there are no brilliant options.

>       http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67606/why-arent-the-quarterback-needy-jets-trying-to-sign-colin-kaepernick

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On 2/27/2017 at 4:48 PM, BurnleyJet said:

Meh, we need to keep on the rebuild. If that means we suck and have a shot at Darnold, all the better!

47 years of rebuild.    We couldn't pick a QB in the draft if Montana, Marino and Brady were available.

We would draft a D2 player.........   

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Continuing their meandering quarterback search, the New York Jets have shifted their attention to a player who has attempted only three passes over the past two seasons -- Chase Daniel.

The career backup, released recently by the Philadelphia Eagles, is scheduled to visit the Jets on Monday, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported.

The Jets hosted free agent Josh McCown over the weekend -- they dined Saturday night at a popular New York steakhouse -- but he left Sunday without a contract. They also remain interested in Jay Cutler ... and pretty much every quarterback in the country not named Colin Kaepernick.Daniel, 30, signed a three-year, $21 million contract last season with the Eagles, but he became expendable when they signed Nick Foles. Daniel visited the New Orleans Saints over the weekend.

He played with the Saints from 2010 to 2012, followed by three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and one with the Eagles. He hasn't played much at all -- only two career starts, 51-for-78, 480 yards, one touchdown and one interception. That's an 81.1 passer rating.The upside is that he has a background in the West Coast offense, which the Jets likely will run under new coordinator John Morton. He and Morton have a link; they both worked under Sean Payton with the Saints, though not at the same time.

If Morton integrates some elements of Payton's offense into his own, it would help having Daniel's knowledge. But they're stretching it if they're counting on that as the primary reason to sign him.

>      http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67656/source-career-backup-qb-chase-daniel-will-visit-jets

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The New York Jets' meandering quarterback search came to an end Monday evening, with the news that Josh McCown had signed a one-year, $6 million contract. Now the question on everybody's mind is, what does it mean for the big picture ?

Coach Todd Bowles won't be available for comment until next week's NFL owners meetings in Phoenix, but here are a few thoughts on how I see things playing out :

1. McCown will be the opening-day starter (by default): Bowles may paint it as an open competition, but logic dictates that McCown will emerge from the preseason as the No. 1 quarterback. Despite his recent struggles in Cleveland and Tampa Bay, he's too seasoned and too smart to begin the season behind a couple of neophytes, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty. They're all learning a new system, but McCown can draw on 14 years of experience. He also has an ally in new quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates; they were together in 2012 in Chicago.

2. Hackenberg will take over sooner than later: I'll put the over-under line on McCown starts at four. He's old (38 in July) and injury prone, and he hasn't been a productive starter since 2013 with the Bears -- his only successful run as a No. 1 quarterback. If McCown is a bridge quarterback, it'll be a short bridge. The Jets know this, and that's why they're paying him like a low-end starter/high-end backup -- a $6 million guarantee. He will earn an additional $125,000 for each start, which could bring him up to $8 million. By opting for an inexpensive, one-year rental, the Jets have set it up for Hackenberg. As a rookie, he had no game experience and he didn't get much quality practice time, but they need to find out about him; that's what 2017 is all about.

3. Don't be surprised if they draft a quarterback: It's not a particularly strong draft class, but general manager Mike Maccagnan subscribes to the Ron Wolf philosophy: Draft one every year, if possible. It would be a bold move to pick one at No. 6 overall, but the Jets are very intrigued by North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky, widely regarded as the top QB prospect. They will be present Tuesday at his pro day and could return to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for a private workout. This is something to watch.

4. Petty could be in trouble: His roster spot will be in jeopardy if the Jets draft a quarterback. They kept four quarterbacks last season, but that didn't work out too well. Despite his experience last season, Petty is behind Hackenberg in the big-picture pecking order. He's also recovering from surgery on his left shoulder, which could keep him out for part of the offseason program.

>     http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67674/forecasting-how-the-jets-qb-situation-will-unfold-with-a-possible-addition

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Now that the Jets have signed quarterback Josh McCown, here are five things to know about him : 

He is a journeyman. McCown has now played for one-quarter of the NFL. Yes, the Jets are his eighth organization. His first seven: Cardinals, Lions, Raiders, Panthers, Bears, Buccaneers, and Browns. And those are just the teams he appeared in games for. He was also a member of the Dolphins and 49ers in the offseason. Ten teams in all. In 2010, McCown even played in the United Football League, for the Hartford Colonials, before working his way back into the NFL. A pretty neat career path, since the Cardinals drafted him in Round 3 in 2002. Through last season, McCown had made $32 million total in his career. 

He is old. He turns 38 years old on July 4. The Jets' second-oldest player is middle linebacker David Harris, who turned 33 in January. The Jets' youngest player is wide receiver Jalin Marshall, who doesn't turn 22 until July. Marshall was just shy of 7 years old when McCown entered the NFL out of Sam Houston State. Marshall was 3 years old when McCown began his college career at Southern Methodist in 1998. McCown has played in 82 career NFL games, with 60 starts. 

He hasn't been very productive lately. Remember that strong season he had with the Bears in 2013? Yeah, neither does anybody else. That season, he played in eight games, with five starts. He had 13 touchdowns, one interception, and a 109.0 quarterback rating. Since then, he has struggled with Tampa Bay (one season) and Cleveland (two seasons). Over the past three years, these are McCown's numbers: 24 games, 22 starts, 29 touchdowns, 24 interceptions, 79.3 rating, 2-20 record. Yes, 2-20. He went 1-10 with both the Buccaneers and Browns. Obviously, he didn't have great players around him on those teams. But McCown's own play obviously didn't help his teams' records during his starts very much. 

Brandon Marshall loves him. For what it's worth. Marshall, long a productive NFL wide receiver, obviously doesn't play for the Jets anymore, since he is with the Giants. But he has given multiple ringing endorsements of McCown over the years. It means something when teammates, especially seen-it-all veterans like Marshall, say glowing things about you. Marshall loves McCown as a leader. This is important, but obviously, McCown needs to play better with the Jets than he did the past three seasons with Tampa Bay and Cleveland. McCown played for the Bears from 2011-13. Marshall overlapped with him there from 2012-13. 

McCown comes from a football family. He is the older brother of Luke McCown and the younger brother of Randy McCown. Surely, you know Luke. He is a 35-year-old career backup quarterback and is still in the NFL, with the Saints. Randy was a quarterback at Texas A&M in the late 1990s, but he never played in the NFL. Since Luke has just 10 career NFL starts, Josh is the most successful member of his family's quarterback trio of brothers. 

>      http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/03/5_things_to_know_about_josh_mccown_jets_new_quarte.html#incart_river_index

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4 minutes ago, kelly said:

Now that the Jets have signed quarterback Josh McCown, here are five things to know about him : 

He is a journeyman. McCown has now played for one-quarter of the NFL. Yes, the Jets are his eighth organization. His first seven: Cardinals, Lions, Raiders, Panthers, Bears, Buccaneers, and Browns. And those are just the teams he appeared in games for. He was also a member of the Dolphins and 49ers in the offseason. Ten teams in all. In 2010, McCown even played in the United Football League, for the Hartford Colonials, before working his way back into the NFL. A pretty neat career path, since the Cardinals drafted him in Round 3 in 2002. Through last season, McCown had made $32 million total in his career. 

He is old. He turns 38 years old on July 4. The Jets' second-oldest player is middle linebacker David Harris, who turned 33 in January. The Jets' youngest player is wide receiver Jalin Marshall, who doesn't turn 22 until July. Marshall was just shy of 7 years old when McCown entered the NFL out of Sam Houston State. Marshall was 3 years old when McCown began his college career at Southern Methodist in 1998. McCown has played in 82 career NFL games, with 60 starts. 

He hasn't been very productive lately. Remember that strong season he had with the Bears in 2013? Yeah, neither does anybody else. That season, he played in eight games, with five starts. He had 13 touchdowns, one interception, and a 109.0 quarterback rating. Since then, he has struggled with Tampa Bay (one season) and Cleveland (two seasons). Over the past three years, these are McCown's numbers: 24 games, 22 starts, 29 touchdowns, 24 interceptions, 79.3 rating, 2-20 record. Yes, 2-20. He went 1-10 with both the Buccaneers and Browns. Obviously, he didn't have great players around him on those teams. But McCown's own play obviously didn't help his teams' records during his starts very much. 

Brandon Marshall loves him. For what it's worth. Marshall, long a productive NFL wide receiver, obviously doesn't play for the Jets anymore, since he is with the Giants. But he has given multiple ringing endorsements of McCown over the years. It means something when teammates, especially seen-it-all veterans like Marshall, say glowing things about you. Marshall loves McCown as a leader. This is important, but obviously, McCown needs to play better with the Jets than he did the past three seasons with Tampa Bay and Cleveland. McCown played for the Bears from 2011-13. Marshall overlapped with him there from 2012-13. 

McCown comes from a football family. He is the older brother of Luke McCown and the younger brother of Randy McCown. Surely, you know Luke. He is a 35-year-old career backup quarterback and is still in the NFL, with the Saints. Randy was a quarterback at Texas A&M in the late 1990s, but he never played in the NFL. Since Luke has just 10 career NFL starts, Josh is the most successful member of his family's quarterback trio of brothers. 

>      http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/03/5_things_to_know_about_josh_mccown_jets_new_quarte.html#incart_river_index

6. He is NOT starting, he was NOT brought here to start, he is a MENTOR, GET OVER IT

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Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer 

QB Mitchell Trubisky said at the North Carolina pro day that he has individual workouts scheduled with several teams, including the Jets, per reports. The Jets just signed journeyman Josh McCown to a one-year contract, but they're still looking to add a QB to join Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty. It would be a bold move to take Trubisky with the sixth pick, one year after using a second rounder on Hackenberg.

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One day after signing free-agent quarterback Josh McCown, the New York Jets were back on the quarterback trail. They were well-represented Tuesday at Mitchell Trubisky's pro day at North Carolina, another step in the evaluation process.

Because this is the silly season in the NFL, some will read too much into it. It doesn't mean they envision Trubisky as their quarterback of the future; it's just due diligence on the path to the draft. Truth be told, some teams believe these made-for-TV pro days are becoming less and less helpful, finding that private workouts are more beneficial. Perhaps that explains why general manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles weren't in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to observe Trubisky.But, as Trubisky mentioned to reporters after the workout, the Jets are among several teams that have scheduled private workouts. They're also expected to bring him to their facility for a pre-draft visit. He named the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs as other teams that will conduct private workouts.

As for his pro day, Trubisky completed 54 of 63 passes, including four drops, per USA Today. Watching on TV, hardly the ideal vantage point, he demonstrated quick feet and excellent footwork, especially on rollout-type throws. His throwing was solid, not spectacular. He displayed very good arm strength, especially on deep balls, but his ball placement was off the mark on a handful of short and intermediate throws.

But, again, don't read too much into a scripted workout with no pass rush and no defense. The tape matters most, and I can tell you the Jets are very intrigued by what they saw from Trubisky in his 13 starts last season. Enough to pick him sixth overall? I'd be surprised if that happens, but you never know.A year ago, Maccagnan traveled to Penn State and fell in love with Christian Hackenberg in a private workout, eventually picking him in the second round. Despite a non-descript rookie year, Hackenberg remains in the team's plans. They certainly won't bail on a second-round pick this soon, but there's a reasonably good chance they will draft a quarterback at some point. That wouldn't bode well for Bryce Petty.

Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer will have his pro day on Thursday. And, yes, the Jets will be there.

>      http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67685/jets-schedule-private-workout-with-top-qb-prospect-mitchell-trubisky

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The Jets website has not caught up yet. The team’s online shop had no Josh McCown jerseys as of Tuesday afternoon. You could get yourself a Ryan Fitzpatrick jersey, a Geno Smith No. 7, even a Joe Namath No. 12, but no McCowns.The fervor created by McCown’s signing with Jets fans is at the level of a party at a retirement home. New York has not exactly become “McCown Town” yet. Most Jets fans know what the deal is — the team is rebuilding. Still, it is painful for most to accept the best their team could do was a 37-year-old journeyman.

Here are some thoughts on the Jets signing McCown to a one-year, $6 million deal :

1. While McCown is not going to ignite the fan base, who did you want the Jets to sign? The free-agent quarterback pool was very shallow this year, like it is every year. Unless you catch Drew Brees or Peyton Manning coming off a major injury, it is hard to land a good quarterback on the free-agent market.Signing Jay Cutler made no sense for several reasons. The most telling thing, though, is the Jets have two people in their organization who worked with both Cutler and McCown in Chicago. Both director of scouting Rex Hogan and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates know the two men and how they are in the locker room. The Jets brought McCown in first and signed him before even visiting with Cutler. That says a lot.

2. You would have to assume that McCown is going to enter the offseason program atop the depth chart. The Jets gave him just $6 million guaranteed, and the fact that they were searching for a veteran tells you they are not confident in rolling with Christian Hackenberg or Bryce Petty.Jets coach Todd Bowles will speak to the media next week at the owners’ meetings in Arizona. That will be our first chance to ask Bowles about McCown. It will be interesting to hear how Bowles frames the quarterback pecking order. A few weeks ago at the Scouting Combine, Bowles said Petty and Hackenberg would get a chance to compete to be the starter. Will he say this is an open competition? That is not usually Bowles’ way. During his first two years, he has liked to have a defined starter. Remember, Geno Smith was the starter in Year 1 until his jaw was broken. There was no competition with Fitzpatrick. Last year, Bowles made it clear the job was Fitzpatrick’s as soon as he signed his contract despite the lengthy contract standoff.

My guess is Bowles says McCown is No. 1 on the depth chart because of his experience, but the other guys will have a chance to win the job.

3. There had been some speculation that the team had given up on Hackenberg already, but that is not correct. The Jets are not really sure what they have in Hackenberg yet, but that is not uncommon for second-year players. McCown has never played 16 games in a season. Chances are he won’t in 2017. Even if McCown stays healthy, once the Jets feel Hackenberg is ready, he could take over the starting job.

4. Petty might not be as lucky. It feels like Petty is destined to be the odd man out in the Jets’ quarterback room. If the Jets draft a quarterback, Petty could be cut. It is possible he would ask for his release if he thinks he won’t get a chance to play.

5. The signing of McCown basically leaves all options on the table for the Jets when it comes to the draft next month. If they believe there is a franchise quarterback in this draft, they can take him with the sixth pick and throw him into the mix.The Jets had a contingent at North Carolina on Tuesday for Mitchell Trubisky’s pro day. General manager Mike Maccagnan and Bowles were not there, but Trubisky told reporters he has a private visit scheduled with the Jets.

So, Trubisky jerseys might hit the racks just after the McCown ones.

>        http://nypost.com/2017/03/21/why-josh-mccown-may-mean-the-end-of-bryce-petty/

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Why not Colin Kaepernick?

The question has gained momentum on a national scale, and locally, there probably are some New York Jets fans wondering why their team felt compelled to pounce on 37-year-old journeyman Josh McCown without so much as a phone call to Kaepernick.

Spike Lee thinks it's "fishy" and "stinks to the high heavens."

Sorry, Spike, it's just football. And business.

Kaepernick wasn't right for the Jets' quarterback vacancy, and it had nothing to do with whether he kneels, stands or does jumping jacks during the national anthem. Well, yes, that was part of it, but the overriding reason was based on scheme fit and what-have-you-done-for-me-lately.Truth be told, Kaepernick hasn't been a good quarterback in a few years. He lost 16 of his last 19 starts for the San Francisco 49ers and his Total QBR over the last two seasons (52.0) ranked 30th out of 32 qualifying quarterbacks, according to ESPN Stats & Information.Kaepernick was an effective quarterback when operating the 49ers' read-option under Jim Harbaugh (2013) and did some decent things last year in Chip Kelly's gadget offense. But Kaepernick hasn't proved himself as a pocket passer.

When throwing from inside the pocket in 2015 and 2016, Kaepernick's QBR was only 39.8 -- 32nd out of 32 quarterbacks. He's also the only quarterback in each of the last two seasons to complete fewer than 60 percent of his passes while averaging fewer than 7 yards per attempt (minimum: 200 attempts).The Jets are starting over on offense with new coordinator John Morton, who will install a conventional system, probably a form of the West Coast offense. The idea is to build a foundation. With Kaepernick, he would have had to alter the system, and that would've made no sense for a player who probably would've been one-and-done. It would have had a negative effect on the development of QB Christian Hackenberg, who is learning his fourth offense in the last five years, counting Penn State.

So why McCown ?

McCown is a football vagabond with an 18-42 record as a starter, but he's like a La-Z-Boy chair -- he makes people feel comfortable. He can adapt to different schemes and different coaches, and he's a good teammate. Clearly, the Jets wanted the noncontroversial, inexpensive route, avoiding a player whose politics might have divided the fan base.

If you're choosing between stopgap quarterbacks, the tie should go to the player who won't be a distraction. Kaepernick's polarizing actions and beliefs would have created a firestorm in New York, and let's be honest: The last thing owner Woody Johnson needed was a divisive influence in his stadium and, perhaps, his locker room. It'll be hard enough to keep the customers happy, considering the current state of the product.

Sports is a business, and every NFL owner has the right to decide which players are good and bad for business.

Let's not be naive and say the other stuff didn't matter. Kaepernick and Johnson are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Johnson has raised millions for the GOP and served as a major fundraiser for Donald Trump during his presidential campaign -- the same Trump who publicly criticized Kaepernick last fall for his national-anthem protests and continues to tweak the quarterback. And, by the way, Johnson soon could be working for Trump as his ambassador to the United Kingdom.Perhaps trying to send a message to potential employers, Kaepernick reportedly has reversed his stance, indicating he has no plans to continue his anthem protests during the 2017 season. Too late -- he's "that guy." He's also the guy who last summer donned socks depicting cartoon pigs wearing police hats. How do you think that would've been received among the law-enforcement types who buy tickets and work at MetLife Stadium on game days?

In the end, it was about risk/reward. Kaepernick wasn't going to lead the rebuilding Jets to a championship, but he could have held them back in terms of the overall development of the offense.

Easy decision, not fishy at all.

>        http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67660/jets-do-the-right-thing-for-them-by-passing-on-colin-kaepernick

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Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer 

The Jets are showing interest in the draft's top quarterback prospects -- hardly a surprise. They've already held a private workout with Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, a source confirmed, and they're planning a workout with North Carolina's Mitchell Trubisky. No word yet on Clemson's DeShaun Watson and Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes.

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Our New York Jets question of the week focus on the No. 1 storyline surrounding the team: Will they draft another quarterback ?

@RichCimini do you really think bringing in another QB is the best option for this Jets team and the state it is in? #jetsmail

 
@RichCimini : I assume you're referring to the No. 6 overall pick, Ricky. Yes, I think it would be a mistake to pick a quarterback in that spot. First of all, this isn't a strong quarterback class. None of the top four prospects -- Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer and Patrick Mahomes -- are regarded as Day 1 starters. All they'd be doing is putting another developmental quarterback on the bench, alongside Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty (if he sticks).

The Jets are performing due diligence on every quarterback, and it sounds like they like Trubisky, but each one has negatives that give reason for pause. They should devote 2017 to finding out about Hackenberg, and that means getting him into the lineup at some point. If he fizzles, you can draft a quarterback next year. The Class of 2018, which could be headed by USC's Sam Darnold, already is being hyped as one of the stronger classes in recent years. There also could be attractive free agents, namely Kirk Cousins and Jimmy Garoppolo.

It would be highly unusual for the Jets to use a high pick on a quarterback one year after investing a second-round pick in Hackenberg, especially since he never got a chance to play. General manager Mike Maccagnan insisted, "If you take a player at one position, I don't think it's referendum on another player" at the same position. He used the example of picking Leonard Williams despite having a talented defensive line. That, of course, is apples and oranges. Quarterback is different than every other position.

The Jets should use the upcoming draft to build the rest of the team -- the infrastructure, so to speak. They have many needs and there will be very good players available at No. 6. They can pick a safety (Jamal Adams or Malik Hooker) or a cornerback (Marshon Lattimore) or even a running back (Leonard Fournette). You can't pick quarterbacks and defensive linemen every year, for crying out loud. In his first two drafts, Maccagnan used four of 13 picks on those positions, not to mention all the defensive linemen drafted by previous regimes.

Now, if they want to draft a quarterback in the second round or later, that's a different story. The ideal scenario: Acquire another first-round pick and use that on a quarterback if there's a guy you love. If they take the plunge at No. 6, it'll be desperate reach.

>     http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67750/why-on-earth-would-jets-take-a-quarterback-with-sixth-pick

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2013 quarterback draft class was a disaster

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Four years ago, only one quarterback was drafted in the first round, and only two were taken through the first 72 selections. Most teams knew what they were doing in passing on available passers.

In hindsight, the 2013 draft class was a disaster.

Former Bills quarterback EJ Manuel, the 16th overall pick in the draft that year, started 10 games as a rookie and a total of seven since then. He has 19 career touchdown passes, 20 turnovers, and a passer rating of 77.5.

Geno Smith (pictured), picked 39th overall by the Jets, started all 16 games as a rookie and 13 in 2014. A broken jaw resulting from a locker-room punch in August 2015 ended his time with the Jets as a starter; he has 28 touchdown passes, 36 interceptions, seven lost fumbles, and a passer rating of 72.4.The next guy off the board was Mike Glennon, in round three. He played well enough in two seasons to position the Buccaneers to earn the first overall pick in the draft, which they used to pick Glennon’s replacement, Jameis Winston. Glennon started 18 total games before taking a seat behind Winston.With 30 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions, and a passer rating of 84.6, he’s clearly the best of a bad bunch. Which partially explains his $15 million per year deal in Chicago. (It’s still not clear who the Bears were bidding against.)

Also drafted that year were a flurry of fourth-rounders: Matt Barkley, Ryan Nassib, Tyler Wilson, and Landry Jones. Of them, Barkley (six starts) and Jones (four starts) have played the most. Somewhat surprisingly, both ended up with better second contracts than Manuel or Smith.Barkley signed a two-year, $4 million deal with a $500,000 signing bonus in San Francisco. Jones has a two-year, $4.4 million contract in Pittsburgh, with $600,000 to sign. In contrast, Manuel has a one-year, $800,000 contract in Oakland and Smith has a one-year deal with a base value of $775,000 and a maximum value of $2 million.Also drafted that year were a quartet of seventh rounders: Brad Sorensen, Zac Dysert, B.J. Daniels, and Sean Renfree.

So it was a very bad year for quarterbacks in the draft. Kudos to (most) of the teams for realizing this and not over-drafting signal-callers. And condolences to Manuel and Smith for somehow sliding behind Barkley and Jones when the time came to sign a second deal.

>      http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/24/2013-quarterback-draft-class-was-a-disaster/

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How often do teams draft QBs ? Less than Jets

It took some researching, but one positive can be drawn now as it relates to the Jets and their meager quarterback situation.

They’ve been trying.

By one measure, like no team has.

Pro Football Talk collected data over the past decade to analyze how each NFL franchise has approached the quarterback position in the draft. The Jets selected an NFL-high seven over that span, including one in each of the past four drafts. Two of those four, Geno Smith a New York Giant and Tajh Boyd out of the league, are no longer with the club.

It is, of course, tongue-in-cheek to characterize this activity as “positive”; inserting rookies into a huddle and seeing who sticks isn’t an ideal spring rite of passage. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan recently allowed the team may take another dive into the 2017 quarterback class. Josh McCown currently sits atop his depth chart.

Mark Sanchez in 2009 is the Jets’ lone first-round quarterback in the past decade.The Broncos drafted the second-most quarterbacks with six. Two were first-rounders: Paxton Lynch in 2016 and Tim Tebow in 2010.The Browns are one of six teams to have selected five since 2007. No organization, however, has invested more in rookie quarterbacks during this period. Each of Cleveland’s five QBs was taken during the draft’s first three rounds. Johnny Manziel, Brandon Weeden and Brady Quinn were all first-round picks.

New England seems to have a preference for when it goes quarterback.Of the five Bill Belichick drafted in this 10-year span, four were taken in the second or third round.No team recently has invested less in a rookie quarterback than the Chargers. Despite scouting the position heavily, they are one of five teams to have selected an NFL-few two quarterbacks the past 10 years. Brad Sorensen in 2013 and Jonathan Crompton in 2010 were seventh- and fifth-round picks, respectively. Neither remains on the roster.

Like the Chargers, the Steelers and Giants acquired a franchise quarterback during the 2004 draft. And like the Chargers, they’ve yet to make a sizable draft investment in his successor. The Steelers’ only quarterbacks taken in a decade are 2013 fourth-rounder Landry Jones and 2008 fifth-rounder Dennis Dixon. All three of the Giants’ quarterback picks came between rounds four and six.

The Texans and Bears, despite a current need, have drafted just three quarterbacks in 10 years. Tom Savage in 2014 is Houston’s only such pick the past five drafts. All three of the Bears’ selections came in the fifth and sixth rounds. San Francisco hasn’t drafted a quarterback before the sixth round in five straight years.

A franchise that drafts several quarterbacks but hits on none is not rewarded for its effort.

The Jets can attest to this.They’ve invested in a rookie quarterback year after year, hoping at some point someone will come along to fill their vacancy for good. But when that doesn’t transpire, a year passes, and the franchise finds itself in the same situation as it did a year before.

So here they are, beside other teams, sifting through a market for what can seem a mythical good.

The search continues.

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Todd Bowles will meet reporters at 10:15 a.m. ET Tuesday at the AFC coaches' breakfast, an annual event at the NFL owners' meetings. This will be his first time addressing the media since March 2 at the scouting combine, which was before free agency. A lot has happened.

The five most compelling questions for Bowles :

1. Who will go into training camp as the starting quarterback ? Bowles has yet to comment on his newest quarterback, Josh McCown, and his projected role. This is a tricky one for the coach. In his first two seasons, Bowles gave the incumbent first crack at the starting job, naming Geno Smith (2015) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (2016) as the No. 1 quarterback going into training camp. This time, there's no incumbent. Bowles isn't a fan of open competitions because he believes in giving the presumptive starter as many reps as possible to get ready for the season. That's why he may have to bend his philosophy on this one.

What Bowles should say: Bowles should declare it an open competition through mid-June (minicamp) and then re-evaluate. That way, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty (if healthy) will get a good look in organized team activities (OTA practices). Chances are, McCown will emerge as the opening-day starter based on his experience, but he shouldn't be handed anything, not after losing 20 of his last 22 starts. Bowles should devote the spring to finding out if the kids (namely Hackenberg) can handle it.

 

rest of above article : 

>    http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67797/jets-todd-bowles-should-declare-open-qb-competition-for-now

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Veteran’s Leadership Is Revered Around the League

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Newest Jets QB Josh McCownicon-article-link.gif has met plenty of media members throughout his 15-year NFL career and many of them believe he’s a perfect addition to a Jets team with two young quarterbacks.“Great dude,” CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora told Eric Allen at the NFL Owners Meetings. “Beloved by all his teammates. He’s been someone who has really made the most of second and third chances. Five years ago he was coaching high school football and was able to take this second renaissance. He hasn’t taken it for granted at all. He’s super smart and will be great in that quarterback room with all of the young quarterbacks.”

McCown joins two signal callers who have a combined three seasons under their belts. Bryce Pettyicon-article-link.gif, 25, started his first four professional games under center last season and second-year player Christian Hackenbergicon-article-link.gif redshirted his rookie campaign. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan told the media last week two of the reasons the Jets targeted McCown were his character and leadership.“I guarantee when Hackenberg and Petty start talking to him at some point and once they get to know him in the offseason program, they’re going to think he’s a coach on the field,” Houston Chronicle NFL Writer John McClain said. “He’s like a coach in the dressing room with his leadership. If they ask him for advice, he’s not going to teach them the opposite of the coaches and he’s not going to get in the way of the coaches. But he can do things that he’s learned on the field playing that position that the others have not.”

Also in that room will be QBs coach Jeremy Bates, who worked with McCown as part of the Bears organization in 2012.  On a team focused on building with youth, the 37-year-old McCown is a cagey veteran who has seen it all.“Put me on the list of people who will tout Josh McCown as a veteran leader,” said Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. “The presence that he brings, he’ll be good to that locker room. And I think there’s a great deal of importance that can’t be overestimated. It’s a big deal to have a guy who knows his way around the league, who will be good in the room with other quarterbacks. I’ve gotten to know Josh through the years and I have nothing but the greatest respect for him.”

>     http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/McCown-Loaded-with-Intangibles-/f5ba5a72-ce5c-4f1a-9f6b-614181fd722c

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Rich Cimini  ESPN Staff Writer 

Jets coach Todd Bowles, speaking at the owners' meetings, said there will be competition at quarterback between Josh McCown, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty. He said they will "alternate reps" in the spring, and they will re-evaluate before training camp.

>    http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer

The highly scrutinized Christian Hackenberg, who didn't play a single snap last season as a rookie, will have a chance to claim the New York Jets' starting quarterback job.

Todd Bowles, speaking to reporters Tuesday morning at the NFL owners' meetings, declared it an open competition between holdovers Hackenberg and Bryce Petty and recently signed veteran Josh McCown.Bowles also mentioned the possibility of selecting a quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick, saying "there is a scenario" where that could occur.

Some assumed the 37-year-old McCown, with 14 years of experience, would be given the inside track after signing a one-year, $6 million contract (fully guaranteed) last week. But the organization wants to give Hackenberg, a second-round pick in 2016, a legitimate shot at the job."There will be heavy competition for the job," Bowles said. "Nobody has been promised the starting quarterback job. They'll all get a chance to play and we'll make that decision, going forward, when training camp starts as we see production from certain people."

The immediate plan is to have them "alternate reps" through the offseason, Bowles said. The organized team activities (OTA practices) begin May 23 and continue through June 15 with the conclusion of minicamp. At that point, they will re-evaluate.Petty's status is up in the air, as he's still recovering from labrum surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. Bowles said he's not sure when Petty will be able to resume throwing.

The Jets are rebuilding at quarterback because their most experienced signal callers from last season are gone. Ryan Fitzpatrick is a free agent (he won't be re-signed) and Geno Smith signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants.In his first two seasons, Bowles declared a No. 1 quarterback at the start of training camp because he wanted the presumptive starter to get the bulk of the practice time to prepare for the season. He'd like to follow that plan, assuming one player separates from the field.

Essentially, Bowles is looking for a game manager.

"We just have to make sure we have a guy that doesn't turn the ball over and we have a guy that can manage the room, and make sure we help that guy and not put it solely on the quarterback," he said.

As the draft approaches, the Jets have been linked to Deshaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky with the sixth pick."We'll see how it falls and we'll look at the pros and cons of it and we'll make that decision, but there is a scenario, yes," he said.

Asked which quarterback he prefers, Bowles said without hesitation, "Roger Staubach."

>     http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19023524/todd-bowles-says-open-competition-jets-qb-job

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Josh McCownicon-article-link.gif, Bryce Pettyicon-article-link.gif and Christian Hackenbergicon-article-link.gif will all have the opportunity to be the Jets starting quarterback in 2017.  But it also isn’t out of the realm of possibility that the Jets select a quarterback with the No. 6 overall selection and that rookie becomes the opening-day starter.“Well there’s going to be a competition. Josh is coming in, Hack is coming back and we’ll see where Bryce is with his health,” said head coach Todd Bowles Tuesday at the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix, AZ. “Hack will get a chance to prove himself this year and Josh will get a chance to prove himself, so we’re looking forward to it. And if we decide to add one, we’ll add one to the mix there whether it’s the draft or a free agent.

“But we’re going to have an open competition and the guy who will earn that spot will truly earn it.”

Only days after GM Mike Maccagnan said all options remain on the table at the QB position, Bowles said the team could draft a quarterback in Round 1 and that prospect could potentially win the job.“It’s not out of the realm of possibilities. Obviously things have to fall the way we want,” he said. “We have a lot of evaluating to do before the draft comes up and we’ll see where we are with the No. 6 pick and how the things fall before us. Then we’ll go from there.”

Bowles and new Jets QB coach Jeremy Bates spent some time with McCown in Miami and Chicago respectively. There is familiarity there and Bowles said the 15-year veteran liked some of the things he heard from offensive coordinator John Morton.“He can throw the ball,” said Bowles of McCown. “He’s very smart, gets rid of the ball fast, accurate, but he needs how to learn how to slide feet first instead of head first. He’ll go to some Yankees games and learn how to slide. He manages the game very well.”

Coming off a professional redshirt season, Hackenberg will face a completely different situation this spring when he returns for offseason workouts.“He’s got to be excited because he’s got a chance to compete for the starting job right now, which is what he wanted to do in the first place,” Bowles said. “There won’t be any redshirting this year. He’ll have a chance to go out, prove himself and play.”

A second-round pick from Penn State in the 2016 NFL Draft, Hackenberg spent most of his first season directing the scout-team offense after setting Penn State records with 8,457 passing yards and  48 passing touchdowns.“It was more mentally than physically,” Bowles said of Hackenberg’s NFL introduction. “We knew he could throw the ball, but his mental reps while watching ballgames and getting some experience from different types of blitzes is invaluable.”Petty started four games and appeared in six, completing 56.4 percent of his passes with 3 TDs and 7 INTs before suffering a torn labrum in his non-throwing left shoulder during a Week 16 contest at New England.

“He made some mistakes, some key throws, but some key interceptions as well, which is to be expected his first time starting for a couple games in a row,” said Bowles, who did not have an update on Petty’s progress from offseason surgery. “Hopefully he learned from that and moves forward from there.”

Bowles, entering his third season with the Jets, talked about the two qualities he is looking for in the eventual starter.“I played for Coach (Joe) Gibbs and we had different quarterbacks all the time. The first year it worked out and the second year it didn’t,” he said of the Jets’ 2015-16 campaigns. “We didn’t have such a good year so the third year going in, we just have to make sure we have a guy who doesn’t turn the ball over and a guy that commands the room. We have to make sure to help that guy and not put it solely on the quarterback.”

>      http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Jets-Will-Have-an-Open-Competition-at-QB/78f98923-8daa-4de3-ad1c-4b6349dcd4d6

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Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer 

Jets brass will be in Chapel Hill, N.C., today for a private workout with UNC QB Mitchell Trubisky. He put it on the radar at his recent pro day, when he said the Jets were one of the teams that wanted private time with him. The Jets say they're open to drafting a quarterback with the sixth pick, which would surprise many around the league. They've also worked out Clemson's Deshaun Watson and Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer.

>       http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

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Should the New York Jets take quarterback Mitch Trubisky in the 2017 NFL Draft? Here are the pros and cons they must weigh. 
 
Should the Jets draft Mitch Trbisky ?

Coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan both danced around the question this past week. Bowles at the AFC coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meeting, and Maccagnan during a pre-meeting teleconference. 

If the Jets take a quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft, is it an indictment on Christian Hackenberg ?

Per Maccagnan: "I don't think that taking a player at one position is a referendum on another player," he said. "I think that the goal is always to put together the best roster you can. Of course, quarterback is a very, very important position in this process. But I wouldn't necessarily view it as a referendum."And per Bowles: “You hope Hack gets better and is going to come back with a new attitude. You want him to play better right from that standpoint. It’s not going to stop us from drafting a quarterback. Hack’s not afraid of competition and nobody else on the roster needs to be afraid of competition. If you are, you’re in the wrong business.

While few will know exactly how the Jets feel about this year's passing prospects, they're certainly doing their homework. The Jets have had private workouts with Clemson's Deshaun Watson, Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, and, on Thursday, UNC's Mitch Trubisky. And despite what Maccagnan and Bowles say, taking a quarterback in the first round, one year after taking Hackenberg in the second, isn't the best look

Trubisky is believed to be the best quarterback in a weak quarterback class, so it makes sense why the Jets are getting an up-close look at him. It could be for due diligence, to entice another team to trade up with them, or because they actually want to draft Trubisky. 

If it's the latter, what should weigh on the minds of Maccagnan and his scouting department? Here are the pros and cons to the possibility of drafting the Trubisky : 

PRO : He has all the talent in the world

From an athletic point of view, there's an awful lot to like about Mitch Trubisky. He has a cannon for an arm, pinpoint accuracy when need be, and deceptive mobility. At the combine, Trubisky actually said he feels his mobility is something not talked about enough. He also has the near perfect build — 6-3, 220. That's plenty big enough to take hits and get back up.Trubisky threw for 3,748 yards with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions last season, and completed 68 percent of his passes. He led UNC to an 8-5 record.

CON : He's no sure-thing

Yes, those above stats look great ... but they're also, basically, the only stats he has from three years at UNC. Last season was the first year Trubisky started. He was tremendous, no doubt, but are 13 games of experience enough to make a sound judgement? Is that enough to show the Jets he can, without a doubt, be a franchise quarterback ? There are also some very real concerns about Trubisky's ability to play the mental aspect of the game. According to NFL.com, he took 98 percent of his snaps from the shotgun. Can he play under center? Trubisky is a top prospect in this class, but needs some work. 

PRO : He'd be the Jets quarterback of the future

There are some concerns the Jets don't have their quarterback of the future on the roster. Taking Trubisky at No. 6 wound ensure — well, at least mean the Jets hope — they do. Bryce Petty looks more like a career backup, and no one quite knows what Christian Hackenberg is.You're nothing in the NFL without a quarterback. Any coach will tell you that. Trubisky is the best shot the Jets have of getting one since, maybe, Mark Sanchez. 

The crazy thing to think about ? The Jets missed out on a golden opportunity to have a chance at now-Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota. If only they'd lost to Tennessee in Week 15 of 2014, there's a good chance they pick No. 2, not No. 6, in 2015.The Jets, of course, wouldn't have defensive end Leonard Williams right now. But I'm sure some would be OK with that if it meant Mariota was under center. 

CON : Can the Jets afford to take a quarterback ... again?

The Jets took Bryce Petty in the fourth round in 2015. They took Hackenberg in the second round last year. Can they really afford to take another quarterback this draft ?  I understand Mike Maccagnan's belief — keep taking quarterbacks until you get one. But this is getting a little absurd. The Jets aren't exactly a team with the luxury of doing this. They have roster needs — a lot of them. By constantly using draft picks on quarterbacks, they're prohibiting themselves from rounding out the roster elsewhere. 

PRO : It could open up trade options

The Jets aren't going to have four quarterbacks again next year. It hurt their roster last season, the development of Christian Hackenberg, and it won't be done again. If the Jets were to draft Trubisky, they'd likely trade either Petty or Hackenberg.To me, this makes sense: Throw both up on the block, trade whomever nets the best return. If that's Hackenberg, trade Hackenberg. If it's Petty, trade Petty. Get another pick or two to address this roster. 

CON : There are other, better options out there

Trubisky is no sure thing. We've already gone over that. But aside from that, other players in this draft are viewed as better overall players.Running back Leonard Fournette (LSU), for example. Cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (OSU) or Marlon Humphrey (Alabama); safeties Malik Hooker (OSU) or Jamal Adams (LSU).By taking Trubisky, the Jets prevent themselves from grabbing another more proven player. 

>      http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/03/should_the_jets_draft_unc_qb_mitch_trubisky_pros_a.html#incart_river_index

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-- Few outside One Jets Drive have seen Christian Hackenberg play. At least not since the quarterback walked off the field in last year's preseason finale. 

Despite all the Jets' quarterback issues, Hackenberg rode the bench. His reps came not in games -- he was inactive for 15 of 16 -- but on the scout team offense.That scout team offense went up against the Jets' starting defense, where Buster Skrine is a cornerback.So what's Skrine's assessment? Did Hackenberg get better? Worse?

"Christian improved every day," Skrine told NJ Advance Media this weekend at Life Time Athletic in Manhattan, where he hosted an interval class to raise money for several charities. "I like him. I like him a lot. From Year 1 to Year 2? That's a big jump for a quarterback."Hackenberg, a second round pick in 2016, is arguably the Jets' most polarizing player. Some are all about waiting for him to develop, while others take his lack of playing time as a sign he's not the player the Jets hoped. Damning reports from earlier in the season didn't help things. An anonymous Jets coach reportedly said Hackenberg "couldn't hit the ocean," while another added he "regressed."But there's confidence inside the locker room Hackenberg can be the answer.

"He has a good arm and every tool," Skrine said. "All it takes is some playing time. He'll get his shot. He was taken in the second round. So [management] have trust in him."Skrine is right. From an intangible standpoint, Hackenberg checks all the boxes. He has a brilliant football mind, the perfect size (6-4, 220) and a cannon for an arm. He's a natural leader, can make every throw, and survived the harshest of circumstances at Penn State. But Hackenberg is about as raw as they come. Which is why coach Todd Bowlessat him all of last season. Despite teams forcing rookie quarterbacks into the lineup right away -- Jameis Winston (Bucs), Marcus Mariota (Titans), Carson Wentz (Eagles), Dak Prescott (Cowboys) -- Hackenberg received an unorthodox redshirt year. 

The hope is this season he can compete with Bryce Petty and Josh McCown to be the starter. Assuming the Jets don't draft a quarterback, which isn't out of the question."Coming in, he'll have a chance to play," Bowles said at the NFL owners meeting last week. "He got to sit a lot last year. He got to see a lot of things. We're hoping he puts that to use this year. We're expecting him to."We had no plans on playing him, even with the year going the way it did. He was positive, he understood it."

Skrine's charitable nature goes back to his time in Cleveland, when he created Skrine Pro Speed. He'd go to local high schools and train kids for free. When he signed with the Jets in 2015, he continued. Everything changed when someone asked him if he happened to do interval classes.After researching the music-themed workouts, and tweaking them to be a bit more football-oriented, Skrine gave it a shot. He's now hooked."When I retire," Skrine said, laughing, "I'm doing this 24/7." 

While the classes are no longer free, all proceeds go to go to Path Mentorship and Eternally Cherished, a non-profit organization which helps women and children. Skrine travels all over New Jersey and New York to teach the classes. He's even gotten several current and ex-teammates to join in the fun.Things are starting to pick, too. Six attended his first class. Videos on his Instagram (see here, here and here) show what they're like now."It's my way of giving back," Skrine said. "We went to all the boys and girls clubs in New Jersey. Two in New York. Homeless shelters in New Jersey. Schools. 

"I love it. Pretty much the entire foundation helps single moms and children of need."

>      http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2017/04/buster_skrine_big_things_coming_for_jets_christian.html#incart_river_index

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Jets' interest in Mitchell Trubisky triggers memories of Mark Sanchez ... ouch

In 2009, the New York Jets fell in love with quarterback Mark Sanchez, a one-year wonder in college whom they drafted with the fifth pick after trading up. He delivered a few moments of promise, but eventually faded to mediocrity. Now he's playing for his fifth team, having gone from franchise savior to journeyman backup.

As another draft approaches, the Jets find themselves in the same situation. They're showing significant interest in Mitchell Trubisky, whose experience, statistics, height, weight and athletic measurables are eerily similar to those of Sanchez. Most notably, Trubisky started only 13 games at North Carolina, which will be the fewest by a first-round quarterback since -- wait for it -- Sanchez's 16 at USC.

And now I will explain why the challenge of developing Trubisky would be harder than it was with Sanchez.

Unlike the '09 Jets, the current team is ill-equipped to handle the inevitable growing pains of a greener-than-usual rookie quarterback. If Trubisky were the Week 1 starter, he'd struggle big-time behind a rebuilt offensive line and a supporting cast that lacks legitimate weapons.There's no substitute for experience, but there's also risk in throwing an ill-prepared rookie into an adverse situation. The most glaring example occurred in 2002, when the expansion Houston Texans put No. 1 overall pick David Carr behind a patchwork line and ruined him with 76 sacks. That's not to say the Jets have expansion-level talent, but it wouldn't be the ideal environment to nurture a young talent. The way they're constructed, they're not fit for a rookie quarterback.

Back then, Sanchez walked into the ideal situation.

The Jets owned the league's top rushing attack and the best defense and surrounded Sanchez with a veteran lineup filled with pro's pros -- Tony Richardson, Alan Faneca, Thomas Jones, Damien Woody and Jerricho Cotchery, to name a few. Essentially, they were babysitters, making sure their kid quarterback didn't get in the way.Sanchez tested their patience with 20 interceptions, but the Jets overcame his mistakes and reached the AFC Championship Game. Coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer never got enough credit for coaching around Sanchez, nearly making the Super Bowl with a turnover-prone rookie.The 2017 Jets are in a different place -- a far different place -- than their '09 ancestors. Any rookie, whether it's Trubisky or the well-seasoned Deshaun Watson (35 starts), would have a hard time leading this outfit. They could try the "redshirt" approach, as they did with Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, but what kind of message does it send if you pick a quarterback sixth overall and sit him on the bench with the other projects?

It would put them between a rookie and a hard place, almost a Catch-22.

Arizona Cardinals coach and noted quarterback guru Bruce Arians, speaking at last week's owners' meetings, called Trubisky "a really talented player. The growth potential is obviously there. The question is why wasn’t all that talent starting for the last three years? That's always bugging me."ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay echoed that sentiment, saying Trubisky's lack of experience is "scary." But he also praised his physical skill, especially his pocket presence and accuracy.

If the Jets draft Trubisky, it would be deja Sanchez, minus the supporting cast. They project mirror images.

Trubisky is 6-foot-2, 222 pounds; Sanchez's scouting-combine numbers were 6-foot-2, 225 pounds.They posted the same broad jump (116 inches), almost the same time in the shuttle (Sanchez 4.21 seconds, Trubisky 4.25) and a similar three-cone time (Trubisky 6.87, Sanchez 7.06). Trubisky won the 40-yard dash (4.67 to 4.88), but Sanchez jumped higher (32.5 inches to 27.5 inches).

On the field, Sanchez threw 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in college, while Trubisky went 41 and 10.

Get the picture?

>      http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67925/jets-interest-in-mitch-trubisky-triggers-memories-of-mark-sanchez-ouch

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19 minutes ago, kelly said:

Jets' interest in Mitchell Trubisky triggers memories of Mark Sanchez ... ouch

In 2009, the New York Jets fell in love with quarterback Mark Sanchez, a one-year wonder in college whom they drafted with the fifth pick after trading up. He delivered a few moments of promise, but eventually faded to mediocrity. Now he's playing for his fifth team, having gone from franchise savior to journeyman backup.

As another draft approaches, the Jets find themselves in the same situation. They're showing significant interest in Mitchell Trubisky, whose experience, statistics, height, weight and athletic measurables are eerily similar to those of Sanchez. Most notably, Trubisky started only 13 games at North Carolina, which will be the fewest by a first-round quarterback since -- wait for it -- Sanchez's 16 at USC.

And now I will explain why the challenge of developing Trubisky would be harder than it was with Sanchez.

Unlike the '09 Jets, the current team is ill-equipped to handle the inevitable growing pains of a greener-than-usual rookie quarterback. If Trubisky were the Week 1 starter, he'd struggle big-time behind a rebuilt offensive line and a supporting cast that lacks legitimate weapons.There's no substitute for experience, but there's also risk in throwing an ill-prepared rookie into an adverse situation. The most glaring example occurred in 2002, when the expansion Houston Texans put No. 1 overall pick David Carr behind a patchwork line and ruined him with 76 sacks. That's not to say the Jets have expansion-level talent, but it wouldn't be the ideal environment to nurture a young talent. The way they're constructed, they're not fit for a rookie quarterback.

Back then, Sanchez walked into the ideal situation.

The Jets owned the league's top rushing attack and the best defense and surrounded Sanchez with a veteran lineup filled with pro's pros -- Tony Richardson, Alan Faneca, Thomas Jones, Damien Woody and Jerricho Cotchery, to name a few. Essentially, they were babysitters, making sure their kid quarterback didn't get in the way.Sanchez tested their patience with 20 interceptions, but the Jets overcame his mistakes and reached the AFC Championship Game. Coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer never got enough credit for coaching around Sanchez, nearly making the Super Bowl with a turnover-prone rookie.The 2017 Jets are in a different place -- a far different place -- than their '09 ancestors. Any rookie, whether it's Trubisky or the well-seasoned Deshaun Watson (35 starts), would have a hard time leading this outfit. They could try the "redshirt" approach, as they did with Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, but what kind of message does it send if you pick a quarterback sixth overall and sit him on the bench with the other projects?

It would put them between a rookie and a hard place, almost a Catch-22.

Arizona Cardinals coach and noted quarterback guru Bruce Arians, speaking at last week's owners' meetings, called Trubisky "a really talented player. The growth potential is obviously there. The question is why wasn’t all that talent starting for the last three years? That's always bugging me."ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay echoed that sentiment, saying Trubisky's lack of experience is "scary." But he also praised his physical skill, especially his pocket presence and accuracy.

If the Jets draft Trubisky, it would be deja Sanchez, minus the supporting cast. They project mirror images.

Trubisky is 6-foot-2, 222 pounds; Sanchez's scouting-combine numbers were 6-foot-2, 225 pounds.They posted the same broad jump (116 inches), almost the same time in the shuttle (Sanchez 4.21 seconds, Trubisky 4.25) and a similar three-cone time (Trubisky 6.87, Sanchez 7.06). Trubisky won the 40-yard dash (4.67 to 4.88), but Sanchez jumped higher (32.5 inches to 27.5 inches).

On the field, Sanchez threw 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in college, while Trubisky went 41 and 10.

Get the picture?

>      http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67925/jets-interest-in-mitch-trubisky-triggers-memories-of-mark-sanchez-ouch

The only thing these two have in common is the lack of starting experience at the college level.  Mark Sanchez has/had neither the Arm Strength , the Mobility, the accuracy  or the Pocket  presence of Trubisky .  One guy threw to wide open all stars and the other threw to WRs who knew how to get open .

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Tony Romo's decision to leave the NFL for the CBS booth won't have a dramatic effect on the New York Jets in the upcoming draft, and here's why:

The Houston Texans, who would've been the most likely landing spot for Romo, have been thinking about drafting a quarterback the entire time. According to the all-knowing John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, "Even if the Texans had acquired Romo, it would not have affected their thinking about this month's draft. They'll use a high draft choice, possibly a first-round pick, on a quarterback."

The Texans own the 25th pick, 19 spots behind the Jets in the first round and 14 spots ahead of the Jets' second-round pick.

If the Jets don't take a quarterback with the sixth pick (and I don't think they will), they could target one at No. 39 -- or perhaps try to move up to grab one at the bottom of the first round. The biggest threat was -- and remains -- the Texans, a playoff team that might be a quarterback away from competing for a championship.There are no fewer than six teams that could take a quarterback between the Jets' first- and second-round picks: the Buffalo Bills (No. 10), Cleveland Browns (No. 12), Arizona Cardinals (No. 13), Texans, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 27) and San Francisco 49ers (No. 34).

Simply put, the supply could be gone if the Jets wait.

Mitchell Trubisky is expected to be the first quarterback off the board, followed by Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes and DeShone Kizer. Mahomes is rising and could jump ahead of Watson. The evaluations on these players vary widely, making it a beauty-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder situation.

The law of supply and demand also will be in effect, and that's why it wouldn't be a shock to see three or four go in the first round.

>      http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/67939/how-tony-romos-retirement-impacts-jets-draft-plans-at-quarterback

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