29 i believe.. Idea really is to add potentially startable depth if Clemens or Ratliff don't pan out this year.
I'm all for that, I think we need a guy like that, whether it's Leftwich or someone else. He's 29, that's perfect. We don't need another kid and we don't need another guy on his way to retirement.
How many teams can boast of a franchise QB for the next 5 to 10 years? Every year in NFL is unique. Outside of Manning and Brady, there aren't many QB's that will take over a game. There are some real talented young QB's like Cutler, Rivers, Ryan, etc.. who may prove to have a real promising future. But majority of teams need to get by with veteran retreads, game managers, or prospects. The Jets have prospects only at this point, who will be given every shot to start. Adding a veteran is just insurance in case they don't work out, or if the veteran surprises (like Warner or Collins)... Leftwich is best veteran option on the market this year, and draft options not overwhelming.. I'm not crazy about idea, but it makes sense from a depth perspective.
Leftwich sucks, why would you want him on the team? Only place he's taking this team is to the top of the draft, I'd rather go with Farve another season then to bring in Leftwich...
if anything...Leftwich is a reliable backup. He doesn't have the tools to take us deep into the playoffs.
He doesn't have the tools to take us to the playoffs Hell he doesn't even have the tools to give us a winning season
that's why i said he's perfect in a "backup" role. I wouldn't want him to be the starter...but if our starter ever went down...he'd fill in nicely I would think. Remember...Rex Ryan has alluded to the media that our offense will be heavy on the "Run" plays.....Leftwich is capable of handing the ball off....and he still has a cannon for an arm for the odd pass play. I just don't like his mobility, his slow release, nor his decision-making ability.
I think it will all come down to what Schottenheimer thinks... he's been with Clemens and Ratliff for a while so my guesses are: a) he thinks one of them will be able to be the starter so next year it's up to them + Ainge b) he isn't all that sure about these two guys so they bring in a vet since it's not like Ainge will ever be starting material (or will he?) My plan is: This year bring in a vet so Ratliff, Clemens and the vet can battle it out and sign Ainge to your practice squad. Next year cut the guy who became the 3rd stirng quaterback and replace him with Ainge. If the starter had success leave him as the starter and the other guy as backup, if he didn't (i would measure it on us going to the playoffs) draft a QB in the first round and cut him while keeping the replacement to battle it out. In synthesis: 2009: Clemens, Ratliff, Carr or Leftwich 2010: Rookie, Ratliff, Ainge (or someone else young if they don't think he's becoming a good QB). Another option would be maybe to trade for Leinart this year but i wouldn't offer that much for him.
I'd hate Leftwitch as a starting QB. A great college player but he doesn't have the skills to take the Jets anywhere...someone so sluggish in the pocket with such a slow release would get absolutely murdered by all the good defenses in the AFC. At least if you sign someone like Grossman there's a slight possibility that he could elevate the team above where they are now (though I personally think that Sexy Rexy would be an unmitigated disaster.) Leftwitch is just inviting more mediocrity.
im all for giving leftwich a shot, he has alot of talent and is smart and reads defenses well, if we can protect him well enough he has all the tools to succeed. some of you guys need to take a word of advice from a Jet fan in Charlotte. whoever said Carr is done is absoluetly right. David Carr is afraid to get hit and plays like a p ussy throws the ball away too much and is afraid to throw the ball to the number one reciever because he doesn't know what open in the nfl is. i cant tell you how many times i saw steve smith open watching a panthers game and carr look off him because he was afraid to throw the ball and then end up with a sack, throw away, poor pass for poor yardage to poor recievers instead. and i've seen quite a few georgia games down here to and obviously quite a few usc games since im a notre dame fan too. my opinion, sanchez has much more nfl potential than stafford. bill walsh said the top two factors for qb sucsess are accuracy and intelligence and stafford does not make good football decisions. throws way too many picks on a stacked georgia team with a great college rb and a couple really good recievers. not impressed at all, another big arm protype size qb who will be a absolute bust in the nfl. some of you guys seem like you want to have young qbs just to hope one pans out, that is not the way we should operate. if a qb is there at our pick that the coaching staff scouts and front office think can be a successful qb then sure take him but dont just say ohh sanchez and stafford are franchise qbs if ones there we need to take him without doing due diligence. no way stafford gets this team anywhere near the amount of wins byron leftwich would get them over the next 2-3 years.
What is this fascination with Leftwich? It's pointless. Let's say this in a summarized sentence to try and make sense of it. "I don't want Favre back, and I don't want to use who we already have. I don't want to move up in the draft. But I will take Carr or Leftwich. So what they've both been through other teams without major success" Does that make any fucking sense to you?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3870610&name=clayton_john Ready for second chance: Byron Leftwich will start mapping out his strategy to get a starting job on Monday, but he's going to enjoy the experience of being the Steelers' backup quarterback until then. Leftwich could be a good fit in Tampa Bay or Minnesota. If the Jets lose Brett Favre to retirement, they might make a move on him. Leftwich feels as though he learned a lot working behind Ben Roethlisberger and will be a better starting quarterback once he gets another chance. I mean I'm not the biggest fan of Leftwich, but I thought I would bring this into the arguement.
Draft Josh Freeman at pick 17. QB problem solved More upside than Stafford and Sanchez. More experience than Sanchez
