So you either sit on one side of the fence, or the other side. The first side of the fence: Kellen Clemens has never really been given a chance. Sure he's played some games in 2007; however, that was behind a horrific O-line. He has been given the chance to win the quarterback job in camp, but how fair has the competition been? The second side: Clemens has had his shot. He has had chances to compete and showed that he doesn't have what it takes. Clemens can't take the franchise to where it wants to be, the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl championship. I'm a little in the middle on the two; however, simple economics dictate that Kellen Clemens has little to no chance of starting on opening day. Not many people want Clemens to start on opening day though. We gave up...well very little in reality to acquiring Mark Sanchez, and then we slapped a big fat contract right in front of him worth over $30 million guaranteed. How fair will the competition be this year in camp? Personally, I believe that either Sanchez has to get injured or has to be seriously out-performed by Clemens for there to even be a chance of Clemens taking the snap from Nick Mangold. So lets briefly play the "What if" game. What if Mark Sanchez gets injured in preseason and is out for the regular season. Obviously lets hope not, but it's not impossible. Clemens comes in, does a great job, not just a great job, but a fantastic job. Say a Big Ben 2007 type of performance, 3,000-plus yards, 30 TD, 10 INT and a passer rating of around 65.1. What do we then do? Remember that this is Clemens' last contracted year with the Jets. We have spent a long time looking for that franchise quarterback, and Clemens behind an above average line looks like he can be that guy. Do we resign him? We can't. We are now committed to Sanchez. The logical thing to do would be to slap the franchise tag on him and then trade him, but going back to the "what if" game again, what if we have not signed Leon Washington at the end of the season? Who do we choose? Do we value Leon more than what we could get by potentially trading a franchise quarterback? Of course this is wildly speculative, but it's probably worth spending just a minute or so thinking about. Are we Mark Sanchez or bust? Irrelevant of how Clemens' performs if he was to be given a chance. Opinion will be based on which side of the fence you sit. Some will believe that he has already been given the chance, and there is no point thinking about this because there is no way that he can perform to the extent where an expensive franchise tag would be warranted. Let's not forget that Clemens at one point in his college career was spoken of like a first round talent. He had the intangibles, the drive, but has he really been given a fair chance to succeed? I want to clarify that I'm as excited as the next Jets fan in regards to Mark Sanchez; however, I also feel that Clemens has probably not been given a fair shot. Being the Jets, we will likely let Clemens go, and then watch him perform like an All-Star for another franchise, while we struggle along. Completely negative view there, and not how I feel events will unfold, but like I have mentioned throughout this article...it's worth thinking about. So what to do with Clemens? Let me hear your thoughts. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/212731-anyway-that-kellen-clemens-starts-this-season
no chance, BUT if all your what ifs go down, then franchise tag. I like Clemens, I think he was ruined by learning from Chad. You can just see him playing not to lose. Of course, that was pretty much his best bet in 2007.
Yes. There is a way. If Clemens continues to out produce Sanchez he will be the starting Quarterback. However, if Sanchez comes close to or ties Clemens in the Training Camp Competition, Sanchez will be under center on September 13th against Houston.
what a chicken little, sky is falling retarded blog of an article. OMG what if clemens is the next Montana and Sanchez has a good but not great career??!?!?!?!?!?!?! text your BFF about it.
KC needs to start this year to give Sancho time to integrate the pro game. It will also help to find out what he is capable of with a decent team behind him. The loss of Coles will hurt that chance, but it is still better than what we gave him to work with in '07 or putting him on the bench in favor of King Douchebag in '08. KC starting is the best option either way you look at it. If he does poorly, Sancho can start in 2010 or late 2009 with some experience under his belt and we cut or losses with Clemens. If he does well, we have a great dilemma in which we can get good value for him in a trade (He will be a Restricted Free Agent in the uncapped 2010). If he does mediocre, we may be able to convince him to stay on as a backup. Win-win-win.
Must say that I'm on the first side of the fence. I dont believe the guy ever really got a fair shot behind that lousy O-line in 2007, a bad Thomas Jones year & poor utilization of Leon Washington. Maybe he didn't exactly WOW the coaching staff enough in practice for them to start him over Pennington or Favre or even now Sanchez. But there are plenty of QBs who got their shot in a game situation for an injured QB & have performed better than they ever could by trying to take away the starter's job in TC or practice (Tom Brady comes to mind). Last year was the only year we really could have gotten a decent solid idea if Clemens could cut in this league, but Brett Favre had to f--k everything up. Jeez, we didnt even learn anything about Ratliff either.......and we still didnt make the f--king playoffs. Its been a while since I ranted about the 2008 season like that.
I don't understand why there is a fence at all. I want the guy who is best prepared and suited for the job to get the job. I don't care if it's Sanchez, Clemens or Gomer Ainge.
As others have said, I certainly hope there is a chance that Clemens starts the season - if he outperforms Sanchez in training camp/preseason, he starts. The idea that Sanchez MUST start right away because he got signed to a big contract is to me ridiculous, and it's particularly ridiculous to somehow be afraid to play Clemens because he might turn out to be good.
Agree 100% I think (or hope) that the job will be KC's to loose in TC. I don't get the whole point about saying that we payed Sanchez a lot so we HAVE to play him. 1) He's a TOP 5 pick QB so of course he'll get a lot of money. 2) I think throwing a QB to the wolves from game 1 isn't a smart way to PROTECT an investment... it's much safer to let him sit for at least the first 5 games so he gets a feel at the NFL speed without teams killing him. I think KC will outperform Sanchez in Pre-Season and that will be that... and then IF he performs badly MS will step in. Let's not forget in Baltimore Smith (and not Flacco) was the designated starter after TC... only because of Smith illness an Flacco performing above average in pre-season the latter eventually won the starting job.
I understand what you are saying, but what the OP I think is referring to is that the current situation with Clemens's contract is problematic. He's in the last year of his contract. Putting aside for discussion's sake the scenario that he really sucks in camp and pre-season, which of course raises the question how we should feel about going into the season with a rookie starter and crap at backup, the contract situation is what makes the OP's concern something more than about "being afraid" Clemens plays well. One option the Jets have is to sign Clemens to an extension of his current contract, for say one year. Some will say why should he do that? But of course it would depend on the terms of the extension. At the right numbers, the parties can come to an agreement. So, do you extend or not? And if so, when? Let's say as the OP notes the Jets go into the season with Clemens in his last contract year. What are the odds Sanchez starts and plays the whole season? What if the Jets choose to start Sanchez, but not because Clemens peforms badly in pre-season, but in spite of him playing well? Just let him go for nothing at the end of the season? Then the Jets have to go out and get another backup. Starting from scratch. One possibility on that is to let Sanchez play the whole season and learn from the experience, let Clemens go and sign a vet Qb in FA next off season. SOunds simple. What if the Jets were doing that now? It isn't always so easy as it sounds. But back to the one year extension idea - what is the downside to doing that? If he somehow gets in there and plays great, not signing an extension can force the Jets to franchise him when they might need that option for someone else. I think the OP is right - KC's contract situation makes the situation far more complex than simply who starts and let the best player be the one who does.
If Sanchez isn't ready Clemens should start. That by the way has nothing to do with who performs better in some BS QB comp that has to do with a very young QB not being ready to be thrown into the fire. If Sanchez is deemed ready tough for Clemens. If he isn't and Clemens plays great and shows growth to the point where he is a possible top 5 to 10 NFL QB than we have a long term decision to make next off season. At that point if Clemens shows he is a top QB and has the team in his pocket say good bye to Sanchez. More likely the Jets have a nice QB in Clemens and a decent year in the first year of rebuild under a new HC and system. We trade Clemens in the offseason for a high first round pick.
Sorry, I think this is making it far more complicated than it is. The team is hardly "starting from scratch" if they need a different backup, as there are always many potential backups available. The only way extending Clemens makes any sense to me is if the chances are reasonably good that he will have a very good season as a starter, which strikes me as pretty unlikely (I can see him being a better choice than Sanchez in September, but that's not the same thing). Unless he absolutely dazzles in preseason, I wouldn't even consider that.
Clemens will be a Restricted Free Agent in the uncapped 2010 season. That means that we can keep him regardless of his performance or receive a 1st and 3rd round pick for him. This debate is pointless.
The only reason why I didn't include that point is that it is still possible that a settlement will be made and 2010 won't be uncapped, isn't it?
Yeah, there's still a chance of that, but it seems about the same chance as MJ coming back to perform a farewell tour. In that situation, I'd go for the franchise tag if he's good, a moderate backup salary if he's OK, or let him go if he shows nothing.
One year removed from Favre and now a QB controversy ? You guys are making me dizzy...:rofl: Will it be Clemens or will it be Sanchez? The Jets don't have a QB. Irony........
With the Lions set to start Stafford in the opener with their defense and O-line they have, you can ink Sanchez to start for us. They will create a huge media storm all season as to which QB drafted is better. You can't buy better press than that.
