Posted: Wednesday March 25, 2009 2:48PM; Updated: Wednesday March 25, 2009 4:57PM Jim Trotter > INSIDE THE NFL Coaches show confidence despite unsettled quarterback situations DANA POINT, Calif. -- Rex Ryan is the son of Buddy, the former longtime NFL coach who was known for his straight talk and never-back-down attitude. So it came as little surprise this week when the younger Ryan was ready for some verbal sparring when it came to questions about his quarterback situation with the Jets. rest of article : http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...qbs/index.html ___________________ > http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/sherwood__2_/albums.jhtml?albumId=1483650
Jets' Clemens just wants a chance Bob Glauber - March 27, 2009 / FLORHAM PARK, N.J. Where has Kellen Clemens seen this before? Coach tells you it's an open competition at quarterback heading into training camp. And then - boom! - all of a sudden it's not. Flash back to last summer, when Clemens was in the midst of a preseason battle with Chad Pennington. Just before midnight on Aug. 6, the Jets blew up those plans by trading for Brett Favre. Pennington was shown the door, Clemens the clipboard.Here it is, not even a year later, and there are trade rumblings yet again, this time involving disgruntled Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. The Jets have expressed interest in Cutler - although at this point, it's extremely preliminary, and there are increasing indications that Cutler isn't going anywhere. Even so, Clemens can't help hearing the background noise. "At this point, it's March 26, and it's either going to happen or it's not," Clemens said yesterday during a break in his offseason conditioning workouts."I am approaching it the same way I did last year when everything started surfacing about Brett. Now, granted, that came true. If it happens, it happens. My job right now is just to go out in this first minicamp especially, to prove that we don't need to go outside of what is already in this locker room."As it stands now, Clemens is in a battle with Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge for the starter's job. New coach Rex Ryan has indicated to all three quarterbacks it's a wide-open competition.Then again, a few more blowups from two time zones away, and things can easily change. If Cutler refuses to mend fences with first-year coach Josh McDaniels, who entertained the notion of trading for quarterback Matt Cassel before the Patriots sent him to the Chiefs, then there is no assurance that either of the three quarterbacks in the locker room yesterday will be under center on opening day. Ratliff, who had a terrific preseason in 2008, said he has no problem tuning out the speculation about Cutler."I try not to focus on things like that because I can't control that," he said. "I can control being here early. I can control how hard I work, so that is what I am going to continue to do. If they do decide to trade for Cutler, or pick him up, or draft a guy, or whatever they feel they need to do to help the team, I am all for it. That is what I am trying to do here - to help the team."Earlier in the week, Ryan gushed about his three quarterbacks during the NFL owners meetings in California."We like the guys we've got," Ryan said. "We think with Brett Ratliff, Kellen Clemens and Erik Ainge, we have three young quarterbacks. These quarterbacks have been able to stay in the same system their entire career. It's not like you're getting a rookie. "For Kellen Clemens, this will be his fourth year in this system. He's backed up some pretty good quarterbacks. Obviously with Brett Favre, everyone's going to back him up. With Brett Ratliff, all he did last year was have a 122.5 passer rating in the preseason. He's never had a chance in a regular-season game, but it would be hard to get that kind of rating if you were going against air. We'll see how he plays."Sure doesn't sound like a coach who's ready to blow everything up. Then again, what's Ryan supposed to say? Even if the Jets are interested in Cutler, it's in Ryan's best interest to stay out of the fray and support the guys already on the roster. After all, if the Jets don't end up acquiring Cutler, Ryan has to deal with the quarterbacks he already has. And if Cutler does come aboard, then Ryan can adjust accordingly. But at least the first-year head coach knows he has three guys willing to fight it out and let the best quarterback play. No bellyaching in this locker room, especially not from Clemens, who has reason to feel uncomfortable about his situation. Eric Mangini slammed the door on his opportunity in 2008, although it was the coach who paid the price for Favre's late-season swoon.Mangini was fired after losing four of his last five to miss the playoffs.Clemens now has another chance, but knows Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum might slam the door in his face once more. The quarterback would at least like to state his case. "I believe if I'm under center," Clemens said, "we have playoff potential."Not a bigger promise than that ? "I'm not going to pull a Namath on you just yet," he quipped.Understood. After all, Clemens knows from experience there are no guarantees. All he wants now is a chance. ____________________ > http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/sherwood__2_/albums.jhtml?albumId=1483650
Ryan confident Jets will find starting QB from options on roster By Vic Carucci | NFL.com Senior Columnist > http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80f84007&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true
on the subj. of our QB dept. : Cutler meter Measuring the interest in Denver's disgruntled quarterback By PFW staff - April 1, 2009 After Tuesday evening?s blockbuster news that the Broncos are officially putting Jay Cutler on the trading block was announced, the list of potential suitors began to grow. We took a look around the league at the clubs that could consider making a major change under center by bidding for Denver?s disgruntled quarterback. The favorites ~ ~ New York Jets ? New coach Rex Ryan has gone out of his way to sing the praises of his nondescript cast of quarterbacks. Just how much of that is coach speak so as not to inflame the already significant speculation that the Jets, for the second consecutive season, are strong contenders to execute one of the most noteworthy NFL trades this decade remains, well, speculation. We can, however, makes some concrete claims: 1) There?s very little evidence that Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff or Erik Ainge are worthy of being a starting quarterback in this league. 2) GM Mike Tannenbaum isn?t shy about making major trade splashes ? i.e. Brett Favre and Kris Jenkins last offseason, and his trading up in the first round each of the past two drafts. 3) They shouldn?t have too much trouble carving out enough salary-cap room to do acquire the Broncos? disgruntled triggerman. Quick math: Gang Green could very well make the cut for Cutler. > http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/NFL+Features/2009/schleiden040109.htm
Take this for what its worth - but I did talk to someone who was at the Teddy Atlas Boxing event a few days ago on Staten Island and Rex Ryan as well as several other Jet players were there. He talked to Ryan and another Jets employee and according to the employee, not Rex Ryan - the Jets are the frontrunners in the Cutler sweepstakes. I have no link, but my guy is reliable. I wouldn't post fake shit on here, and I don't want to put this post as a new thread, so i'll leave it in here, where it won't get buried in the other awful Cutler threads.
God No please... we proved last season that we can't reach the playoffs not because of the quality of our starters but because of the quality of who is backing them up. If we throw away all our major draft picks this year we won't be able to build team depth and that would flat out suck. Plus if, like Rex said, want to be a solid running team why the hell should we get a QB whose main ability is passing deep in almost every play!?!?!? C'mon Redskins... make a kickass offer for Cutler
Talking about Clemens and Ratliff... I hope they get their chance... I really really like Ratliff attitude from what I hear in interviews but I think Clemens is very very motivated... it's his last opportunity to prove something! Hope we give them a shot (unless Sanchez falls to 17 but I don't think so).
Well if every year we pick up a Gholston we might as well give them away for free. I'm defending our draft picks with the idea that we won't screw with ALL of them
That is the crapshoot of the draft. Go back and look at all of the first round picks over the last 10 years and then see how many of those names you can even remember anymore.
i know, but Tanny has done well in not messing up in the 1st round... that's rare for the Jets. Its very non-SOJ.
NDmick, what guys were there? Was Rhodes? He (like a friggin idiot) has made it clear he is opposed to Cutler. not that it matters but still, wondering what his take was if your guy said anything to him.
he didn't tell me which players... he only talked to Ryan, teddy atlas, and a dude in a suit... i'll ask him tomorrow who he saw. He's an old man, so hopefully he still remembers by face and name who was at the event. Last year he met Mangini at the same boxing event, and another time on Staten Island at some dinner during the season before the Titans game and was impressed with how Mangini was very confident in beating the Titans- I can see why. One of the finer moments of last season.
