It’s widely expected that the Jets are hoping to add a backup quarterback who can provide Mark Sanchez with a little push and/or be a viable alternative if Sanchez underachieves next season.
So far, the name that has come up most often for that role has been Chad Henne. Henne’s experience with new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, his lack of a role in Miami and the remote chance that he’ll get a starting place anywhere else make him an obvious choice for the team.
He’s not the only one, though. Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com reports that the team has had discussions about pursuing Jason Campbell as a free agent. Campbell is likely to leave the Raiders after leading them to a 4-2 record as a starter before his season-ending collarbone injury. He’s had a bit more success as a starter than Henne over the course of his career, although not quite enough that he can hope to get more than a shot at a starting job with a new team.
Cimini lays out some pros and cons for Campbell in New York. In his favor is the addition of former Raiders receivers coach Sanjay Lal in the same role with the Jets, especially with Sparano talking about using some concepts from Oakland in the offense. Working against him is that some with the Jets feel he needs a lot of practice reps to be effective, something that won’t come if Campbell is serving as Sanchez’s backup.
That latter point would seem to be the kind of thing that would swing the Jets in a direction other than Campbell’s, but you don’t always get your first choice when players have a say in where they wind up.