As Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne prepares to play against the Jets on Sunday, he’s thinking about how close he came to becoming a member of the Jets in March.
Henne confirmed that Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, who coached him in Miami, was eager to sign him as Mark Sanchez’s backup.
“Tony called me as soon as free agency opened,” Henne said, via the New York Post. “Obviously Mark signed his contract before that, but they still were interested and wanted to get me in on a visit. But I had two visits already lined up, here at Jacksonville and also in Seattle, so New York kinda would’ve been my third opportunity. But it just didn’t work out. It was more coach Sparano and his offense feeling comfortable with me running that more than anything. Whether it worked out or not, it is what it is.”
It’s fascinating to think how the Jets’ quarterback circus might have changed if Henne were there. Perhaps the Tim Tebow trade never would have happened, and Tebow would have landed in Jacksonville instead. Perhaps with a more viable backup, Jets coach Rex Ryan would have had a quicker hook with Sanchez, and Henne would be starting for the Jets instead of the Jaguars on Sunday.
But either way, both the Jets and the Jaguars would probably still stink.