The Jets have resisted declaring that Geno Smith will be the starting quarterback in 2014. And for good reason.
The Jets aren’t yet entirely sold on Smith. And in the event they become completely un-sold on Smith during the 2014 season (or before it even starts), they need a Plan B.
Enter Josh McCown.
Manish Mehta of the New York Dailys News reports that the Jets the Bears may target No.2 quarterback via free agency. The Jets would then be ready to turn to McCown if Smith “regresses,” a term implying a fact that may not be entirely true.
As Mehta correctly observes, the fallback plan can’t be and won’t be Mark Sanchez. The Jets turned the page on Sanchez upon using a high second-round pick last year to get Smith. Benching Smith for Sanchez would represent an admission that G.M. John Idzik made the wrong decision in 2012.
From the perspective of coach Rex Ryan, who’s still coaching for his job in 2014 notwithstanding a supposed multi-year contract extension, the goal will be to have someone who can help win games, if Smith can’t.
McCown can’t be re-signed by the Bears before the start of free agency, because he signed a one-year deal in 2013 under the minimum-salary benefit. He’ll have to hit the market before signing a new deal with anyone, and the Jets are someone who may provide the soon-to-be 35-year-old his next NFL destination.