The Jets claim that the starting quarterback position will be determined via competition — a competition that the organization perhaps believes incumbent starter Mark Sanchez won’t win.
In the mind of receiver Santonio Holmes, Sanchez already has.
“Right now Sanchez,” Holmes said when asked to identify the starter during Wednesday’s Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports Network, “and that’s who we’re going with and we’re going to continue this road until time permits.”
Pressed on the question of whether Sanchez regards himself as the starter, Holmes said that Sanchez is focused on “being Mark Sanchez, the team leader.”
Holmes added that he and Sanchez are working to learn the new offense, implemented by offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. And Holmes remains firmly in the corner of arguable lame-duck coach Rex Ryan.
“I love this guy and his attitude and beliefs about winning ball games and what it takes and bringing the right people around,” Holmes said. “He’s a young head coach whose been given an opportunity regardless of how many years as a defensive coordinator or just as a coach. Learning as time progresses for him and he’s building his team the way he wants it built. [Owner] Woody Johnson gave him an opportunity to be himself and I think select his own group of guys and being in a position he wants to be in, I think its all working out for the best for him.”
There’s one fairly significant caveat to that statement. Ryan surely wanted to keep cornerback Darrelle Revis. Holmes apparently did, too.
“I didn’t believe it,” Holmes said of his reaction to the news that Revis had been traded. “I was constantly getting text messages and phone calls asking me about the situation and all I can say is congrats to Revis.”
It remains to be seen whether anyone will be congratulating Holmes or any members of the Jets based on the team’s performance in 2013. While it currently doesn’t look promising, anything can happen.
This video is no longer available. Click here to watch more NBC Sports videos!