That three-ring circus in New York could become a seven-ring fiasco, if a report from TMZ regarding quarterback Mike Vick is true.
Per TMZ, via NJ.com, Vick wants to wear No. 7 if he signs with the Jets. But that number already has been assigned to quarterback Geno Smith.
While not a deal-breaker, it reportedly will be a “big issue” for Vick. If so, that’s more than a little silly, from Vick’s perspective. With precious few opportunities to win an NFL starting job, he shouldn’t care whether he wears 7, 5, 9, 99, or 24601.
Vick has worn No. 7 throughout his NFL and college career. And while an easy solution could be for Smith to switch to his own college jersey, he wore No. 12 at West Virginia. The Jets have retired that number, for Joe Namath.
If there’s anything to this, it’s likely a ploy by Vick to get a better offer from the Jets. Surely, he doesn’t want to walk through the door as the guy who took Smith’s jersey and then embarked on taking his job. Vick, at this stage of his career, surely would be content to simply take Smith’s job.
UPDATE 2:29 p.m. ET: In response to the TMZ report, a source close to Vick says that wearing No. 7 is the “last thing on his mind.”