When the Jets brought in Michael Vick as a free agent this offseason, incumbent quarterback Geno Smith said it was “awesome.”
Nothing’s changed over the last month. Smith met reporters on Monday as the Jets got started on their offseason conditioning program and said he welcomed competition even while saying that he expects to win it and remain the team’s starting quarterback.
“I think it will make our team better,” Smith said, via A.J. Perez of NJ.com. “I’m all for competition. I want to compete, no matter who comes in. I think we have a good guy in Mike, who brings something extra to the table as far as veteran leadership into our quarterback room. The starter will be named at the end of the training camp, before the start of the season. I understand there’s a competition. Honestly, it comes down to what we do on the field and that’s what I really look forward to.”
Smith said that watching tapes of his 2013 season has been “painful” and the Jets are hopeful that Vick’s previous experience with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg makes for fewer horror films next season. Whether that’s because his presence pushes Smith to new heights or because he winds up with the job remains to be decided.