New York Jets’ Quarterback Situation is a Mess

By Steve Ungrey on November 2, 2014

Full disclosure: While I am not a member of the ASPCA or PETA, I am an animal lover. And I find what Michael Vick did to dogs completely disgusting, to the point where I wish the guy would just go away.

That said, he is one of the quarterbacks of a dysfunctional New York Jets football team, and a lot of what happened to this club isn’t Vick’s fault. The Jets went down to defeat once again on Sunday, and the irony was it came against the Kansas City Chiefs. Yes, the same Chiefs coached by Andy Reid, the guy who gave Vick a second chance in Philadelphia.

At one point during the game, Vick was slammed to the turf by a Chiefs player and went into the locker room with a head injury. (Maybe now he knows how the dogs felt.) He did return to the game, but in his place, a quarterback stepped in who may get a chance to rescue what is left of the Jets’ godawful season.

Matt Simms, the son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, came in for a bit of mop-up duty in Vick’s absence. He wasn’t spectacular, but there are some people wondering if the Jets should just give Simms a chance to pick up a few victories.

The Jets got in this situation because Geno Smith proved he wasn’t ready for the rigors of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. Smith’s desire to go to a movie and miss a team meeting proved that. Smith then went out and threw interceptions and displayed all-around bad form at the position. Add to this the pressure of playing in the top media market, with the tabloids following your every move, and it was easy to see a Smith meltdown coming.

Vick’s signing last year bitterly divided even the Jets fanbase. There are some, like me, who strongly feel the man doesn’t deserve to play on Sundays. There are others who cheered his starting this week’s game. Then there is Simms, who probably will see backup duty from here on out unless Ryan and general manager John Idzik decide to try and win a few games.

The funny thing about the Jets? Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles got hurt early in Sunday’s game. His replacement, Mark Sanchez, guided the Eagles to a solid performance.

I wonder if Ryan wishes he had Sanchez back right about now.