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Josh McCown Should Not be an Option for New York Jets

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By @chriswgamble

Getty Images

Getty Images

The New York Jets need a quarterback and one quarterback, Josh McCown, just hit the market today after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jets will undoubtedly be linked to McCown in the coming weeks, perhaps as a veteran option to mentor yet another quarterback they select in the first round of the NFL Draft. However, McCown is far from being the answer for the Jets, even as a stop gap.

Last offseason McCown cashed in on a good half season with the Chicago Bears after Jay Cutler got hurt. He tossed 13 touchdowns versus one interception with a 66.5 completion percentage. The Buccaneers rewarded those eight games (five starts) with a two-year, $10 million deal. Not a bad payday for a quarterback who was entering his age-35 season and had only started 33 games in his first 10 years in the NFL. Of those 33, 13 of those starts came in 2004 when he was with the Arizona Cardinals.

Last season, McCown completed just 56.3 percent of his passes for 2206 yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. As the Buccaneers look like they are getting ready to select a quarterback with the first overall selection McCown became expendable.

There is a reason McCown became expendable, because he is a backup quarterback making too much money. He isn’t the answer for any team, even in the short-term. Maybe as a backup. Maybe. He just doesn’t fit the Jets at all.

The Jets would be better off bringing in a younger quarterback through trade or free agency and seeing what they have to offer. Someone like Ryan Mallett in free agency or Mike Glennon in trade makes some sense. Even Shaun Hill would be a better fit for the Jets. Nothing against McCown personally but the Jets don’t need a quarterback who will be 36-years-old in the mix. They are better off looking elsewhere.

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