Post by The Tax Returns Are in Kenya on May 27, 2015 14:51:47 GMT -5
It's more of a "clarification" by Bowles of what Gailey said rather than an outright contradiction but common, let's get on the same page!
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets don't have a quarterback controversy -- yet. Right now, it's quarterback confusion.
One week after offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said he expects Geno Smith to be the opening-day starter, claiming a Smith-Ryan Fitzpatrick competition never was a consideration, coach Todd Bowles took his turn at the microphone Wednesday and presented a different picture.
Geno Smith is the Jets' No. 1 QB, says Todd Bowles, who clarified that he will receive competition for his job in training camp. Al Bello/Getty Images
Bowles said Smith is the No. 1 quarterback, but that the backups -- Fitzpatrick, Matt Simms and rookie Bryce Petty -- will be competing against him.
"I view it as an open competition, with Geno being the starter," said Bowles, commenting for the first time since Gailey made headlines. "It's his to lose. It's Ryan's to take. It's Bryce's to take. It's Matt's to take."
Bowles, reiterating what he has said throughout the offseason, said Smith will go into training camp as the first-team quarterback and will receive the majority of the reps, adding:
"Come camp time, there will be competition at that spot. I've said it from Day 1."
Yes, he has, but Gailey changed the narrative last week when he all but handed the job to Smith, who threw 34 interceptions in his first two seasons.
Gailey said it "wasn't a thought" to have an open competition, declaring the plan is to have Smith start in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
"That's the way we expect it to be," Gailey said. "Unless something happens with an injury, something that you don't foresee, that's how we anticipate it going."
Gailey said there's virtually no way Smith can lose the job based on practice and preseason games. Bowles contradicted that, saying "it's no different than any other position. Whoever starts out with the first team will get the first-team reps as [performance] dictates," the preseason included.
One week after offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said he expects Geno Smith to be the opening-day starter, claiming a Smith-Ryan Fitzpatrick competition never was a consideration, coach Todd Bowles took his turn at the microphone Wednesday and presented a different picture.
Geno Smith is the Jets' No. 1 QB, says Todd Bowles, who clarified that he will receive competition for his job in training camp. Al Bello/Getty Images
Bowles said Smith is the No. 1 quarterback, but that the backups -- Fitzpatrick, Matt Simms and rookie Bryce Petty -- will be competing against him.
"I view it as an open competition, with Geno being the starter," said Bowles, commenting for the first time since Gailey made headlines. "It's his to lose. It's Ryan's to take. It's Bryce's to take. It's Matt's to take."
Bowles, reiterating what he has said throughout the offseason, said Smith will go into training camp as the first-team quarterback and will receive the majority of the reps, adding:
"Come camp time, there will be competition at that spot. I've said it from Day 1."
Yes, he has, but Gailey changed the narrative last week when he all but handed the job to Smith, who threw 34 interceptions in his first two seasons.
Gailey said it "wasn't a thought" to have an open competition, declaring the plan is to have Smith start in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
"That's the way we expect it to be," Gailey said. "Unless something happens with an injury, something that you don't foresee, that's how we anticipate it going."
Gailey said there's virtually no way Smith can lose the job based on practice and preseason games. Bowles contradicted that, saying "it's no different than any other position. Whoever starts out with the first team will get the first-team reps as [performance] dictates," the preseason included.