Star Ledger http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/02/new_york_jets_coach_rex_ryan_s.html I guess this puts to rest the Kitna, Fitzpatrick, Leftwich, Lossman, Anderson rumors.
Smokescreen. They are doing what the market provides. Drafting if available; signing if available. RR will go with young arm if he has to.
Smokescreen? Ryan doesn't seem the type to bother. Bringing in a vet QB to start would send the message to the guys on the roster that the management thinks they ain't good enough. And maybe they ain't...only one way to find out. If the O-line can play to it's potential, Ratliff or Clemens will have a good shot at doing well. They'll work it out in preseason. My money's on #5...
I like what he's saying, but I have to admit teams usually say the opposite of what they want to do in order to drive prices down. But Rex seems different from that and what he's saying does make sense.
Not the Anderson rumors although he may be headed to TB anyway. Signing and trading for are far different. One is indictative of somebody having been cut or not worth re-signing and the other isn't.
Anyone think Freeman is worth using a 1st round pick for? I don't know much about him other than he has NFL size. It seems to me that no one is really considering him to go before Sanchez or Stafford. Maybe there's a reason for this or everyone has it wrong. It would be awesome if he's a guy with raw talent that could be molded into a good NFL QB. You can't teach size. The problem may be the additional $$$ that it would cost to draft a "maybe" guy.
I would be suprised if come training camp and our qb's are clemens,ratliff and ainge. I think ainge is the odd man out and you either draft or bring in a vet
The $$ at 17 are a world of difference from the money shelled out in the top 10. Freeman is very large, has a very good arm and good moblity. He is also raw and will need a lot of work on his game. He has the tools, but the question is can he put them all togeather. HE would not be an awful choice at 17, but I would rate him a Tier below Stafford and Sanchez as a prospect. There should be goood players at several positions of need at that spot still availabe to us though.
I dont see us picking a QB at 17 I do see us trading down in the 2nd round possibly and grabbing a QB depending on who is left on the board when its our turn to pick. Im hoping Kenny Britt is available and is our pick in round 2.
I tend to agree with the Ainge statement. I feel drafting a QB is probably going to happen in the first 3 rounds. Of course, if it happens in the first, Ratliff and Clemens better bring their "A" game. A vet QB, IMO, is not a good fit, as it seems our offense may lean toward running the ball a lot more than usual. How many vet QB's want to come into a situation that they know is not going to feature their arm.
When it comes to using our 1st rd DP's, we usually don't do well. Vernon Gholston was worth a 6th and JF isn't worth a 17th? I'm thinking the opposite. Although Freeman doesn't have the resume of a Matt Ryan, he seems to have that "it" factor and most think he hasn't peaked yet. KSU isn't Oklahoma or USC and I get that. As a #3 QB on the roster, I think you could do worse than Josh Freeman. What if he actually beats out Clemens & Ratliff?? (highly unlikely I know..) I'm thinking Ryan will go with a kid at QB and I like that idea. if they draft a Freeman, don't you think that sends a message to both Clemens and Ratliff that the free ride is over?
I never knew Ratliff was on a free ride? Last time I checked, he was a rookie free agent that was considered training camp fodder -- he's worked his ass off to get where he is right now.
He was a undrafted QB that played WR on the practice squad wasn't he until last season? Yeah, he worked his ass off but still, up until last season, wasn't good enough to serously be considered as a QB. I think his main job was playing the role of the opposition QB? Feel good stories aren't enough anymore. Yep, I'd say Clemens and Ratliff are both on the clock and have to prove themselves instead of simply getting the benefit of the doubt. Drafting a JF would indeed give both of our rookies a sense of urgency. Not For Long
I don't think Ratliff ever played wide receiver. I'm not saying he should start because it's a "feel good story" - I was just saying he's never, ever been on a free ride.
Instead of bumping one of the young guys just for the sake of having a veteran in the mix, this makes sense. Especially when most of the vets available to us would be a backup anyway. If they go after a QB in the draft, that's just another kid in the mix. We wont have big bucks tied up in any of them and you would think that one of these guys would stand out.
There was an article that had said when he first arrived at camp they took his red shirt away and they had him play at WR, because they needed an extra body to throw to. He said he would do what he needed to play and he said it did give him a better understanding of what the WR's have to go through. Your right on the -no free ride- part. He has done whats been asked of him without a peep.
Brett Ratliff is the future franchise QB of the NYJETS. Live it like it learn it. Order up the #5 jerseys now.