Jets favor Leinart over Ferguson By Todd McShay Scouts Inc. According to a source, the Jets are far more interested in USC quarterback Matt Leinart than they are leading people to believe. They have attempted to play it cool recently, but the organization came to a near-consensus that Leinart is the top quarterback prospect after working out all three of the top prospects (Texas' Vince Young and Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler) during a six-day span over a week ago. The Jets' trip to Eugene, Ore., to privately visit with QB Kellen Clemens was not a smoke screen, but it did help to draw attention away from their interest in Leinart. If Leinart comes off the board in the first three picks, the Jets likely will take Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson at No. 4 and then address the need for a young quarterback with Clemens in the second round (pick No. 35). The Jets own seven of the first 117 overall picks in this draft, and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and new head coach Mike Mangini subscribe to the Parcells/Belichick "more is better" theory -- particularly with a draft class so deep in talent. With that in mind, do not expect the Jets to part ways with picks in order to move ahead of the Titans, who are rumored to be undecided about whether to pick Leinart or Young at No. 3. However, the Jets apparently will pull for Leinart to slip to them at No. 4. Although the Jets are hoping for the best with starting QB Chad Pennington, there is a strong feeling around team offices that Pennington will not be ready for the start of next season and can't be trusted to hold up for the entire season. Patrick Ramsey is a decent backup, but the team realizes his limitations. That's why, despite contrary reports, we've been told that the Jets will gladly select Leinart over Ferguson if faced with that decision at pick No. 4.
I hope that the Jets would take Leinart over Ferguson at 4. With that said, I don't think he'll be there.
Hahaha... yeah right. Can you say SMOKESCREEN!!! It is my opinion that the Jets FO now realizes that they stand could very well land a great player, even D'Brickshaw, at the #7 spot in the draft... so they are re-creating their position (because over the last week reports have been that they wouldn't go QB in round one) in order to garner interest in their #4 overall pick. There were no reports on Pennington at all, until the speculation was that he was recovering well and the Jets wouldn't be choosing a QB. Now all of a sudden he may not be ready for the season, and the Jets need a QB again... or they need to get bought out of the #4 overall choice.
It's all bs, no one knows what the Jets are up to. At this point they could be thinking about doing anything from trading up to #1 to take Bush to trading down #7 and getting additional picks. Or they could stay at 4 and take hawk, Mario Williams, Dbrick or Leinart.
I'm just praying the Jets don't pick Ferguson!!! This year's draft should be very exciting none the less. It makes me happy as fan that the Jets didn't show their hand.
Kind of how I feel but the way I look at it is that any of the top 5-6 players on everyones board could easily go #1 in any other draft. There is a crazy amount of talent at the top of the draft and due to the fact we need help at most of the positions that will go early in the draft it is almost like we are getting #1 talent at the 4 spot. Assuming we stay put. Just not a tackle if we stay, though. I just don't think that would be the wisest way for us to go.
