Jets in talks with LG Vincent

Ex-Ravens guard in talks with Jets
Thursday, August 30, 2007
BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
Star-Ledger Staff

The Jets, who are in search of a veteran guard, are one of several teams that have expressed interest in free agent Keyrick Vincent, according to a person familiar with the discussions between the Jets and Vincent's representatives.

That person spoke on the condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing and he's not authorized to speak publicly.

The Dolphins and Bills, who both need help at guard, are also believed to be interested in Vincent, a veteran who was released by the Ravens on Tuesday. Miami was eyeing Pete Kendall before the Jets traded him to the Redskins last Thursday.

Vincent's agent, Ken Zuckerman, was unavailable for comment yesterday. On Tuesday afternoon, he told The Star-Ledger that he hadn't spoken to the Jets.

The Jets likely want to see how rookie Jacob Bender fares against the Eagles tonight in the preseason finale at Lincoln Financial Field before making a move. He struggled early against the Giants last week, allowing a sack and a pressure, but he settled down and the club remains high on him.

Bender, a sixth-round pick from Division 1-AA Nicholls State, is expected to start against the Eagles, who will play primarily backups. Third-year pro Adrien Clarke, a former Eagle, is also in the mix but the club appears disappointed in him. Clarke started throughout the off-season workouts, training camp and the first two preseason games before being demoted.

Vincent (6-5, 325 pounds) started the past two seasons for the Ravens at right guard and was working at left guard in training camp this summer. The seventh-year pro out of Mississippi became expendable because Baltimore had a surplus of guards after drafting a guard, Ben Grubbs, with their first-round pick.

Vincent was injured the past two seasons and fell out of favor with the Ravens. He stormed out of training camp on the first day when he learned he had lost his starting job to second-year pro Chris Chester. He returned the next day and worked hard throughout camp, although he made it clear he wanted out.

Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens have locked up the starting and backup job, respectively, at quarterback, but the battle for the third-string job is on and it's more of a personnel decision than one based on talent. Do the Jets keep multi-purpose performer Brad Smith as the third quarterback or do they give the job to ex-Raider Marques Tuiasosopo, who has had a solid camp despite getting limited reps and is clearly the better pure quarterback?

"I'm not a coach," said Tuiasosopo, who has completed 7-of-13 passes for 68 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in the preseason. "Those decisions I don't think about. My concern is just to get this game plan down the best I can and when they tell me to go in, I can move us down the field, have positive plays and score some points."

Smith has been underwhelming at quarterback, completing 4-of-7 passes for 21 yards in the preseason. As a receiver, though, he made a nifty 34-yard catch against the Giants and had a 46-yard kickoff return against the Falcons. He has seven carries for 47 yards and also plays on special teams (two tackles).

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/118844792930600.xml&coll=1

Glad to hear it, hope he signs.