Team news: Seattle Seahawks | Page 49

Jets QB Mark Sanchez certainly is not acting like he's worried about losing his starting job to rookie Geno Smith -- and he's not talking that way, either. Sanchez all but predicted he will prevail in their open competition.

"When it's a straight-up competition for the job, let's roll," the embattled Sanchez said in a recent sitdown with ESPNNewYork.com. "It really doesn't bother me at all. It really doesn't affect my confidence or anything like that. We're competing for something. All right, I'm going to win. That's just how I am."

Publicly, the Jets' coaches are calling it an even race, although it became clear that Sanchez outplayed Smith in the spring, culminating with last month's minicamp.

Fantasy owners should steer clear of this offense, other than RB Chris Ivory, who looks to be a nice value in the 5th round.

Not only does Nick Mangold think Mark Sanchez should be the Jets’ Week 1 starting quarterback, but the Pro Bowl center believes the rest of the Gang Green locker room feels the exact same way.

Mangold voiced his support for the embattled Sanchez today during a promotional appearance at Washington Square Park, saying his close friend gives the Jets a better chance than rookie Geno Smith of being successful right away this fall.

Asked if the rest of the locker room also hopes Sanchez will emerge as the starter, Mangold nodded.

“I believe so,” he told The Post. “I haven’t walked around with a pen and paper and taken a poll, but from the feeling I get, the locker room wants to win. Whoever gives us the best chance to do that, we want out there -- and at this point, Mark gives us that best chance.”

Sanchez isn't going to give you a lot of help on your fantasy team. He's ranked 32nd and isn't surrounded by a lot of big names. Given the state of the team, going with rookie Geno Smith makes a lot more sense. Selecting Jets on draft day will be a risk.

In explaining why Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith have been unable to separate from each other in the Jets' quarterback competition, quarterbacks coach David Lee noted that Smith has had some difficulty adjusting to the West Coast system. There are many difficulties between what he's being asked to do now and what he did at West Virginia.

"His system at West Virginia, there’s no similarities there whatsoever," Lee said Wednesday.

Today, Rex Ryan backed up Lee in saying that Smith is not quite ready to play but also expounded on the long view.

"If we had to play tomorrow I'd agree with that," Ryan said. "But I think when we get out to training camp and we have that time we'll see if he's ready or not ready. We'll make that decision. Are there things he's working every day at? Absolutely. He came from a system that this is not a surprise. He came from a system that's primarily was in a shotgun system."

Avoid the Jets QBs at all costs.

Jets QB Mark Sanchez worked exclusively with the starters, completing four of eight passes with a sack and a near-interception. On a bootleg, he threw a pass into the chest of DE Muhammad Wilkerson, who couldn't hang on to what should've been an easy interception. Geno Smith practiced with the second team, going 4-for-7 with three sacks. Both quarterbacks struggled in seven-on-seven drills, as Sanchez misfired on the last four passes, Smith his final three. The silver living: No turnovers for either quarterback.

In total, QB Mark Sanchez went 6-of-11, with three interceptions during the team drills today. Geno Smith went 4-of-10 with an interception. Both were an unofficial count.

QB David Garrard, 35, two weeks after proclaiming himself “definitely healthy,” realized that his balky left knee would not let him continue playing in the N.F.L.

The twist introduced the Jets’ new general manager, John Idzik, to the bizarre happenings that often befall the franchise. The impact of Garrard’s pending retirement will be felt throughout the organization, from Idzik’s office to the coaching staff to a quarterback room that now has only one member with significant N.F.L. experience: Sanchez. His prospects of remaining with the Jets next season now appear much greater.

As long as Garrard stayed healthy, the Jets thought they had, at worst, a credible backup and a mentor for Geno Smith, their strong-armed second-round pick. At best, Garrard could have begun the season as the starter, easing the way for Smith until he was deemed ready to direct an N.F.L. offense.

Garrard’s presence also afforded the Jets the ability to release or trade Sanchez before the season, if desired.

This would seem to indicate that Mark Sanchez has a better chance to make the roster, though the team could still cut ties and roll with the rookie.

You can tell from talking to people around the Jets during this weekend’s rookie mini-camp that many in the organization are smitten with new quarterback Geno Smith. It’s beginning to look more and more like the starting job is his to lose.

Smith was impressive during the two days of the mini-camp open to the media. His passes had great zip on them and he looked more decisive as the practices went on as he got more comfortable in the offense. The 22-year-old was even more impressive off the field. He held players’ only meetings at the team hotel to learn the plays and handled the media like a longtime pro.

It's going to take more than a rookie minicamp for Smith to win the job, but the organization is certainly rooting for a reason to move on from Mark Sanchez. Fantasy-wise, Smith won't have much value given the current state of the Jets' receiving corps.

Jets HC Rex Ryan said there’s no guarantee Mark Sanchez or rookie Geno Smith will be the team’s starting quarterback next season, but did say the public would see the best Sanchez they’ve ever seen.

"There is no guarantee that Mark will be our starter, there’s no question," Ryan said on ESPN Radio. "That job’s going to have to be earned."

The writing is on the wall for Sanchez in New York, though it appears that the Jets will give him one more shot to start before cutting him loose.