NY Jets Rumors: Josh McCown more likely than Michael Vick, Matt Schaub?
Josh McCown (12) looks to pass during the third quarter. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears backup quarterback Josh McCown had a shockingly good 2013 season, and he was one of the league’s most productive passers in his eight appearances with Jay Cutler injured. While the Bears were wise enough not to overrate McCown and went back to Cutler, it was still incredible watching McCown break out from nowhere at the age of 34. A class act, McCown put himself in a great position to make some solid coin this offseason by completing 66.5% of his passes with just one interception and an excellent average of 8.2 yards per attempt. He’s a very attractive backup for a team looking for one, so it will be interesting to see how much interest he accrues this offseason.
Late last night, the New York Daily News’s Manish Mehta reported that the New York Jets are “eyeing” McCown as their next backup QB, and he looks like a reliable, one-year option as an insurance policy in case Geno Smith doesn’t progress as planned. McCown would be a solid, safe signing for the Jets organization, and he would replace Mark Sanchez as the team’s backup. The Jets are trying to negotiate a paycut with Sanchez, but he will most likely be released before free agency starts so that the Jets can avoid paying a $2 million roster bonus.
It’s also interesting to hear Mehta report that the Jets aren’t expected to sign Michael Vick or Matt Schaub, as both have been connected more frequently to the Jets than McCown. Vick has been linked to the Jets in multiple reports, but Mehta reports that he is “unlikely” to be signed by them (I have a strong feeling his injury history would be the logic behind that).
Why is Schaub an unlikely option? Well, sources told Mehta that the Houston Texans quarterback “isn’t interested in being Smith’s backup”, meaning that he unsurprisingly wants to pursue a starting gig and has no intention of backing up somebody.