JET NOTES
Since the moment Brad Smith was drafted, there has been an unspoken rule. He had to suppress any thoughts, desires and memories of being a quarterback, despite the fact that he was one of the nation’s most prolific collegiate quarterbacks in 2005 while at Missouri.
When the Jets drafted Smith, he was drafted as a receiver. When he arrived to minicamp, he was given a receiver playbook, not a quarterback playbook. He was instructed to go to receiver meetings, not quarterback meetings. While the Jets went through training camp, Smith did not take one snap from under center.
A funny thing happened yesterday, though. Eric Mangini acknowledged Smith as a quarterback. And, Smith’s name turned up on the depth chart as the fourth-string quarterback – as well as third-string receiver.
“Just so everybody knows, Brad is a bona fide quarterback,” Mangini said.
For the record, Smith is acting out the part of Titans’ rookie QB Vince Young on scout team this week.
“Brad gives us a good look,” Mangini said.
“What I really like about this guy is every day something gets a little bit better, and he’s making that happen by the way that he takes the coaching, the way that he applies the information that he gets, the way that he focuses on improving the areas where he needs improvement,” Mangini said.
As for the Jets’ No. 2 QB, Mangini still won’t acknowledge a decision, though rookie Kellen Clemens is listed as No. 2 on the depth chart. That chart, however, is an “unofficial” one made up by the public relations staff.
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Isn’t it ironic that it’s the Titans, not the Jets, who are withholding who their starting quarterback is going to be Sunday?
Mangini named Chad Pennington a the starter last week after a summer of clandestine competition. Titans’ coach Jeff Fisher is declining to name whether his starter will be newly-acquired Kerry Collins, incumbent backup Billy Volek or top draft pick Vince Young.
“I think that’s a really solid decision on Jeff’s part,” Mangini said yesterday. “We have to prepare for three quarterbacks. That takes time. It’s something that we’re doing very thoroughly. They all present unique problems. They have different skill sets. I think it’s a good decision on his part.”
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WR Tim Dwight (leg) and CB David Barrett (leg) are listed as questionable but both practiced . . . The Jets yesterday signed DT Titus Adams and WR Wallace Wright to their practice squad, and released DT Matt McChesney and WR Dante Ridgeway.
