Source: Michael Vick, Jets to meet
With Mark Sanchez's days in town apparently numbered, the New York Jets are scheduled to meet Friday with free-agent quarterback Michael Vick, a source confirmed.
The Jets are looking for an experienced quarterback to mentor and compete with Geno Smith, and they have an interest in Vick because offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg spent four seasons as his coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The meeting was earlier reported by NJ.com.
The Jets are battling a deadline because Sanchez is due a $2 million roster bonus on March 25. If they sign Vick over the weekend, they almost certainly would release Sanchez, who has a $13.1 million cap charge.
If the Jets fail to land Vick, they'd be in a tough situation. They could ask Sanchez to take a significant pay cut, although the feeling around the league is that they'd simply release the former starter.
Vick hasn't generated much interest on the open market even though he's considered by many the top free-agent quarterback. He has been linked to the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills, but the Jets will be his first visit.
Vick, who turns 34 in June, played only seven games last season. He was injured and lost his job to Nick Foles. The Jets were impressed by how Vick handled the situation, and they believe he would be a nice complement to Smith, who endured an inconsistent rookie season.
Smith helped the Jets to an 8-8 record, showing promise over the final four games, but the organization has yet to anoint him as the permanent starter.
Right guard Willie Colon, one of the team leaders on offense, said he'd embrace Vick's arrival.
"Vick speaks for itself. His resume in itself is amazing," Colon said on a conference call after re-signing with the team. "He is an outstanding athlete and what he can bring to the table in coach Mornhinweg's offense (is impressive). Obviously, they have that rapport, they have that relationship that was established in Philadelphia. It's all arrows up when it comes to that situation. Competition helps everybody. Bottom line, anytime you have two guys competing for the same spot, all it does is heighten the team's effort. It will play out how it is going to play out."
