Michael Vick is no stranger to quarterback competitions.
Just last year he won a training camp battle with Nick Foles in Philadelphia. Foles won the war, of course, which led to Vick changing his work address in the offseason.
But Vick was quick to point out on Thursday that he's in a different situation with the New York Jets in 2014. In fact, Vick sounded like a man who has already conceded the starting gig to Geno Smith.
"Going through the competition with Nick, we knew, both of us coming in, that it was open competition, and that the best guy was going to win the job," Vick said Thursday, via NJ.com. "That's what it was. It was pretty much cut and dry.
"But this situation, it's different. It's kind of unique. Even though it's not an open competition, we're both competing every day."
"It's still tough right now -- I won't lie," he said. "Deep down, you always want to be a starter, you always feel like you're a starter, and that's just the competitive nature in me. Hopefully, that opportunity will come again one day. I've just got to keep working for it."
Smith should be considered the favorite to start Week 1. If he doesn't, it's a sign of failure for Idzik, who invested the 39th overall pick in last year's draft on the quarterback.
That said, Vick knows Smith will be on a relatively short leash. It's probably the main reason the 12th-year veteran signed with New York in the first place.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" breaks down all the news and begins the search for the new Team of ATL.