Michael Vick insists that losing his job as starting quarterback of the New York Jetshad nothing to do with his performance.
"I don't look at it as me getting benched, first and foremost, to correct you," Vick said Wednesday, per ESPN New York's Rich Cimini. "But if you want to look at it that way, you can."
Vick was pulled in favor of Geno Smith after his putrid performance in a 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 12. We viewed the switch all along as a power play by embattled Jets general manager John Idzik to get one more look at Smith -- his handpicked quarterback -- before New York's hideous campaign draws to a close. Vick seems to agree.
"I just look at it as an opportunity for this organization to figure out the things that they need to figure out and see what they need to see," Vick said. "Does that answer your question?"
Neither Jets quarterback has played well enough to keep the job. As we mentioned on the latest podcast, coach Rex Ryan -- perhaps flinging an arrow at the front office -- used Monday night's tilt against the Miami Dolphins to hide Smith in the game plan, running the ball an outrageous 49 times while limiting his young quarterback to just 13 passes.
If Ryan is fired at the end of the season as many expect, his inability to groom a franchise quarterback over six seasons will be one reason why. This time around, though, the blame falls on Idzik's shoulders.
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