Vick admits it’s tough but hopes opportunity will come one day.
New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick has insisted that he is the back-up quarterback at the franchise and expects Geno Smith to start in the new season.
Vick claims that the situation is different to the one that he faced at the Philadelphia Eagles last season, as although he is there to provide competition in New York, he feels as though he also has the additional responsibility of pushing and acting as a mentor to Smith.
“Going into camp with Nick, we knew it was an open competition and the best guy was going to win the job — the guy who performed throughout OTAs and the preseason,” said Vick, ESPN reports.
“That’s just what it was. It was pretty much cut and dried.
“This situation is different. It’s kind of unique. Even though it’s not an open competition, we’re both competing every day.”
Several players have echoed his sentiments and are preparing for the new campaign under the impression that Smith will be the starter, and having overcome some early struggles in his rookie year, even Vick is confident that the Jets star will be much improved this year after guiding the organisation to an 8-8 finish.
Vick signed a one-year deal worth $4m to join the Jets, and conceded that if pre-season training performances from both men are on a similar level, then he is aware that Smith will likely get the nod to start games.
While he revealed that it is tough for him to move from one team to another and still be the back-up option, he is relishing the challenge this time round and still harbours hopes of becoming a starter at some stage.
Nevertheless, all those within the Jets hierarchy are refusing to give an answer on the situation and claim that no decision has been made yet on who will be the starting quarterback for the 2014 campaign.
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