No matter how many ways the question was phrased, Kellen Clemens wasn’t biting.
Clemens was one of several Jets in Central Park this afternoon as part of the NFL’s Play 60 Youth Football Festival to promote physical fitness among kids.
Clemens said his mental preparation for the upcoming preseason, when he will square off with Chad Pennington for the starting job, began shortly after watching the Giants upset the Patriots in February's Super Bowl. But what of all this recent Matt Ryan talk?
“Coach Mangini and Mr. Tannenbaum are going to make that decision,” Clemens said before taking the makeshift turf field and lobbing passes to an enthusiastic group of New York City students. “At this point, obviously, Chad and I are in a battle. I can only control the things I can control. If we do pick him [Ryan], awesome, it’s one more guy in the competition.”
More from Clemens in tomorrow’s paper [and on newsday.com, of course]. He had more to say – though not much more – on the prospect of Ryan being selected, his offseason preparation and if the second half of last year provided a fair body of work with which to judge him.
I also caught up with a more confident-sounding D'Brickashaw Ferguson at the event. I didn’t even bother asking him about the quarterback situation and he laughed at my admittedly ham-handed attempt at getting him to address what it might be like blocking for Darren McFadden.
Me: “This is not a set-up question in any way…”
Ferguson, smiling: “If you have to say that, then it is. But go ahead.”
Woodward and Bernstein would be proud. Anyway, these were Ferguson’s general thoughts about McFadden, making it clear he wasn’t lobbying the Jets to go one way or another in Saturday’s draft.
“He’s an impressive runner. A fast runner and he does things on the field that are just impressive. It’s almost like, you look at Reggie Bush and the things he did in college,” he said. “I think whenever you have a great back like a Leon Washington, like a Thomas Jones, it always makes your job easier because you know they’re going to fight for those yards. You know if you give them this much, they’re going to take a mile.”
Well played, D’Brick.
Ferguson, in the flag football session before Clemens, threw a variety of ducks, floaters and, yes, some spirals too.
"During recess," Ferguson said when I asked him the last time he threw a pass.
By the way, good conversation, everyone, on McFadden and other draft topics. JC from Arkansas, thanks for the video links. Roger; I think Jonathan Stewart will be a steal for someone. Of the top running back prospects at the combine, he had the highest vertical jump at 36 ½”. No, that’s not terribly relevant for a running back, but it is a little bit interesting. [For those vertically-inclined, McFadden’s vertical at the combine was 33”, Rashard Mendenhall’s was 33 ½" and Felix Jones’ was 33 ½”].
Comments (4)
I'll be rooting for Clemens to be our starting QB. It's in the best interests of the future of this franchise for Clemens to be the guy. And besides, he won more games than Chad, and offense put up more 1st downs and scored points with Clemens.
Erik - Nice article about Clemens. Except you called him "jets backup quarterback" in your figure caption. I know he wasn't named the starter but don't write him off just yet...
Is there any warrant to the rumor that Chad's interviewing for the flight crew?
Just saying...throws like one...acts like one...maybe, just maybe....
It's nice for a RB to have that leaping abitlity when you're down at the goal line and need your back to launch himself over the pile. Remember Johnny Hector? Walter Payton was another RB who had great vertical.
Keep the posts coming, Erik.