NEW ORLEANS — John Idzik, the Jets’ new general manager, all but confirmed what everyone suspected — quarterback Mark Sanchez most likely will remain a Jet in 2013.
“I feel comfortable with Mark being a Jet,” Idzik said on WFAN yesterday. “I told him we’re going to add competition and everyone should be up for it. It’s going to make Mark, and everybody else, better.”
The Jets were expected to hold on to Sanchez despite his disappointing 2012 season because of his contract. He has a $12.8 million salary-cap number that makes him impossible to trade. If the Jets were to release him it would be even worse.
Idzik said he spoke with Sanchez, who is “champing at the bit.”
“He wants to get going with his new coordinator,” Idzik said of Sanchez and new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who will replace Tony Sparano.
“He’s all about competing. I got a really good feeling from Mark.”
As for star cornerback Darrelle Revis, Idzik said he was surprised at reports the team was open to trading Revis. Those reports surfaced the night before Idzik’s introductory press conference on Thursday.
“I called Darrelle just to make sure he knew exactly what was going on from our end,” Idzik said. “It was good to talk to him. I thought it was well-received.”
Idzik inherits a team with salary-cap problems. The Jets are about $19 million over this year’s cap, but can get under it by cutting a few players. It still presents a challenge for the new GM.
“It’s definitely a huge item, right at the forefront, but it’s nothing we can’t manage,” he said.
* The Jets interviewed Browns linebackers coach Billy Davis for the same position yesterday, according to a source. Davis is expected to be let go by the Browns in their coaching staff change.