The last time Kellen Clemens started a game for the Jets was Dec. 30, 2007, against Kansas City when he made the last of eight starts that year, mostly for an injured Chad Pennington.
“Almost 23 months ago,” Clemens said yesterday while standing in front of his locker room at the Jets training facility at Florham Park, N.J. “It seems like a long time ago.”
It was a long time ago. It was before Brett Favre, and before Eric Mangini’s departure and coach Rex Ryan’s arrival. It was before Mark Sanchez was asked to be Mark Sanchise, and before the Jets made it clear they would like someone besides Clemens to lead their team.
The Jets won 13-10 that day to complete a 4-12 season, and though the Jets never have publicly expressed doubts about Clemens being a productive NFL starting quarterback, their actions have spoken louder than words.
Clemens, a second-round draft pick in 2006, hasn’t started since that game against the Chiefs as first Favre and then Sanchez have been given the chance to lead the Jets, while Clemens has served as the emergency-only backup.
Granted, it’s not a bad way to make a living in the NFL. The pay is good and you don’t take the lumps on or off the field the way a starter does. But Clemens, who passed for 7,555 yards and 61 touchdowns at Oregon, always has wanted to prove his worth. He will get his chance Sunday when he starts for the injured Sanchez against the Bucs in Tampa.
“I’m a competitor and I love to play,” he said. “I’m obviously excited to have the opportunity to be out there with the guys on Sunday. It hasn’t been an easy road. But again you put the team first.”
Ryan didn’t play the cat-and-mouse game coaches normally employ when a starting quarterback is questionable. Instead, he made the call yesterday, because, “It’s in the best interest to him and the best interest of the team,” Ryan said.
It is doubtful Bill Belichick or Bill Parcells would reveal the status of an injured quarterback this early in the week. But give Ryan credit for being bold enough to make a move that gives Clemens the best chance to get mentally and physically ready for the must-win game.
Jets fans have reason to hold their breath. Clemens looked rusty and tentative when pressed into emergency duty against the Bills last Thursday when Sanchez went out with a right knee injury early in the third quarter. Clemens was just 1 of 2 for 14 yards, was sacked three times and the Jets played ultra-conservative to escape with a 19-13 win.
With a week to prepare, he expects to be better, channeling the knowledge he has gained from Favre, Pennington and his tenure on the sidelines.
“It’s night and day how much more comfortable I feel and how much more prepared I am than in 2007,” he said.
Asked to describe Clemens in two words, center Nick Mangold said: “Hard-working and persistent.”
You sense they are rooting for Clemens, not just for the team’s sake but his own.
“It’s been a tough situation for him,” right tackle Damien Woody said. “I’m happy for him. He gets a chance to play and I’m sure he’s going to relish the opportunity.”
Clemens downplayed any notion he was trying to prove himself or auditioning for a future team, though that’s exactly what he’s doing.
“It’s an opportunity to show for the last 13 weeks that I’ve been working hard and that I didn’t pack it in when Mark was named the starter,” he said. “It’s about us going out and getting our seventh win and getting above .500 and one step closer to the playoffs.”
Ultimately, Clemens knows if the Jets win, he wins.