The Jets and quarterback Michael Vick have been linked for weeks, but don’t count on a shotgun marriage.
Multiple league sources said there is mutual interest between the Jets and Vick. One source added nothing will happen quickly because there have been no serious discussions yet.
Vick and the Jets have been linked in free-agent speculation because Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg coached Vick with the Eagles. The Jets are in the market for a backup quarterback, hoping to land someone to mentor Geno Smith and possibly take over if Smith stumbles.
Vick, who will be 34 this summer, is considered the top free-agent quarterback.
The Jets also are interested in Bears free-agent quarterback Josh McCown, who is scheduled to visit the Jets after the Buccaneers and Texans. It is possible McCown never gets to that visit, though, if Tampa Bay or Houston lock him up. The Jets also have expressed interest in Lions free agent Shaun Hill.
Vick obviously is the most interesting of the group. After five seasons with the Eagles, it appears Vick is ready to move on rather than be a backup to Nick Foles. Vick is said to want a chance to compete for a starting job, and he could get that with the Jets, who are not sold on Smith after a rocky rookie season. The other teams speculated to be a fit for Vick are the Bills, Raiders and Buccaneers.
There remains a slim possibility the Jets could hang on to Mark Sanchez if they don’t wind up signing one of these free agents. Sanchez remains on the roster, despite the belief the team is ready to move on. He would have to take a pay cut, but it does not seem like general manager John Idzik is going to release him until he has another quarterback signed or they have to pay his $2 million roster bonus on March 25.
Sanchez surely would draw interest on the free-agent market, but he is going to see his choices dwindle the longer the Jets hold onto him.
Vick seems like a good fit for the Jets because he could slide right into Mornhinweg’s system, and he is viewed as a locker-room leader. Younger players remember when Vick was on the cover of video games and making tons of highlights with the Falcons.
The arrest for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring is now seven years ago, and he served 21 months in prison for it. The bigger questions are whether he can stay healthy if he does have to play and how much he has left. He has not had a strong season since 2010.