Today begins a series of four Jets practice sessions that will provide a first look at the quarterback competition that’s a lock to be the theme of training camp once it begins in July. Since the end of last season, Eric Mangini has said the starting QB position is an “open competition” between Chad Pennington, 31, and Kellen Clemens, 24, and that makes today open season on the public portion of that competition, though it’s merely a voluntary camp.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to who will emerge as the starter. First, after the Jets signed a number of new players to more than $140 million on contracts this offseason, it would be easy to deduce that they’re in a “win-now” mode. That would suggest that Pennington, who’s proven he can win in the NFL with a competent cast surrounding him, might have the edge.
No one will say it publicly, but the organization is clearly pulling for Clemens to emerge as the starter for several reasons, beginning with the fact that this regime drafted him in the second round two years ago and would like to be right in its talent assessment.