Jets coach Rex Ryan repeated at the NFL owners meeting in California that he's happy with his current quarterback corps. Here are some selected comments from his news conference concerning his quarterback situation:
On whether he is still hoping to acquire a quarterback for the starting job:
Ryan: "That's what you hear in the papers but we like the guys we've got. We think with Brett Ratliff, Kellen Clemens and Erik Ainge, we have three young quarterbacks. We've been able to keep Brian Schottenheimer. He's an outstanding coach. These quarterbacks have been able to stay in the same system their entire career. It's not like you're getting a rookie. For Kellen Clemens, this will be his fourth year in this system. He's backed up some pretty good quarterbacks. Obviously with Brett Favre, everyone's going to back him up. With Brett Ratliff, all he did last year was have a 122.5 passer rating in the preseason. Obviously, he's never had a chance in a regular season game but it would be hard to get that kind of rating if you were going against air. We'll see how he plays."
On Kellen Clemens:
Ryan: "I saw him up close. (In Baltimore), we (had) a pretty comfortable (lead). We had a good fourth quarter lead when we were playing the Jets (in 2007). All of a sudden, he brings that team back. Quite honestly, if it wasn't for a dropped ball, they would have tied the game with a pass that would have been a touchdown. I know that he can do it. He can move and he can make all the throws and I think that Ratliff can to. It's going to be a good competition."
Whether he would consider a quarterback that he thought could help his football team:
Ryan: "I feel good about our quarterback situation. Everyone seems to think we have major issues there. I don't think the situation is what people think it is. I think we're going to be just fine. As I look at our offense, if we don't have the best offensive line in the League, I think we're certainly in that mix. We have one of the best offensive line coaches in the League, if not the best, in Bill Callahan. That's a great foundation right there. We have two Pro Bowl running backs in Leon Washington and Thomas Jones. We have a former Pro Bowl fullback in Tony Richardson. We've got a great receiver in (Jerricho) Cotchery. We've got a tight end that scares the heck out of defenses in Keller. I think we've got plenty of weapons on offense. I'd like to be the quarterback for those guys."
