David Garrard Parts Ways with New York Jets Due to Knee Problems

The New York Jets have a “bond-fide” quarterback competition on their hands according to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg but that competition will not include David Garrard. According to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, Garrard has informed at least two teammates that eh’s done with New York and no longer plans to be with the Jets.

As Rapoport states, it’s unclear if Garrard was cut or if he’s decided to hang up the cleats but a text from Garrard to Adam Schein from SNY stated that the quarterback’s knee is the issue.

Garrard came to the Jets this offseason after sitting out the last two seasons recovering from surgery and trying to fins a job that suits him. Before the arrival of rookie Geno Smith, it was believed that Garrard would be competing with Mark Sanchez for the starting job but those plans have drastically changed.

Garrard may have also found out that he just can’t hack it anymore and would rather retire now and on his own than prolong the inevitable and get cut later this summer.

The bigger question now is what does this mean for the Jets quarterback situation. Right after the draft, the Jets had five quarterbacks but with Tim Tebow gone and Garrard also leaving, New York has three quarterbacks and are trying to trade one of them. With just three quarterbacks — one of whom is an unproven rookie — New York may have to hang onto Mark Sanchez longer than they wanted to.

But right now all we know is David Garrard’s career with the Jets is over and the ripple effects could be larger than we think in terms of how it affects the Jets offseason plans at quarterback.