New York Jets announce that Matt Simms will be backup QB in week 1

Normally, the “announcement” of a backup quarterback for an NFL team wouldn’t move the needle. However, the New York Jets are certainly nowhere near the definition of normal.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan announced on Wednesday that the team would turn to Matt Simms as their backup in the event that rookie Geno Smith struggles or becomes injured in week one. Earlier in the week, the Jets had put forth a vote of confidence for Simms, who played his college ball at Tennessee and who is the son of former Giants QB Phil Simms, by keeping him over Greg McIlroy. However, this is still a bit of a surprise on the national scene.

Incumbent quarterback Mark Sanchez is on the shelf with a shoulder injury, while the aforementioned Geno Smith is the epitome of unproven. However, the team did sign Brady Quinn off of the waiver wire, but apparently did so as insurance rather than as a quarterback to place ahead of Simms on the depth chart.

Jets fans everywhere are, no doubt, screaming against the possibility of Simms taking the field in a real game. However, all of their eggs are likely in the basket of Geno Smith either way, and if he trots off the field as a result of incompetence or injury, the season will be a long one.