When the New York Jets signed Michael Vick last week, the assumption was that he’d be their starting quarterback. But not so fast – at least not according to head coach Rex Ryan who all but suggested fellow quarterback Geno Smith will not only be given an opportunity to win the starting job, but that he’ll be ‘hard’ to beat out.

Rex on Smith and Vick: “It’s going to be interesting to see the competition, but Geno is going to be hard to beat out.” #nyj

It seems pretty odd to think the Jets acquired Vick to sit on the sidelines with a clipboard, so this almost comes across more as lip service from Ryan. Still, it’s an interesting comment given the heavy assumption that Vick was signing to be the Jets starting signal caller for the 2014 season.

Despite the praise from Rex Ryan, seems as if the only way Smith enters the season as the starting quarterback is if he’s flawless during camp and the preseason. And given what we’ve seen from Smith, that seems rather unlikely.