FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Kellen Clemens is aware of all the critics who insist the New York Jets can’t expect to win if they enter the season with him, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge as their only quarterbacks.
“It’s the end of the world, right?” he said with a laugh Thursday. “I’ve heard it. Truth be told, I try not to listen to it, but some of it always leaks through. You’ve got a buddy back home who calls and says: ‘Hey! ESPN just said, dah dah dah.’ ”
Most of the chatter surrounds the Jets’ reported interest in Denver’s Jay Cutler — if the Broncos decide to trade the disgruntled Pro Bowl quarterback, as he requested, after a rift with new coach Josh McDaniels.
“It’s an interesting thing preparing to try to be a major contributor to a football team and there’s always all the rumors that are floating around and, at times, can be distracting,” Clemens said. “I’m not going to lie. I’ve heard about them, and it wasn’t something where I was like, ‘Oh, good. Jay’d be here. That would be great. We can hang out.’ You try to ignore it.”
Meanwhile, new Jets coach Rex Ryan has told anyone who’ll listen that he’s comfortable with the quarterbacks he has on his roster, and they’ll all have a fair chance to win the job this summer.
“Everyone seems to think we have major issues there,” Ryan said. “I think we’re going to be just fine.”
