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Jets not committing to Smith as 2014 QB starter

the sports xchange

There's no guarantee that Geno Smith will keep the starting quarterback job with the New York Jets next season after starting all 16 games in 2013.

Smith completed his rookie season in the NFL as the team's starter with mixed reviews, but general manager John Idzik stopped short of committing to Smith for 2014.

"We're all excited about having Geno as part of the Jets, but we will always look to improve every position in any manner we can and that doesn't change going into 2014," Idzik said during an postseason news conference. "We'll look at quarterbacks, yes, we'll look at quarterbacks."

Pressed further on Smith being the starter at the beginning of training camp next summer, Idzik responded, "We don't look too far into the future with that. Again, Geno started 16 games for us. You all witnessed how he did, how he finished strong. We're very, very excited and happy that Geno is with us."

The Jets finished 8-8 after season-ending wins over the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins. Smith passed for 3,046 yards with 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions and also rushed for six touchdowns in his first season.

"He's a very resilient young man," Idzik said. "For him to start all 16 games, go through the highs and lows of an NFL season and just to see him develop as a player, see him handle a game, see him be more efficient in the pocket, his accuracy, threatening with his legs, all of the things that he did, they were very positive."

The future of veteran quarterback Mark Sanchez remains unclear, but he is expected to be released during the offseason because he carries a $13.1 million cap hit for 2014. Sanchez missed the 2013 season with a shoulder injured suffered during the preseason.

"We'll get to that in time," Idzik said of Sanchez. "He is a Jet. We consider all our guys Jets until we make a decision or something happens that changes that. I met with him yesterday as well. Our focus is to get him healthy, just as it has been really the entire season, and then we'll take it from there."