A Big Date On September 12th

There is no doubt that Jets HC Rex Ryan is on a short leash this year. He needs to come up big if he hopes to retain his job for the 2014 season. His dismal offense from last year doesn't help his chances.

New GM John Idzik said that the starting quarterback selection will be a joint decision between him and Ryan. Mark Sanchez and rookie first round pick Geno Smith are competing for the role, but the final choice won't be made by the head coach.

When asked about this the other day, Ryan said that many head coaches don't have the final say in the 53 man roster. That might be true for many teams, but it shows how much power Ryan has relinquished.

The Jets need to start off the season with a win. If they show up with a record of 0-1 on September 12th for their Thursday night game with the Pats, the vultures might be circling overhead. A loss to the Pats could make things dicey.