|
 Vick, 33, had spent five years with the Philadelphia Eagles but
hobbled by injuries. He was replaced by Nick Foles as the Eagles
starter last season.
"My role is to go out there and win," Vick, who is likely to back up
Jets starter Geno Smith, told reporters.
"He's a great talent who's won many games, including playoff games,"
said Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who was Vick's
coordinator for four seasons with the Eagles.
"He's here in a role where he's going to compete and push Geno Smith
to become the very best that he can be. Michael will be able to go
in and play at a high level and a winning level if called upon."
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Vick was a standout quarterback for
the Atlanta Falcons before spending time in prison on federal
gambling and dogfighting charges. He moved to the Eagles in 2009
after being out of the NFL for two seasons.
By terminating their up and down relationships with Sanchez, the
Jets freed up $8.3 million in salary cap space.
The fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft started 62 games with
the Jets, posting a 33-29 record while passing for 68 touchdowns and
69 interceptions but spent last season out with a shoulder injury as
rookie Smith took the reins.
"We were rookies together and had some early success, becoming the
first rookie head coach and quarterback to go to back-to-back
championship games," Jets coach Rex Ryan said of Sanchez.
But after leading the Jets to the 2009 and 2010 AFC Championship
games, Sanchez's stock dwindled and he had a mammoth 52 turnovers in
the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
(Reporting by Ben Everill in Los Angeles, editing by Gene Cherry)
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