Clemens inks tender
New York Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens (11), and New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6), chat briefly during warmups before a game against the New York Giants. Credit: Photo by John Dunn
Kellen Clemens has signed his one-year tender, leaving RB/KR Leon Washington and CB Drew Coleman as the Jets’ lone two remaining unrestricted free agents who’ve yet to ink their tenders.
Clemens’ signing gives the Jets four quarterbacks on the roster -- starter Mark Sanchez and backups Erik Ainge and Kevin O’Connell -- and they’re flirting with possibility of adding Mark Brunell as a veteran backup. But we know that hinges on what happens with unrestricted free agent linebacker Jason Taylor, given the Jets can currently only sign one unrestricted free agent (to replace K Jay Feely) because of the rules associated with being a “Final Four” team.
Stuck behind Sanchez, Clemens was hoping to land with another team this offseason and compete for a starting job. But those offers apparently never came for the 2006 second-round pick out of Oregon who failed to win the Jets’ starting when given the opportunity to do so in three of his first four seasons.
In 24 games, which includes nine starts, Clemens has completed 146 of 282 attempts for 1,680 yards, throwing five touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
With Clemens on board -- albeit possibly temporarily -- that means Washington and Coleman are the final two of the Jets’ eight restricted free agents who haven’t signed. They deadline to do so is tomorrow.
Asked Monday if he expected Washington to sign his deal this week, GM Mike Tannenbaum said: “I don’t know that. That would be a great question for him and his agent.”
