Clemens Says He'll Be Jets' Starting QB

Brett Favre's retired (knock on wood), Jay Cutler wound up in Chicago instead of New York, and frankly, the Jets just need someone to start at quarterback next season. Currently left on the Favre-less roster are Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge, and of that group, only Clemens has seen NFL action.

So perhaps that's the reason why Clemens feels he's going to be the Jets' guy. On Thursday, Clemens told the New York Post that, "It's my full expectation to be under center opening day.

Whether new head coach Rex Ryan and his staff feel the same way remains to be worked out. Clemens played 10 games and started eight in the 2007 season, but the results were ugly -- he threw for more than 1,500 yards, but also had a 5:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio and took 27 sacks.

Still, measured up against Ratliff and Ainge, that brief time in the fire probably stakes Clemens to a lead in the starting QB race.

New York's reported pursuit of Cutler doesn't necessarily point to a lack of confidence in the Clemens-Ratliff-Ainge trio either, but more to Cutler's rare talent level. What would speak to uncertainty at the QB position is the Jets getting more invested in the market for Cleveland's Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson, or pursuing Washington's Jason Campbell. The same could be said, too, for New York making a move up the draft ladder in hopes of claiming Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez.

One thing you can say about Ryan being in charge is that, if everything goes according to his plan, the pressure on the Jets' quarterback will be far less substantial. In Baltimore, Ryan's defense nearly took the Ravens to the Super Bowl last season, even with rookie Joe Flacco's leading a somewhat-limited offense.

If Ryan can implement some of the same tenacity in New York's defense, the quarterback choice will become less of a do-or-die decision.

Regardless, Clemens looks like the top option right now -- and he knows it.