By WFAN.com
Jets coach Todd Bowles doesn't sound much interested in sacrificing victories in the name of developing a rookie quarterback.
"Obviously, we're trying to win right now," Bowles told WFAN's Mike Francesa on Tuesday from training camp in Florham Park, New Jersey. "Obviously, if Sam (Darnold) is the guy, we think we're ready to win right now with him. If it's Teddy (Bridgewater) or Josh (McCown), we're ready to win right now with them."
Bowles didn't tip his hand about which quarterback he might be leaning toward starting in Week 1, but his comments did suggest Darnold, the third overall pick in April's draft, has not been penciled in as the starter.
"We're not going to put him out there thinking long-term," Bowles said. "We're going to put him out there with the expectation's to win Game 1.
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"I have no set rule whether to play a rookie or a veteran," the coach added. "I usually play the best guys. If it's the younger guy, the younger guy plays. If it's not, then the other guys play."
Bowles said he's looking for a QB "who can carry the team for the long haul, not just the short haul, as well as just maintaining control over the offense and understanding the offense and leading them up and down the field every day."
He said Darnold has been "outstanding" so far.
"What I like about him most is his poise and understanding the offense, and even if he has a bad play, it doesn't stay with him and he comes back the next play and learns from it," Bowles said. "So I've been very happy about that."
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Bridgewater, the former Vikings Pro Bowler who was signed as a free agent in March, is "extremely intelligent," Bowles said.
"He's a great leader, and guys gravitate around him," the fourth-year Jets coach said. "And he is very smart in the pocket. He's not going to get you beat that way. He understands where everything is at all times, and you just love his command after missing two years of ball."
As for the rest of the team, Bowles said the roster is deeper than it's been since he joined the Jets.
"I feel like we made progress as a team last year," he said. "But every year's a new year. The chemistry has to rebuild with all the new guys, but I think we're very much headed in the right direction, and I think we're ready to make a step forward."