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By WFAN.com
Sam Darnold says he'll be ready if he's named the Jets' starting quarterback for Week 1.
"If that's the case, I will be," the rookie QB told WFAN's "Boomer & Gio" on Monday at training camp in Florham Park, New Jersey. "I think this coaching staff has done a great job preparing me, but if not, I'm going to be the best backup I can be. It's just right now it's really cool what we're doing here with the Jets. It's team first, and that's the way to do it. We're all in it for each other. I know that's kind of cliche, but it's so true."
Darnold, the third overall pick in April's draft, is competing against incumbent starter Josh McCown and former Viking Teddy Bridgewater.
So far, the reviews about Darnold's performance in preseason games and practice have been largely postiive.
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"For me, it's just going out and practicing hard every single day, competing with guys like Teddy and Josh, because they're amazing guys to be able to compete with and then get in that QB room and talk ball with, and then once we get out on gameday, it's just about taking advantage of every opportunity we get," Darnold said.
Darnold did get a taste last week about how demanding the New York media can be. For example, after Darnold went 8-of-11 passing for 62 yards with an interception Thursday night at Washington, the New York Post's back page headline read "Hold the coronation as Darnold shows some warts in start."
Darnold says he tries not to pay much attention to the press.
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"Just staying out of the newspapers, not watching ESPN too much or NFL Network because sometimes you can get caught up in it," he said. "But then again, if something's positive, my parents will be the first ones to kind of send me something, or my friends."
To listen to the interview, click on the audio player above.
