New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is coming off a rookie season where he threw 21 interceptions to just 12 touchdowns. Darren Woodson Jersey . In the offseason, the Jets signed Michael Vick to compete with Smith, although the veteran signal-caller appears to have already surrendered the starting job. "I think everybody wants to start, but right now thats not my position," Vick told ESPN on Tuesday. "Geno was drafted in the second round and this is his second year and I think he deserves an opportunity to go out and play and show why hes been a high draft pick. It would be unfortunate for him to not get that opportunity." Head coach Rex Ryan reiterated on Tuesday that Vicks role is to push Smith for starting snaps, but admitted his role goes further than just holding the clipboard behind the West Virginia product. "Mikes role is to come in here and compete and be the best that he can possibly be and I think hes doing that," Ryan told TSN. "Also, it is to be a mentor to a young player like Geno Smith. We try to pride ourselves on creating a culture of competition and to make yourself the best you can be but also push the guy in front of you, behind you and across from you. I think when you do that, thats the best thing for this team and it develops the chemistry and thats what Mikes doing." Whether Vick is his backup or not, Smith is looking to take as much advice and experience from the former Philadelphia Eagle as possible as he attempts to improve on his disastrous 2013 stat line. "I look at him as a big brother" Smith said to TSN. "I look at him as the veteran that he is, a guy that can definitely lend a helping hand to us all, all of us younger guys in this locker room. Especially myself, you know, being that hes played in this system and been a quarterback in the NFL for 11 years now. Just learning from him as well as competing with him and us helping one another get better is definitely something thats helping me out." Ryan has yet to name the starter for the Jets, but he has hinted - albeit less strongly than Vick has - the nod will go to Smith. On Tuesday, the sixth-year coach praised Smiths improvement from the end of his 2013 season to his sophomore camp. "You have to start with how he finished last season," Ryan stated. "The first 12 weeks, I think he had a 28 quarterback rating and the last month he had the second highest rating in the NFL. It started with how he took care of the football and obviously became more accurate as he got used to seeing NFL coverages. "In the offseason, he prided himself on not just learning the offence but he wanted to build his body up, understanding the grind it takes in the NFL. Hes put on weight, hes put on muscle so hes improved physically, and mentally, hes really been in the playbook. The way he carries himself now on the practice field, its like hes been in the system for five years." Smiths offseason preparations ahead of 2014 had a one main focus; lowering his interception count from 21 - the fourth-most in the NFL last season. "The number one thing we studied is turnovers," said Smith, who also lost four of his eight fumbles in 2013. "Obviously we had a few too many turnovers last year and we feel that if we cut those down, wed have a pretty good year. The main thing was being able to improve on everything. My footwork, my reads and cutting down on my turnovers, taking less chances and being very careful with the ball." Smith also projects to improve in 2014 from the play of free-agent signees Eric Decker and Chris Johnson. Decker posted a career-high 1,288 receiving yards last season as he finished as the Denver Broncos second leading receiver. He has also posted back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. Johnson was released by the Tennessee Titans after posting a career-worst 3.9 yards per carry average in 2013. However, Johnson has never rushed for less than 1,000 yards in a season. Now five years removed from his 2,000 yard season, Johnson scored 10 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns last year. Smith should also benefit from the additions the Jets made through the NFL Draft in May. The Jets selected tight end Jace Amaro in the second round and later selected receivers Jalen Saunders and Shaq Evans in the fourth round. "Having those guys in addition to the guys we got coming back is definitely going to help us out," Smith said. "We all collectively have to come together and just keep getting better and keep pushing one another." As for Vick, hes learning to accept the change from being the star starter to the veteran backup. "Its a different transition," the veteran said. "You go from taking all the snaps with (the first-string offence) and the feeling of being in control and knowing that everything falls on you as far as responsibilities to the quarterback position. Its different, Im used to that. Not having to be in that situation right now, I wont say its a breath of fresh air. But, as of right now, I get to tighten my game up, catch my breath for a second and watch Geno grow as a quarterback." When the Jets will officially announce their starting quarterback remains a mystery, though the decision may remain simply a formality. "Well do it when we think its right," Ryan said. "You have to be true to your team values in creating competition. We havent named (defensive lineman) Muhammad Wilkerson a starter even though he should be a starter in the Pro Bowl but we still havent named him yet. Everything will play out the way its going to play out and give people opportunities." The Jets open their preseason against Indianapolis Colts on August 7, when both Smith and Vick are expected to take snaps at quarterback. Rod Smith Jersey . -- Chris Tillman paid no attention to the Baltimore bullpen as it started to stir in the ninth inning. Byron Jones Jersey . What they did need, the Devils got from Patrik Elias. Elias scored a power-play goal 40 seconds into overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. http://www.cheapcowboysjerseyssale.com/?tag=tony-romo-jersey-sale . Not sure yet. #livetweetingthegreatuntangle — Strombone (@strombone1) April 17, 2014 Stage three, coping: I feel like I could use a cigarette or something.SURREY, B.C. -- B.C. Lions general manager Wally Buono says hes not finished looking for possible roster revisions following the acquisition of veteran quarterback Buck Pierce. "Are we gonna stop (trying) to improve ourselves? No," Buono said Monday. "We are looking at bringing in other players." Traditionally, CFL clubs look at final NFL cuts at this time of year to mainly build for future seasons. But while rendering a blunt assessment of his club, Buono indicated the Lions could bring in talent for the current campaign. "There are going to be players available that can help you to better yourself," he said. "Whether you better youself in one or two positions, the whole idea is to better yourself." The Lions acquired Pierce, who spent his first five CFL seasons with B.C., from Winnipeg on Sunday for non-import receiver Akeem Foster. Buono and coach Mike Benevides stressed that Pierce, whose history with concussions led to his release from B.C. in 2010, was acquired strictly for depth purposes. But Buono hopes that, through his experience and leadership, Pierce will help the Lions stop their inconsistent play. "There should be an urgency," said Buono. "Theres eight games left in the season, and weve been on a very rhythmic kind of procedure -- one good game, one so-so game, one good game, one so-so game. Thats not the way we envisioned (the season). Whether this is sending a message or not, I guess the message I want to send is: We need help, and Buck can help us." The Lions, 6-4 following a loss to Hamilton in Guelph, Ont., over the weekend, are in danger of having to play away from B.C. Place Stadium in the playoffs. "Hamilton came here (the previous week), didnt win, they went home and they had an attitude," said Buono. "We came back after a Montreal loss with an attitude. You cant pick and choose when youre gonna play with an attitude. Right now, our club is picking and choosing when were playing with an attitude, and thats a dangerous thing to do. "All the clubs are tough, all the clubs are competitive, and its the attitude that gets you over the hump." More consistency was expected from a veteran-laden club that finished 13-5 last season and was left seething from an upset loss at home to Calgary in the West Final. Buono said the Lions current plight is a characteristic of a veteran club that realizes the playoffs count that most. "How much does a (regular) season really mean?" Buono asked. "Well, to me, it means a lot, because a home playoff game is an important game to have. Biggest game of the year is something that we should be striving for. You have to be a real pro. "People that pay for tickets, they expect that, and weve been really good at home and weve been really, I think, average and less than average on the road." But it remains to be seen how much Pierce, who turns 32 in November, can really help the cause on the ffield given his injury history and his struggles this season in Winnipeg, where he was displaced as the starter. Chris Jones Jersey. Buono released him after the 2009 season because he was concerned about the QBs risk of suffering a debilitating injury following a series of concussions and other health woes. But Buono said the situation is not the same now, because Travis Lulay, who passed for 300 yards in the back-to-back games against Hamilton and signed a new contract at the beginning of the season, is still the esablished starter. "The whole impetus of that was that we were not willing to make Buck a starter, because we just felt we needed to have stability considering what occurred with Dave Dickenson was occurring with Buck," said Buono. "I think this situation is totally different." Buono released Dickenson, who also suffered from concussions, because of concerns for further damage. Dickenson subsequently was forced to retire from the Calgary Stampeders because of his head injuries, and now serves as their offensive co-ordinator. "Were looking at a player of Bucks experience to come in and give us some depth and, hopefully, give us a little more leadership, too," said Buono. "We have a very tough schedule, and to get a guy like Buck, who has championship experience and whos a veteran, I think hes going to come and add some depth to our team." He said second-year pro Thomas DeMarco, B.C.s current backup quarterback and rookie Chris Hart, now No. 3, still have a future with the organization, but the Lions need an experienced quarterback to deal with the high-pressure defences that teams are deploying. In two of the past three games, Lulay was hounded by blitzing Montreal and Hamilton clubs that beat the Lions. In 34 games in which Pierce started between 2005 and 2009, the Lions compiled a 21-12-1 mark. After joining the Bombers as a free agent in 2010, Pierce started 32 of 33 games, but became disenchanted with Winnipegs management earlier this season when the club indicated its preference for going with younger signal-callers. In nine CFL seasons, the New Mexico State product has thrown for 15,059 yards on 1,179 completions, a 64.3 completion percentage and 73 touchdowns. Benevides said DeMarco will retain the No. 2 role until "the process" between him and Piece plays itself out. "Were not banking on Buck coming here and being our saviour," said Buono. "We have a very good (starting) quarterback." Notes: The Lions confirmed they have placed injured centre Angus Reid (back) on the nine-game injured list that covers the second half of the season. He could return to action earlier if healthy. He was also on the nine-game injured list in the first half of the season. ... Pierce is slated to practise with B.C. on Wednesday. ... Foster, a 26-year-old Ajax, Ont., native in his fourth CFL season, was at the Lions practice facility Monday, but did not address reporters. Cheap Nike NFL JerseysCheap Adidas Hockey JerseysWholesale Nike Baseball JerseysWholesale Jerseys From ChinaWholesale Jerseys ChinaWholesale NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Nike NFL Jerseys Free ShippingCheap Nike NBA Jerseys AuthenticCheap NHL Jerseys CanadaCheap Nike MLB JerseysCheap Soccer Jerseys ChinaNCAA Jerseys CheapNike NHL Jerseys ChinaWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys StoreCheap Football Jerseys StoreWholesale Soccer JerseysJerseys NCAA ChinaJerseys NFL CheapCheap Nike NBA Jerseys ' ' '