Michael Vick Won't Rescue Hapless Jets from Disastrous 2014 NFL Season

The New York Jets are bad. Michael Vick isn't going to save them.

Even in an offense directed by offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, the same West Coast system Vick thrived in with the Philadelphia Eagles, the 34-year-old veteran has been erratic and not NFL starter material.

Vick will get the starting nod this Sunday, mostly because Geno Smith displayed incompetence on an extraordinary level in being pulled in the first quarter of last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The NFL on ESPN offers further context of the Jets' damage done at the most vital position:

New York travels to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9, who happen to sport the league's No. 1 pass defense.

Head coach Rex Ryan may take some heat for how the 1-7 Jets are performing. How about general manager John Idzik? In his brief, head-scratching tenure, Idzik's latest splash was to trade for talented, temperamental playmaker Percy Harvin to provide a spark on offense.

Seldom do in-season trades return big dividends the same year. The Jets had plenty of cap room to accrue assets, yet only splurged on Eric Decker, whose impact has been barely noticeable at the season's midway point.

Ryan has not had a competent quarterback since he's been at the helm. That trend appears to be continuing, as Smith, a 2013 second-round pick, seems to have flamed out in failure.

As for Vick and what's around him, opponents are going to load up the box in an effort to stop the Chris Ivory-led rushing attack.

That leaves a questionable No. 1 wideout in Decker and Harvin, who's still learning the playbook and switching to a second different quarterback in as many games with his new team. Unless Jeremy Kerley counts. Idzik extended Kerley recently too, which makes little sense in that he's similar to Harvin but with a lot less innate ability.

With how careless Vick was with the ball in Week 8 relief duty—fumbling four times and throwing an interception—it's almost as though he is taking his position for granted. As though it can't get much worse, so why worry about the consequences of playing a reckless, high-risk brand of football?

Vick has accrued experience and shown flashes of brilliance as a pocket passer, but his old habits have died hard, as he explained Wednesday, via ESPN.com's Rich Cimini:

"

Last week, I got too greedy...I was trying to play like a 24-year-old Mike Vick. ... You've got to play with some type of control.

At some point, I think I'm going to have to find a way to get down and slide. Part of the process with me, and the stage I'm in ... trying to get that second or third yard isn't always going to be to the best benefit. I think I try to do too much at times, and that's when things get out of hand.

"

The man who admitted that he wasn't prepared to play when he entered the game for Smith in Week 5's 31-0 road loss at San Diego is still pressing for greatness.

And that's always been the problem. Vick has never had the patience in any facet of his game to stay within the confines of an offense and fully capitalize on his obvious talents.

With those imperfections have come some breathtaking plays that only he could make, but myriad mistakes have held Vick back from accomplishing more on the gridiron.

The (New York) Daily News' Manish Mehta documented what Vick had to say about laying his body on the line:

While he should present an upgrade over Smith for the remainder of 2014, that doesn't necessarily mean Vick will help the Jets' outlook moving forward.

A depleted secondary is perpetually exposed, leaving Ryan scrambling for innovative schematics just to keep his defense respectable. The scoff-worthy, Idzik-assembled supporting cast won't help Vick's bid to prolong his tenure as an NFL starter beyond this season, either.

The Jets face a final eight games in which only two opponents sport losing records.

Some exciting plays will ensue when Vick enters the lineup. Consistent winning won't. That is what Vick, Ryan and Idzik all need—and won't get—to boost hopes of retaining their jobs in the Big Apple.