Jets reversing field: benching Michael Vick, going back to Geno Smith

The rudderless New York Jets are changing course again.

Quarterback Michael Vick has been benched, and Geno Smith — the man he replaced — will be back under center. Head coach Rex Ryan met with both quarterbacks on Wednesday morning to inform them of the switch.

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Vick was miserable in Monday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills in Detroit, completing 7-of-19 passes for 76 yards, with an interception. Smith replaced him in the fourth quarter in mop-up duty.

So why now? Smith was miserable in Week 8, was benched and now suddenly has regained his … whatever it is he has?

This is less about Smith regaining the job as it is about Vick losing it. He simply wasn’t dynamic enough to retain the position and has left a floundering coaching staff — one that, led by Ryan, appears to know its fate amid a 2-9 season — no choice in the matter.

Ryan appeared to tip his hand on Tuesday, hinting that Vick was still his guy. Wednesday morning, that has changed. This smacks of GM John Idzik overruling Ryan, and you can bet that Ryan will chalk it up to being “what’s best for the organization,” or some other coked-up coachspeak.

It’s very likely that Smith is auditioning for his next job with another team in these final five games. That said, it’s unclear just how widespread the changes owner Woody Johnson will make — is Idzik as good as gone also, as it appears Ryan and much of his staff could be?

The Jets return home to face the Miami Dolphins on Monday night — another primetime game for Gang Green! — and finish out the string thereafter with games against the Minnesota Vikings (road), Tennessee Titans (road), New England Patriots (home) and Miami Dolphins (road).

Smith played well against the Patriots in Foxboro, so perhaps he could build off that memory and a semi-respectable relief appearance in Monday’s 38-3 loss to the Bills as a way of finishing the season on something approximating a high note.

But it’s possible that he, Vick, Ryan and Idzik all could be former Jets after this season. It just has that housecleaning feel to it after another year of missing the playoffs.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm