Transcripts of interviews with selected players after Friday morning's training camp practice:
QB KELLEN CLEMENS
On the weather conditions …
At least it wasn't hot. It was a nice, cool day and easier to stay hydrated. We had a good start this morning and we will come back this afternoon and do the same thing.
On the first practice going the way he wanted it to go …
It kind of went the way that you expect the first practice to go. The rain was a little bit of an issue. We had some balls sail, to be honest. But it's a good opportunity for us because we're certainly not going to play 16 regular-season games without playing one in the rain. It's a good opportunity early to work on some mechanics. We have a long way to go.
On the defense …
They installed a lot faster for training camp than they did for OTAs. It's the second time a lot of those guys have heard it and they're catching on very quickly. You go all the way back to high school, it's traditionally the way it is. Don't worry about us offensively, we'll be rolling soon enough. It always takes us a little bit to get back on the same page and shake off a little rust but we're only one practice in.
On if Rex Ryan naming him the No. 1 QB now gives him confidence ...
Yes, it does. I appreciate you sharing that with me [laughter]. It means a lot going into it. I think it gives me more time with the wide receivers and tight ends and the offensive line to develop more chemistry. That's exciting.
On seeing the starting job as his to lose …
My approach to this camp is to do whatever I can to prepare myself and my teammates so that we can get ready to win the world championship. That is our goal and it's all of our approach.
On Mark Sanchez getting more reps with the first unit as training camp continues …
It's not my concern because it's not my decision. The coaches are making the decisions. As was said earlier, Coach Ryan has designated me the starter going in, so my goal, my preparation, my concentration is to prepare myself and my teammates to make a run at the world championship.
On having training camp at SUNY Cortland …
Obviously, we have a beautiful facility down there in Florham Park but it is nice to get up here and get away from a lot of the distractions. This is a beautiful place. Weather is a little questionable after the first practice [laughter]. A lot of people in this area have made sacrifices and made an effort to welcome us and that means a lot to us.
But you get away from the distractions of home and have a chance to bond as a team. We are a close-knit team. We'll be able to battle through some of the adversities that will undoubtedly come up over the course of the season. The work that we are doing right now on the field and off the field will hopefully pay dividends in November and December.
On the receivers being called one of the weaknesses of the team …
That's all perception. If you ask the guys in here who watch the guys work, you'll see. Jerricho Cotchery is someone that we have a lot of confidence in. We have other guys who might not have the big name but they are very talented. There is Chansi Stuckey, David Clowney, Brad Smith and a young guy, Britt Davis. We have a lot of talented guys that we have a lot of confidence in. Outside perception is not a concern.
On his focus …
I try to focus on what's inside the white lines. That is what's important right now and that is what's going to make this team win. That is what I'm focused on.
QB MARK SANCHEZ
On how his first NFL training camp is different than at Southern Cal …
It's a similar tempo. Everybody is moving, guys are a lot faster. It was a great day. I took care of the ball well. I think I got off to a good start, but that comes with a lot of help from the guys up front.
My fellow rookies, the drafted guys, [Matt] Slauson and Shonn [Greene], we are learning the ropes and following big guys around, getting up nice and early and watching those guys go through their routines. We were in the hot tub earlier with them trying to follow the veterans around and learning our way. It was a great first day and good tempo. Coach Ryan got us off to a good start.
On pacing his performance to play at the level he wants to …
I felt great today but there is always room to improve, a couple throws here and there. A lot of it was it was just raining out here and we're trying to get our footing down. The timing is a little off anyway just with the first day, guys coming back. We haven't worked totally over the off-season. We have that break and you don't quite get your timing with the receivers.
And add the rain to it. That threw us off a little bit, but that's something that we're going to have to deal with in the season. As for the tempo, it's just keep going at the speed I'm going, try to pick it up every day, watch it on field and try to correct your mistakes.
On the pressure of the QB competition not getting to him …
This is fun. It's been like this every off-season coming from college and I expect that anywhere in the NFL. There are great quarterbacks all over. Everybody's just waiting for their shot and that's what Kellen and I are doing as well. We're battling it out and being friends about it. That's the way the team is going to get better.
On the training camp facilities ...
Hats off to SUNY Cortland. They did a great job — wonderful hospitality here welcoming us. Even in the dorms they have signs posted that say "Go Jets," "Thanks for Coming" and "Welcome to Cortland." That's encouraging for us. We appreciate all of their support. It's my first training camp with day one almost in the books, halfway in the books at least, so it's been a great run.
On the defense being a step ahead of the offense …
I think our offensive installation came in. We're only doing so much each practice, and as camp goes on we'll put in more and more plays that will help against all the defenses they put in. But the defense just puts it all in at once. That's good for us. We're playing a little catchup here and getting after them as well. Completions are tough to come by, but that's what this game is all about. That's what our defense is all about. That's good to know that they will be on our team come this season.
On reading the blitzes …
I got a good look at it during OTAs and I felt very comfortable today. The offensive line did a great job, obviously. Rob Turner did an awesome job at second-group center. That was good. He was helping out with the Mike [MLB] declarations and adjusting protections. It made me feel right at home. I had a solid day.
On what to work on to earn the starting job …
I think you just keep plugging away one practice at a time and then try and not look at the big picture. Just take it one rep, one drill at a time and get completions. Build those completions on top of each other. Get a few in a row, get a little momentum going, and those guys will start to feel it. That's when you can start talking and gaining a little confidence as camp goes on. It's only day one and it was a great start, but I've got to keep working.
On if the coaching staff has told the QBs of a timeline to name the starter …
Nothing yet. It's a long camp. It's a marathon, not a sprint. It's only day one. We've got a long way to go, we're taking things in stride and I think we're doing a great job.
On the first day of training camp …
I thought it was a great start. I took care of the ball well and got a few completions here and there. Wallace Wright did a great job today with that second group. That was fun to get back with him and connect. There were a couple of incompletions that you want to clean up. I'll be able to look at the film and get it fixed.
It was great to see all the guys again. I just think that guys are excited to get back on the field. You see guys smiling here and there. Even big Alan Faneca. I don't even know how many camps this is for him. T-Rich [Tony Richardson], I asked him and he said this was his 16th camp as a fullback in the league. That's awesome. That's the kind of stuff that's encouraging as a youngster. It was a great first day with a good tempo. Coach Ryan got us off to a great start.
On what he needs to work on …
There are mistakes that are going to happen every day. The most important thing was that I took care of the ball very well today. I got some completions when we needed them and converted on some third downs, which is going to be very important. It's only the first practice of the first day. We still have another practice and a long camp. It's a great start, but we've got to keep working.
On practicing in the rain …
We had a few rainy days [at Southern Cal]. I'm lucky I've got some pretty big hands thanks to my momma. I gripped the ball pretty well. A couple of balls get away from you here and there, but we were throwing a little bit after practice just to get that feel because that might happen this year. It's likely. When it does, we want to be prepared for it and that's what we did. It's a good feel for what it will be like.
On anticipating getting some first-team reps …
I don't know. It's up to the coaches. They're going to run this competition the way they want and let us battle for it. Everything is going well so far. I need to do my very best, whatever team I'm on. We'll leave that up to the coaches.
On how teams will try to take advantage of his inexperience …
Either a lot of blitzing or coverage. Who knows? Each team has their own philosophy. If they do one and we do really well or don't do so well, we might see it or not see it again. We'll be ready to go either way. Coach Schotty [Brian Schottenheimer] will do a great job with that.
On DB James Ihedigbo coming up on a blitz during a play …
I'd better go back and look at it. I'm sure if it was on the QB, then Schotty would have said something right away. That's something we'll look at. Those things happen. Obviously, it is day one and we'll get them fixed.
On adjusting to New York City …
Now that camp has started, I've been pretty focused out here. That stuff is kind of on the back burner for now. I'll worry about that come the next off-season. Right now I've got a big playbook to study. There is not much time for going out to dinner and stuff. When it's with some of the guys, I'll go out and have a good time. It's all focus right now.
On what he's doing to stay connected with his Hispanic heritage …
We're looking at organizations here on the East Coast to try and help out and take some financial leadership. For now, I'm really focused on the football side of things. To be totally blunt, nobody really pays any interest to my culture and heritage if I'm not playing well on the field. So, I want to do that first and I'll worry about the rest later. It's obviously a culture I want to stay close to. I'm proud we live in a country where we can celebrate our heritage.
On welcome to the NFL moments with veterans …
Nothing too much. I've tried to get on everybody's good side, play it safe and be smart about stuff. Keep my head on a swivel, obviously [laughing]. Just being smart about it, staying quiet, learning and watching.
On his long morning completion to WR Chansi Stuckey …
It was a route adjustment. He saw the adjustment a split-second quicker than I did. It was one of those things where I didn't know exactly what he was going to do. As soon as I saw it, I turned it loose and gave him a chance. He made a great play. It was more of a great catch than a great throw. That's what happens when you have great receivers like that — put it up and give them a chance.
On fans calling his name and the QBs being instructed not to sign autographs today …
It's tough, but Rex said we've got to go over in certain positions and not to mess up the rotation. I'm trying to play it smart and safe and follow what Coach says. We appreciate their support in the rain. That means a lot to us.
LB BART SCOTT
On the first practice …
I think you saw guys knocking the rust off, being the first day with pads on. We're trying to figure out how the practice is going to go, the tempo. I think for the first day it was pretty good fighting through the elements. They don't cancel football because of rain. It's just one more thing that will help you get mentally prepared. You are always going to get curveballs when you are playing football.
On making the defense successful …
In order to make this defense successful we have to make it ours. It can't be one individual player — we have to take ownership of it and take pride in it. Collectively, there's a greater goal out there for us. We can get our individual goals and we can achieve all of those things, but if we do them collectively, then the better we will be as a unit.
On what fans will see from him …
They are going to see a tireless worker that will fight for anything. I think they will be able to sense that. They will see me working — that's all I know how to do.
RB/KR LEON WASHINGTON
On why he decided to attend training camp …
It came down to thinking about the opportunity that I had to play football and how fortunate I am to play football. The contract situation is going to be lengthy, the same situation it was in the spring. I decided to come out here to play with my teammates, and it is important that we have that camaraderie. That was my decision.
On if he felt that there was nothing that could be gained from a holdout …
Absolutely, that's the way I felt. Me holding out didn't give me anything with the contract negotiation. I came out here to play football and have good faith, round two. Hopefully things work out for the best.
On if he plans on playing with the current contract …
I would like not to play under this current contract. We all know that. If I don't get a contract, then I don't get a contract. Whatever happens (will happen). I am here to play football with my teammates. I think you saw that today. I'm ready to play. I'm in good shape. I'm ready to try to get down to [the Super Bowl in] Miami. That is all I can do right now.
On if he was close to holding out …
Yesterday I was trying to get the contract situation done before I came to training camp. Having the GM talk to my agent, we realized that this thing was not going where we wanted it to be. I am unhappy about the situation but, at the same time, I have to play football. I think it is best for me to come out here and play football and let the contract situation take care of itself.
On Rex Ryan's comment that he was reading the playbook yesterday…
Yeah, I was trying to get in it a little bit, but I was concentrating on that conditioning test that I had this morning.
On participating in more drills than expected this afternoon …
That goes to show how much I love football. This morning I didn't do much at all, just the warmups and individuals. I was missing it, so I decided to come out here [this afternoon] and play football and help my teammates out. If there is any question that Leon loves to play football, I definitely love to do it. Rex sees that, the organization sees that and my teammates see that.
On the progress of his contract negotiations …
Well, I thought we had made some progress, but obviously it's still not there. I don't have a contract signed yet. It's been going on for a while. I'm not happy about that but I'm happy to play football. So that's all I'm going to say about that.
On what the hanging point of the contract negotiations is …
I don't want to go into details about that. You can ask [the Jets] about that. Obviously, if it's not done, both sides are not agreeing on something.
On if he's confident an agreement will be reached …
No, I'm not confident. I don't feel confident that something will get done. It kind of hurts me a little bit because I've been here three years busting my tail off. I've played hard for the organization and for me not to get rewarded or for me to be put in some type of situation, I'm unhappy about that. What I am happy about is that I can still play football.
On feeling slighted…
I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed and I haven't stepped down.
On separating his feelings from playing on the field …
When I come out on the field, it is back to childhood. It is about being back in Jacksonville at 9, 10 years old and I love to play football. I thought today was a good test for me to come out here and see how I feel, see how the contact situation will play on my mind. I was running around and making plays with the team, so it doesn't affect me at all on the football field.
On if the organization is holding the CBA over his head in negotiations…
They have their leverage and we have our leverage. Whatever cards they want to play, whatever leverage they have, I am sure that it is a business. They are going to try to use that to their advantage and, for me, I can use my leverage. But at the end of the day, they make the calls, they write the checks. So it is important for me to come out here. I have a family and I have to feed them. It is important for me to play football.
On if he will remain with the team throughout training camp or holdout…
I'm not going to say. I am going to let the situation play out. I don't want to say anything and don't do it or say something that I am going to do and not do that. I'm going to let the situation play out. Hopefully the organization feels the way I feel. I want to be a Jet and get the deal done.
On if he is leaving the door open to a holdout during training camp…
If you think about it, I can't walk. I'm only making 535 [thousand dollars] this year so I have to pay bills and feed my family. So I'll leave it at that.
On if fines are a part of the reason that he came to training camp …
Not at all. That wasn't a problem at all. I just want to be out here with my teammates. I was talking to Thomas Jones and my teammates about how important it is to win a championship. That is what I want to do. I want to [perform] on the football field and I am ready to play.
