You can tell a little about the competitor in Bryce Petty just by listening to him talk about today's little post-practice game of Bang the Ball Off the Crossbar from 20 yards away.
"We're trying to compete in everything," Petty said of himself and fellow quarterbacks Josh McCown and Christian Hackenberg. "We were just out there throwing it at the field goal posts. Everything we do is a competition, and I love that because if our room is competitive, that makes the offense better and sets us up as a a team better."
So who won today's crossbar contest?
"McCown," Petty said after a pause and with mock disgust.
The more important competition among the three, of course, is for the starting signalcaller's job. McCown got the lion's share of the first-team snaps today but head coach Todd Bowles said the reps will be fluid from day to day and week to week.
Petty looked crisp in position drills, especially finding his tight ends. He also threw the first pick of team drills, but that came on a pass deflected off the hands of RB Jordan Todman into the waiting arms of CB Marcus Williams, who took the pick to the house.
Regardless, Petty said he's feeling great as he starts out his third Jets training camp.
"I'm a lot more confident with things and picking stuff up that, the first year and second year, I think I would've never seen or wouldn't have picked up on," he said. "I'm excited where this offense is at, I'm excited with what we're doing."
Petty took special delight in lauding that offense, the one being installed by new coordinator John Morton.
"I love it," he said. "There's a lot of things that we do that Coach Morton allows those receivers to make plays. ... And you've seen his pedigree, you've seen where he's come from and those guys [the Saints, where he was receivers coach] put up really big numbers and a lot points. So offensively, he's got the system. We've just got to make sure we execute it, make sure we prepare and tackle it head on."
Petty also likes the vibe on these new, young Jets. He's not buying into the outside noise saying the Green & White are in for a struggle this season.
"We know what we've got. We know what we can do," he said. "Our work ethic is tremendous right now. Guys are hungry, which is where we want to be. We're pointing in the right direction."
