Sports Radio Interviews

Kellen Clemens: “This game is about just going out and trying to play my role within this offense “

This could be the final curtain call for Kellen Clemens in New York, his final shot to show the rest of the NFL he can be a starter. Clemens was drafted in 2006 to become the future of the Jets when Chad Pennington was done in New York. Clemens briefly got his shot in the second half of 2007 but was 3-5 and unimpressive.  Then the Jets picked up Brett Favre and dropped Pennington which signified that Clemens was no longer the future. The fairy tale for Clemens didn’t work out the way he and the Jets wanted it to. Now the fairy tale being us to the NFL Draft this year when the Jets traded up to draft USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. Another step backwards for Clemens. So now Sanchez is hurt and Clemens has a shot to prove himself again.  The 26-year-old’s contract expires after this season, the chances are slim that he will factor into future plans with the Jets.

The Jets are back in the playoff hunt at 6-6 in a cluster in the AFC with four other teams at 6-6, and the AFC East is still up for grabs with the Pats at 7-5 and the Dolphins at 6-6. With four weeks left in the season there is plenty going on in the AFC and a lot to gain and lose for the Jets. With all that said, the Jets are starting Clemens in a crucial part of the season for them with everything on the line. Only in New York.

Kellen Clemens joined Michael Kay on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York about taking over after Sanchez went down, his first start coming up since the end of 2007, the offensive game plan and the off-season

Asked if he thought he would be given the whole offensive game plan to use and not just a minimal system:

“No, they feel comfortable with me. We have got quite a bit of game plan in there already and there is always some late additions as the week progresses. I haven’t played a lot this year, but this is my fourth year in the system. I have spent a lot of time working with Coach Schottenheimer and Coach Cavanaugh getting ready for whenever this opportunity presented itself. They won’t be dumbing it down at all.”

Asked about the pressure of winning this game for playoffs chances:

“We’ve got a great defense, a solid offensive line and we run the ball well. It’s up to me to just manage the game and do my part. There is no added pressure than their usually is. I just have to go out and play the position and take care of business.”

Asked what concerns him the most going into this game:

It’s just getting back into the mindset of being the starter and just being out there. It’s one thing to sit back and be in the background and make checks without Barrett Rudd breathing down your neck. It was a good thing to get some live bullets against Buffalo on Thursday night to kind of get my feet wet in that regards’. The only other thing is that I really want to make sure we have done is develop as much chemistry as I can with these wide receivers.”

Asked if going into this game he is thinking playing well is good for him in general in relations to the Jets and the rest of the NFL:

You can’t, I agree with you that there is a human nature aspect of that and that’s the natural thought. It’s never been my way to think about me, I am going out there and going to play the best football I can play to help this team win. The long term stuff, the offseason stuff and the business side of things; we will let that play itself out in February and March. This game is about just going out and trying to play my role within this offense and team to get us our 7^th win and keep the playoffs a realistic possibility.”

Listen to Kellen Clemens with Michael Kay on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York (13:15 into podcast)

Tags: AFC, AFC East, Brett Favre, Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens, Mark Sanchez, New York Jets, NFL