What looked like an uncertainty only a week ago changed Saturday. And so may have the NFL future of Erik Ainge.
The New York Jets kept Erik Ainge, their fifth-round pick out of Tennessee, as teams set their 53-man roster.
Keeping Ainge gives the Jets four quarterbacks on the roster, including Brett Favre, Kellen Clemens and Brett Ratliff.
“All four guys have done positive things, and I like all four guys,” coach Erci Mangini said. “It’s unique, it’s different, but all four of them are guys that we like.”
Ainge had limited action in the preseason until throwing for 131 yards and a touchdown in the Jets’ preseason finale at Philadelphia on Thursday.
“I was excited to be able to get out here and get a chance to play and get into rhythm,” Ainge said after Thursday’s game, “and show my teammates and everybody else that I was able to come out and play good.”
If the Jets had intended to put Ainge on the practice squad, he first would have had to clear waivers, a risk the Jets were not willing to take.
"I've liked what he's done since he's been here," Mangini said. "I think he's going to continue to get better."
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Comments » 39
Orangebrewbasher writes:
First!! lol
pammyvol1000 writes:
yep..
pammyvol1000 writes:
forever:-}
VOLS85 writes:
Wow I'm surprised they kept him. Thursday nites game is the only reason why they did. In phx waiting for my flight to LA. GO VOLS
Orangebrewbasher writes:
don't be jealous pammy :)
ctownvol writes:
Congratulations Erik!
KnoxVol_in_TX writes:
Congrats Ainger! Glad you get the opportunity to show your worth.
TooLegit2Quit writes:
Congrats Mr. Ainge!
wkjq#213863 writes:
1st!!
I_Sweat_Orange writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
volchamp writes:
anyone else watching clemson get owned by bama right now?
volchamp writes:
of course i say that and clemson runs that kickoff back
max357_2000 writes:
give'm hell Erik !!!!!!
warriorman86#667191 writes:
wish we had him instead of crompton this year
BillVol writes:
I always thought he had the talent. Maybe now that he is free of our UT system, he can blossom. Good luck, Erik.
TrueVolFan writes:
Great news for Eric! Congrats to him for sticking in there and working hard to EARN a spot. Looks like this is even more confirmation that all the ungrateful Ainge haters were wrong again. Looks now like Coach Fulmer and the UT staff as well as Eric Mangini and the NY Jets staff disagree with your evaluation of Ainges talent level. Oh well, atleast you can still sit in your tighty whitey's and post on message boards!
jason.taylor#629315 writes:
warriorman your on crack! Give the guy a chance! As a Freshman he did a heck of a job against LSU...
raoucubs writes:
warriorman hope you eat yours words...Crompton is going to show why he was the top rated qb coming out of high school. If he is the only question mark on the team that would be great. he has a good arm, stamina in the pocket, and has experience.
hdhurst writes:
I don't comment much any more...mostly because the children like to see who gets to first base the fastest. Anyway, wishing Erik Ainge all the best. GO VOLS!!!
MrBamSeydu writes:
1st
NOLAvol writes:
Keeping four QBs... Hmmmm.
What do y'all think: keeping one as trade bait for the next team that loses a QB to injury, or does Man-genius simply lack of confidence in the Jets new O-line?
You gotta figure, with the regular season starting and Favre still learning the system, the other three QBs won't get to run more than 12 plays between them in practice each week... BUT I AM happy for and proud of Erik--and not the least bit surprised he made the cut!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Congrats, Erik, on making the big show. Bet they've suggested it's not necessary always to sail that bad boy into PP.
volintexas writes:
Well done Ainge. As long as he doesn't run into a team with the same uniforms as LSU, he should have a great career, probably much like the long term NY Jet Pat Ryan, also a former Volunteer.
gslaton#227127 writes:
Apparently Cutcliff was right. He made it to Sundays..at least, for now. Congrats to Erik. He worked hard to get there. Who would have thought that Cutcliff or the Jets staff would know more that the govols blog pundits!!
Bigger_Al writes:
Nice job, Erik!
givehim6 writes:
Hope you dink and dunk your way into the NFL record there buddy! GO VOLS!
Colliervol writes:
That's easy General. You keep a 4th that may have some potential when your starter may only be there a year and the other two are Kellen Clemmons and Brett Ratliff (whoever they are).
Personally, I thought he was gone when they signed Favre but somebody up there must like him. The NFL is a business and they don't keep anybody around that they don't think can contribute down the road.
Waldorf writes:
Never saw this coming....
Congrats where it is deserved. There is obviously a reason he is on the roster. Maybe he's starting to figure it out.
MidTennVol writes:
Congrats, Erik. Forever a Vol. Wish you the best, wherever the game and life may take you. Thanks for your dedication to the University of Tennessee.
VOLINCALI writes:
Keeping four QB's says a lot about what the Jets think of him and his future. It is obvious they did not play him much hoping to put him on the practise squad. After his performance in his only game they were afraid someone else would claim him.
Congrats Ainge. Be a sponge and soak up all you can from the gunslinger. You might have been a first round pick if you had someone to learn under in college.
TommyJack writes:
Not pulling against him. But he's a whisker away from the taxi-squad. Don't commit him to Canton yet.
jimr07 writes:
colliervol--yes the vp and general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, likes him. saw him on the replay and the jets seem to be high on Erik. i know that all the talent evaluators on here are surprised. the only ones that matter are the jets.
gavol2572 writes:
who knows maybe Ainge will sneak into greatness like Brady. He just wont cheat to get there!!
GreerVol22 writes:
Kingsport...speak to me! How many fingers am I holding up?......just my pointer...as in 1 more round...as in one more pina colada flavored fritter....one as in careful dude...thats the ocean not the pool....fill the fridge cause its on tomorrow night!!!
Welcome back~
kb7398#233189 writes:
I would've loved to see him in Indy. Favre should've stayed retired...
cltvol writes:
He has the skills,college coaching, commitment, and learner mentality the NFL requires. Coach DC taught or otherwise beat into him the work ethic and work habits it takes to succeed. He's 2nd to Ainge on the 'who deserves the credit' scale & I'm pulling for Duke every time out til they play UT again. Hopefully, EA is a pro all year and will be a repeater. Our recruiters can hold him up as another of many reasons for a pro-style QB to be a Vol.
Where are all the birdbrains who tried to run #10 off last year? Probably, trying to figure out who they will hate this year. Guess we'll find out after our first of probably 3 losses this year. Another 10 win season, and a top 12 finish is what my tea leaves say. Still keeps us in the mix for a NC title w/in 4 years.
invisiblekid writes:
Glad to hear it for Ainge. If he can manage to hang on for a year, he should be in pretty good shape. I expect Farve to flame out quickly under the glare of the NY press and their offensive line.
NickS4117 writes:
Jets kept Ainge because they don't have to play Alabama or Florida.
fishportion writes:
i miss ainge
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