FLORHAM PARK, N.J. --?New York Jets coach Todd Bowles put his signature on the decision to bench Ryan Fitzpatrick in favor of Geno Smith, claiming there was no interference from management or ownership.This was strictly my call, Bowles said Wednesday.Bowles gave Fitzpatrick a vote of confidence after Monday nights 28-3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but he hedged on that in a Tuesday afternoon conference call with reporters, saying he needed to discuss it later that night with his staff. The flip-flop, out of character for Bowles, fueled speculation that perhaps owner Woody Johnson had demanded a change.Interestingly, both quarterbacks said they received the news from Bowles on Tuesday. Neither player offered a specific time, but presumably it was before the evening staff meeting.Smith will start Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, his first start since Dec. 28, 2014.I dont like it, said Fitzpatrick, the lowest-rated quarterback in the NFL. Im disappointed were making the change. Im disappointed in my play this year as well.The competitor in me really wants to be out there. The guy that was the leader of this team wants to be out there, but its the decision Todd made. I have to respect his decision, but I dont have to like it. Smith reclaimed the job he lost in August 2015, when he was punched by then-teammate IK Enemkpali in a locker room altercation. His jaw was broken, and by the time he returned, Fitzpatrick was on his way to a career year. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall praised Smith for gaining maturity over the past year, but his choice of words was odd. Its amazing to see this guy grow and punch adversity in the face, Marshall said. Smith, who handled mop-up duty in Monday nights loss, downplayed his promotion, saying he wanted to keep the focus on the team. He didnt want to reflect on his usual journey. There will be a time and place for that, but this isnt the time or the place, he said.?The current situation is bleak. The Jets (1-5) have dropped four in a row, having managed only three touchdowns in that span. Fitzpatrick leads the NFL with 11 interceptions. We didnt gel and come together like we did last season, Bowles said, explaining his decision. We havent been producing, so I thought it was time to make a change. It was a different tone on Monday night. After the game, Bowles exonerated Fitzpatrick, saying no quarterback couldve succeeded because of the pass-protection issues. He claimed that Fitzpatrick would be back next week. ... Fitz is our starter. Why the reversal? Bowles said he wanted to discuss the matter with his staff and general manager Mike Maccagnan as a matter of protocol. He acknowledged that he also spoke to Johnson. Asked if he spoke to the owner before the decision, Bowles said, We talk all the time. He said Fitzpatrick and Smith are guys of equal talent ... and when one isnt playing as well, you turn to the other one, and thats what we did. The change put Marshall in an awkward position. He was reminded of his comment from a few weeks ago when he said hed stick with Fitzpatrick even if the boat goes down. Boats down, he said, smiling. Smith may only be a bridge to one of the young quarterbacks, Bryce Petty or rookie Christian Hackenberg. Bowles didnt rule out the possibility of promoting one of them at some point. He said theyre operating on a week-to-week basis. Petty needs more practice time because hes only one week removed from a five-week shoulder injury, according to Bowles, adding that Hackenberg isnt ready. The Jets probably would wait until theyre mathematically eliminated before turning to an inexperienced quarterback. Theyre the only team with four quarterbacks on the roster. Petty and Hackenberg are under contract for 2017; Smith and Fitzpatrick will be free agents. This is a stunning fall for Fitzpatrick, who, after a long stalemate, signed a one-year, $12 million contract on the eve of training camp. He was considered the missing piece for a team that almost made the playoffs last season, but he hasnt been able to recapture that level of play. Were 1-5, so something has to change, he said. I guess I was the change. Fitzpatrick will be the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday. Smith, a second-round pick in 2013, compiled an 11-18 starting record in his first two seasons. He flashed occasional glimpses of potential, but he had 34 interceptions and 71 sacks in those two years. Smith worked with the starters during Fitzpatricks contract dispute in the offseason, but he went back to the bench when Fitzpatrick signed. In several interviews, Smith said he was pissed off. On Monday night, he told ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters he was antsy to play. He also expressed frustration on the sideline, flinging his baseball cap at one point. That resulted in a public rebuke from Bowles, who backed off that on Wednesday. Bowles described Smiths comment as gossip, adding that its a waste of my time to discuss. Air Max Plus Clearance . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. Air Max Plus Free Shipping . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. http://www.cheapairmaxplus.com/ . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Cheap Air Max Plus Shoes . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Air Max Plus Online . 9. Price, heading to the 2014 Olympics for Canada, was named the First Star after posting wins in three starts with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage. LANDOVER, Md. -- As if things were not already bad enough for the Minnesota Vikings, what with a four-game losing streak and a depleted offensive line, there sat Jake Long in front of a locker, head bowed, a pair of crutches by his side.Backup Jeremiah Sirles, seated to Longs left, reached out and put a hand on his teammates shoulder, trying to comfort him.Long -- signed last month after the Vikings put two tackles on injured reserve -- was carted off the field after hurting his Achilles tendon on Minnesotas final drive of a 26-20 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, dropping a team that started 5-0 to 5-4 and making its present and future even bleaker.Well get back to the drawing board tomorrow, Sirles said about what will happen to the offensive line now that Long is expected to miss the rest of the season, and see what the plan is going forward.Of immediate concern, in addition to how to replace Long after already having to account for injuries to left tackle Matt Kalil and right tackle Andre Smith, is next weeks game against the visiting Arizona Cardinals.Got a lot of things weve got to clean up, a lot of things weve got to get better at, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. Everybodys frustrated right now. So Id be disappointed if they werent frustrated.The Redskins (5-3-1), meanwhile, get to enjoy this back-and-forth victory -- Washington led 14-0 a minute into the second quarter, trailed 20-14 at halftime, then scored the final 12 points -- before facing yet another team whose season is spiraling out of control: They host the Green Bay Packers (4-5 after losing four of their past five games) next Sunday night.Here is what else to know about Washington and Minnesota:FAT ROBUndrafted rookie Robert Kelley is not letting go of the Redskins starting running back job. He climbed the depth chart in part because former starter Matt Jones had trouble holding onto the football, and Kelley -- nickname: Fat Rob -- heads into next week as the unquestioned No. 1 back. Kelley had 97 yards on 22 carries against Minnesota and hasnt fumbled in the NFL, while third-down back Chris Thompson put the ball on the ground Sunday. Kelley watched the film of hiss first start, Oct.dddddddddddd30 against Cincinnati, saw cuts he missed and improved. I tried to make sure I didnt make the same mistakes this game, Kelley said. It worked out.SHORT YARDAGEThe Vikings cant believe how much trouble they have in short-yardage situations and will prepare for Arizona knowing they failed to convert twice on third-and-1 against Washington. Weve just got to do better. We went with big people. We went with small people. Didnt get either one. Thats where our toughness needs to take over, tight end Kyle Rudolph said. We cant seem to get that 1 yard.RAZORS EDGESeven of the Redskins nine games this season were decided by one score; theyre 4-2-1 in those. Players said its a sign of resiliency; they wouldnt mind a blowout moving forward, though. If were really going to be a good team, defensive end Chris Baker said, weve got to stick our foot on (an opponents) throat from the beginning of the game until after the game.NO BALANCEIf Minnesota is going to turn its season back around, one key could be figuring out how to run the ball more -- and run it better. Not having Peterson is a big deal, of course, but check out these numbers against the Redskins: 21 carries for 47 yards, a 2.2 average. Sam Bradford threw the ball nearly twice as many times (40) as he handed it off. Its been tough the past couple weeks, but were going to stay committed to it. I know that we believe in the run game, Bradford said. I still believe were best when were balanced.RED-ZONE STUMBLESThe Redskins offense settled for three field goals in four trips to the red zone against Minnesota -- part of Washingtons season-long struggles when it gets close to the end zone. Plus, Kirk Cousins almost got intercepted at the goal line, but linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr collided and the ball fell between them.---AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '