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Me? Underdog? Greg McElroy Is Confident He Can Be Jets' Starting Quarterback

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Jets general manager John Idzik has been very forthcoming about the fact that all five quarterbacks on the team's roster -- Mark Sanchez, David Garrard, Geno Smith, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms -- will be competing for the starting job in training camp.

When asked by WFAN host Mike Francesa on Tuesday whether Sanchez would be on Gang Green's roster after June 1, Idzik simply stated, "I'm not going to make any predictions."

But still, all signs point to Sanchez, Garrard and Smith being the legitimate frontrunners for the starting role. Smith is the hot new draft pick, Garrard is the free-agent signing with the track record and Sanchez is the man who took this franchise to two consecutive AFC Championship Games to begin his career.

But don't tell that to McElroy, who in no way considers himself an underdog.

"I don't view it as anything like that," the second-year player said, according to the New York Post.

In fact, the 24-year-old is looking forward to a good, old-fashioned competition.

"It's great to have competitions," the quarterback told reporters. "I know competition brings out the best in everybody. I know everyone's looking forward to having a competition."

After drafting Smith with the 39th overall pick in last week's NFL Draft, Idzik subsequently cut Tim Tebow. The Alabama alum claims that the organization's decision to select a quarterback didn't phase him one bit.

"I don't pay much attention to the draft," McElroy said. "I know Mr. Idzik and everyone involved has a tremendous plan and has the best interest of the organization in their mind. We're all looking forward to having the competition."

McElroy was called on to start for New York late in the 2012 season when the struggling Sanchez was benched. The former seventh-round pick appeared in two games and completed 19 of 31 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception and fumbled the football.

He's hoping to get more of an opportunity in 2013, and he knows that he'll have to turn some heads in camp if he plans to overtake Sanchez and Co.

"You don't worry about anything," McElroy said. "You just go out there and, with the reps you're given, you make the most of them. That's all you can really control and that's all you can really worry about."

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