Ryan Mallett Says He Just Wants To "Be Ready And Get Better," Not Lobbying To Start

It's said that the most popular player on a losing football team is the backup quarterback. Ryan Mallett still has a ways to go before surpassing J.J. Watt (who's approaching critical mass in media exposure), but second place is nothing to be ashamed of in Houston these days.

Speaking with the media today, Mallett had to clarify his intentions when he tweeted out a now-deleted promise that he's "staying focused for when the time comes" and is ready to "seize the opportunity."

He's not pining for the starting job, he says.  Rather, he's inspired.

"All I was saying is I’m ready. Just like Mark (Sanchez). If Mark wasn’t ready when Nick (Foles) went down, it might not have gone that way for the Eagles. All I’m trying to do is be ready and get better. I wasn’t taking a shot at anybody. Like we said, (coach Bill O’Brien) said, we’re not going down the social media thing. We’re passed it. I’m not worried about it. I’m just trying to get rested up, get ready for Cleveland, prepare for them and try to get another win."

Mallett, he of the career 1-4 passing for 17 yards and 1 INT, is inspired by Mark Sanchez.  Too many opportunities for snarky remarks here.

For the Texans, calls for the backup to show his stuff are getting louder and louder. It's very reminiscent of hearing "SAGE! SAGE! SAGE!" in the crowd back in '07 or '08.

O'Brien isn't tipping his hand on staying with Ryan Fitzpatrick or making the move to Mallett, however.

"Yeah, we’ve thought about a lot of things – schematically, position changes, things like that. It’s not anything that we’ve come to a decision on at this point. We’re going back in there at 3:30, we’re going to keep talking, keep watching tape, we’re going to meet with the guys tomorrow, we’re going to continue to practice, and try to get better at the things we need to get better at. It is what it is right now."

Stay tuned.

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