FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Geno Smith is staying put as the New York Jets starting quarterback. His hold on the job, however, is tenuous at best. "Hes our best shot, in my opinion," coach Rex Ryan said. Ryan confirmed Monday that hes sticking with the rookie despite Smiths struggles in the last several games. "I believe in Geno," Ryan said. "I think he has the tools to be a good quarterback in this league." Smith wasnt surprised when he was told Monday morning by quarterbacks coach David Lee that he would start the home game Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. "Every day I come into this building, I fully expect to play," Smith said. "I prepare that way. When I got the news, it wasnt a major reaction." Smith was benched in favour of Matt Simms at halftime of the Jets 23-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins following another brutal performance. The rookie was 4 for 10 for 29 yards with an interception and an 8.3 quarterback rating in two quarters. "If it was a tactic to wake me up or get me going," Smith said, "it definitely worked because right now I definitely feel a sense of urgency." He has one touchdown pass -- against New England on Oct. 20 -- and 11 interceptions in his last seven games. The Jets (5-7) have lost three straight to go from controlling their playoff destiny a few weeks ago to barely hanging on in the post-season mix. Still, Smith will get the start against Oakland over Simms and veteran David Garrard, who hasnt played a regular-season game since 2010. "His perseverance is impressive to me," Ryan said about Smith. "Hell bounce back from this, and Im just waiting for him to have a great game." Simms said he was anxious coming to the facility, not knowing if he would get his first NFL start or remain Smiths backup -- at least for the next game. "Obviously, when you get out there on the field and you get a little taste of the real action, all you want is you want more of it," Simms said. "But nonetheless, Genos the man and Im going to support him and prepare like I have been. "If my numbers called again, then Ill go out there and play as hard I can again." Smith was booed loudly by the MetLife Stadium crowd at times before being replaced by Simms. The son of former Giants star Phil Simms was cheered as he jogged onto the field to start the third quarter, but didnt fare much better. He was 9 for 18 for 79 yards with an interception, and was sacked three times. "I did enough to solidify that Im still the (backup)," Simms said, smiling. "So, at least I didnt play myself out of my job, so thats the key." Garrard spoke to Smith on the sideline after the benching, encouraging him to continue to cheer for the team and keep his spirits up. The veteran also thinks Smith will be able to bounce back. "He has it in him," Garrard said. "I think these are the growing pains of a young quarterback. Being able to play your way out of it is also going to be another good lesson for him too moving forward with his career. He has to find somewhere to dig down." While Smith is getting the bulk of the criticism among the players, the fact is there are several other culprits in the Jets recent spiral. The offensive line has been inconsistent, the defence -- particularly the secondary -- has been uncharacteristically leaky and the spate of injuries to key players on offence has left a dearth of top talent on the field. "Hes only struggling because were not helping him out," left guard Willie Colon said. "Thats the bottom line." After watching the film, Ryan reiterated what he said Sunday of the teams play against the Dolphins, calling it "just a poor performance on our part." The Dolphins dominated during the first two quarters, outgaining the Jets 265 yards to 39, with 16 first downs to New Yorks 2. Miami took control in the second half and finished by outgaining New York 453-177. "Obviously, hes going through some rough times," Ryan said about Smith. "These last three games havent been good for him. Quite honestly, it hasnt been good for a lot of us." NOTES: Ryan said KR-WR Josh Cribbs shoulder injury is "pretty bad. I think its pretty serious." The Jets could be in the market for a kick returner, especially since Ryan indicated that Antonio Cromartie (four returns, 31.5 yard average) wouldnt be an ideal option since hes the teams top cornerback. ... Ryan said S Ed Reed, off to a slow start with the Jets, will continue to start "unless hes injured." ... WR Santonio Holmes only played two snaps after sitting out all week with a hamstring injury. "We thought he was going to play a little more than that," said Ryan, who added that the coaches noticed "that burst wasnt quite there." Custom Colorado Rockies Jerseys .J. -- While Martin Brodeur wasnt willing to say he stole one for the New Jersey Devils against the Columbus Blue Jackets, almost everyone else was. Rockies Jerseys 2019 . With a win tonight, Buehrle will match Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka for the most wins in the majors with 11. Buehrle is 10-4 with a 2.32 earned run average, but has lost his last three starts, including a 7-3 setback at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/ . The kind he has every so often. The kind he has when Dwyane Wade sits. James scored 43 points -- 25 in a bewildering first-quarter shooting display -- and Chris Bosh added 21, leading the Miami Heat to a 100-96 win Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played their first game without injured All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. Stitched Rockies Jerseys .com) - Longtime Senators star Daniel Alfredsson returned to Ottawa on Thursday to officially announce his retirement. Colorado Rockies Shirts . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games.MIAMI - The Miami Dolphins run wind sprints and pass patterns. They run sweeps and draws. They run out of bounds and run out the clock.Mostly they seem to run in place.The Dolphins have been at or near .500 for three consecutive years under coach Joe Philbin, showing little or no progress toward ending their playoff drought. They were the only AFC team to finish 8-8 this season, and they went 4-4 at home, 4-4 on the road, 3-3 in the AFC East and 6-6 in the conference.That made them the NFLs most mediocre team.Its hard, defensive tackle Randy Starks said. But it has been like this since Ive been here.Actually, the most recent playoff appearance came in 2008, Starks first year with the Dolphins. But theyre 43-53 since.For the second year in a row, a dud of a December ruined the Dolphins post-season chances. They lost three of their final four games and were widely regarded as underachievers, even in their own locker room.Not making the playoffs with such a good team and good people, its sad, safety Jimmy Wilson. Were 8-8, an average team. Thats not what we wanted when Philbin came here.Here are things to know as the Dolphins begin another long off-season trying to escape their rut of being not quite good enough:THE COACH STAYS: Philbin will be back for a fourth season because owner Stephen Ross believes the franchise is headed in the right direction. But Miami has gone 7-9, 8-8 and 8-8 under Philbin, and the coach knows hell begin the 2015 season with his job on the line.I told Mr. Ross when I interviewed for the job that we were going to get better week to week and year to year, Philbin said. Going 8-8 again, obviously I failed my obligation of responsibility I made to Mr. Ross. I didnt do well enough coaching this team to get them better. ... We have to find ways to improve, and do that quickly.DEFENSIVE DECLINE: Philbins first big off-season decision will be whether to retain defensive co-ordinator Kevin Coyle after his units late-season collapse. In the final four games, Miami gave up 28, 41, 35 and 37 points.The aging defence ranked 20th in points allowed, compared with seventh and 11th in the first two seasons under Philbin and Coyle.We couldnt stop the bleeding, Starks said. It was miscommunication, different things. We werennt on the same page.dddddddddddd It just fell apart at the end. Put it on everybody.ROSTER CHANGES: Mike Wallace ended the season on the bench, and the $15 million receiver might not be back next year.Wallace has three years left on a $60 million, five-year contract, but his future is in doubt after Philbin yanked him for the second half of Sundays season-ending loss to the New York Jets. Wallace led Miami with 10 touchdowns but was unhappy not to be targeted more often.The Dolphins are also expected to consider releasing Starks; receivers Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson; linebacker Dannell Ellerbe; and cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who might retire.Players who will become unrestricted free agents in March include safeties Wilson and Louis Delmas; defensive tackle Jared Odrick; running backs Knowshon Moreno and Daniel Thomas; tight end Charles Clay; offensive linemen Samson Satele and Daryn Colledge; and backup quarterback Matt Moore.OFFENSIVE PUNCH: The most encouraging development in 2014 was the improvement of third-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He set a franchise record for completions and became Miamis first 4,000-yard passer since Dan Marino. He ranked fifth in the NFL in completion percentage, 10th in touchdown-interception ratio and 14th in passer rating.The running game was good, too. Lamar Miller surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time, and Miami averaged 4.7 yards per carry, second best in the NFL.But pass protection was poor once left tackle Branden Albert suffered a season-ending right knee injury in Game 9, and for the second year in a row, an overhaul of the offensive line is needed.NEEDS: General manager Dennis Hickey enters his second year in Miami about $6 million under the salary cap, and the Dolphins will be in the market for upgrades at guard, defensive tackle and cornerback.Hickey will hope to do as well in the draft as last year, when he took tackle JaWuan James and receiver Jarvis Landry in the first two rounds. James started every game and played well, and Landry led the team with 84 catches.Miami will have the 14th pick in the first round in April.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve_Wine ' ' '