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Source: QB Josh McCown set to visit Jets as Geno Smith departs

One quarterback leaves, another arrives. Well, something like that.

Free-agent quarterback Josh McCown, who spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, will meet with the New York Jets on Friday and Saturday, league sources confirmed. NFL Network first reported the visit.

News of McCown's visit came shortly after it was revealed that free agent Geno Smith is expected to sign with the New York Giants, assuming he passes a physical over the weekend.

This is an interesting turn of events.

General manager Mike Maccagnan's affinity for McCown began two years ago, before swinging the trade for Ryan Fitzpatrick. McCown, who turns 38 on July 4, has played with seven teams. He's the ultimate bridge quarterback, known throughout his career as a great teammate and mentor for young signal-callers. He has only 60 career starts (with an 18-42 record), including 22 starts in the past three years.

McCown went 0-3 for the Browns last season, throwing six touchdowns, six interceptions and 1,100 yards. The Dallas Cowboys also have expressed interest.

The Jets have been linked with almost every available quarterback, most notably Jay Cutler, McCown's former teammate with the Chicago Bears. The Jets flirted with Mike Glennon and Brian Hoyer only to see them sign with the Bears and San Francisco 49ers, respectively.

Basically the Jets are looking for a cheap, one-year rental who will buy them time as they continue to develop Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty.

Smith was thought to be a fallback option, but the Jets evidently didn't show a strong interest in re-signing him. If they did, he passed up a starting opportunity in favor of riding the bench behind Eli Manning, one of the most durable quarterbacks in history. Chances are, Smith will never see the field. He can rehab his image and his surgically repaired knee in a less stressful situation.

With the Giants, he wouldn't been under the same harsh spotlight that has followed him from Day 1.