The New York Jets will take the field Friday for the start of rookie minicamp, and it will include a quarterback who is anything but a rookie -- McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who is 28 years old.
The well-traveled Bethel-Thompson, who has spent time with five different NFL teams, is participating in the minicamp as a non-roster player -- i.e. a weekend tryout. He's coming off a stint in The Spring League, which bills itself as an instructional league and a showcase for professional talent.
His last NFL stop was the Philadelphia Eagles. He was on their preseason roster last summer, but was released on the final cutdown. Previously, he was with the San Francisco 49ers (three times), Miami Dolphins (twice), Minnesota Vikings (twice) and New England Patriots.
He has yet to play in a regular-season game.
The Jets needed some camp arms for their minicamp and they likely will add a fourth quarterback to the roster for training camp, behind Josh McCown, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty.
-- Rich Cimini