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Clemens sparks Jets over Falcons

Aug 11, 2007 - 2:01 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Michael Vick has been told to stay away. Chad Pennington might as well have done the same.

With Vick banished from camp due to legal troubles and Pennington not even attempting a pass in a cameo appearance, their respective backups took the spotlight in the New York Jets' 31-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in NFL preseason action Friday night.

Kellen Clemens relieved Pennington in the final minute of the opening quarter and put on an impressive performance, finishing 16-of-22 for three touchdowns and putting 24 points on the board.

A second-round pick in 2006 out of Oregon, Clemens led a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive late in the first half and guided the Jets to touchdowns on the first two possessions of the third quarter, completing nine straight passes at one point.

Backup tight end Sean Ryan grabbed two of the scoring tosses sandwiched around a 13-yard TD reception from rookie wide receiver Chansi Stuckey.

Pennington, meanwhile, did not attempt a pass in three series, content to hand off to new acquisition Thomas Jones and Leon Washington.

Jones, who was acquired from the Chicago Bears in the offseason, had eight carries for 27 yards and a two-yard touchdown. Jones' score was set up by Washington's 86-yard kickoff return.

Harrington, who was chased out of Detroit after four dismal seasons with the Lions and lasted just one year in Miami, figured to be carrying the clipboard this season as Vick's backup.

Given a chance to start in Vick's absence, Harrington played three series and was 6-for-9 for 88 yards.

On his third series, he was 4-for-5 for 69 yards, connecting for 22 yards to free agent wide receiver Joe Horn and 37 yards to tight end Dwayne Blakley, to set up Jerious Norwood's 10-yard scoring run for a 7-0 lead.