As we noted in a one-liner last week, a New York Post story said the Jets organization is clearly pulling for Kellen Clemens to beat out Chad Pennington and emerge as the Jets’ starting quarterback.

Asked about that story today, Jets coach Eric Mangini said it’s simply untrue.

“I don’t know what published report that was, or who said it, but I can tell you that I make the decision and I am pulling for whomever gives us the best chance to win,” Mangini said.

Asked directly if the report was accurate, Mangini answered, “That is not accurate, at all.”

Obviously, Mangini wants to win, and that means he wants to put the players on the field who give him the best chance to win. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he isn’t also rooting for Clemens.

Clemens is 24 years old and was drafted during Mangini’s tenure as coach. Pennington is 31 years old, and Mangini inherited him. All things being equal, any coach is going to prefer to have his team led by a young quarterback whom he can mold as an NFL player instead of an old quarterback who developed under other coaches.

So, sure, Mangini is telling the truth when he says he wants to play the quarterback who gives the Jets the best chance to win. But on some level, Mangini must be hoping that Clemens shows the kind of progress over the next three months to make clear that he is that quarterback.