Sam Darnold has the starting QB job, so why won’t the Jets just acknowledge it?

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — This Jets starting quarterback verdict now lingers toward the fourth and final preseason game, just one more area of waffling and uncertainty for a franchise too often imbedded in both. Head coach Todd Bowles should have done himself and his players a substantial favor by choosing and developing an earlier, definitive map.

He says it is not a “State of the Union’’ type of thing, but it is certainly another grey area for a bunch who have long ached for greener ground.

It would be an upset if rookie quarterback Sam Darnold is not the choice.

He started against the Giants Friday night in the third preseason game, the one where NFL teams traditionally work their starters most. If Bowles has decided Teddy Bridgewater is the starter and wanted to see Darnold in that role against the Giants in one final shot to change his mind, well, that’s one thing. If he believes it is still a viable competition, he should have started one of the quarterbacks for the first quarter and the other for the second quarter — an equal chance with the first-team offense — and rode from there.

But Darnold played into the third quarter with the first-team offense.

Bridgewater mopped up with the backups.

I was told words in the locker room afterward including “slanted’’ and “rigged’’ and “sham’’ from Jets players talking about this “open’’ quarterback competition. They all know in the NFL that if hierarchy wants to get to a certain place, the flight plan manifests in curious ways.

Bridgewater on Friday night was asked about this, about whether, to him, Darnold was clearly the frontrunner because Darnold started the quintessential third preseason game.

“Right now I’m just focused on getting better as a team,’’ he answered, shuffling into nonsense about whoever is in there getting the team into the end zone and creating continuity. He stumbled through it as best he could, obvious to the fact the Darnold train is rolling and he is likely flattened by it.

Bowles says he is going to talk to his assistant coaches and “I have my idea in my head, which I’ll keep to myself at this time. But I have a good idea.’’

Any chatter with his assistant coaches is muted by those with his general manager and ownership, who clearly see the benefits of tossing Darnold immediately into the fray and rapidly changing the culture, feel and hope of the Jets.

While Bowles teases a surprise, it feels like ineptitude.

“You tell the players when you tell the players, and you go from there,’’ he said.

No.

You make a decision, you live with it, you provide clarity and definition with your players ASAP and you go from there.

I found it curious when Bowles on Friday night was asked about some of the sloppy play from his team, the special teams goofs and the 13 penalties for 108 yards that he went with an explanation about giving some guys a chance to show what they could do and some answered and some didn’t.

This would fit nicely with the narrative that he has decided on Bridgewater and Darnold was given a prime chance to flip the coach’s mind.

More likely, Darnold is the guy. And the good thing for the Jets is that he is the proper choice.

Darnold checks the boxes for what you look for when deciding on starting a rookie quarterback. There is enough talent around him to keep him upright. He possesses leadership skills. He has made his presence felt in the quarterback room and in the locker room.

But here is where he has bowled them over most.

NFL offensive coordinators design their schemes with specific ideas on where the ball should go on each play. They want a quarterback out there who will deliver the ball to the right option at the right time. It’s processing. It’s decision-making. It’s quarterbacking.

Sam Darnold is showing a natural knack for this.

More often than not in this early marriage, offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates is finding Darnold placing it where Bates would place it he was the quarterback. He is a compliant and harvesting extension of Bates.

That’s the whole ball of wax for an OC/QB.

“There’s no question that’s been happening in the preseason games and even more in practice with him,’’ Jets linebacker Darron Lee said of Darnold. “You call that poise. It puts pressure on any defense.’’

So does mobility and accuracy. Darnold has shown both. He can throw it accurately on the move. He exhibits good footwork under pressure.

He throws an enormously catchable ball.

His sideline shots feature heat.

“He’s got a new home here like I do,’’ said Jets linebacker Avery Williamson of Darnold. Williamson arrives from the Tennessee Titans.

“A lot of things are being thrown Sam’s way,’’ Williamson said. “But he is showing he has the talent and the mindset to handle it. He’s a hard worker. I don’t think he’s interested in just being average.’’

I get the feeling that Darnold is going to be around the Jets a lot longer than Bowles.

One is in his first Jets year, the other is in his fourth.

Bowles should cut the mystery with his players and tell them what’s what and move on to fixing this defense, his specialty. Give Darnold rope to roam and get this team lit and executing.

You just can’t have enough accountability and clarity in the NFL.