Reporter Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com apparently smelled a rat in the competition between Matt Slauson and Vladimir Ducasse for the New York Jets' starting left guard spot.

Jets coach Rex Ryan declared Slauson the winner of the battle before the Jets played their first preseason game. As it turns out, Slauson won the battle, but he lost some salary. Cimini reports that Slauson took a $258,000 pay cut for this season, and as part of the deal the Jets guaranteed his $615,000 base salary.

That means Slauson will be around in 2012. Cimini also says the Jets have been quietly shopping Ducasse.

Follow me on Twitter @TerryMc13

Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com