Sanchez on Sitting
| A disappointed Mark Sanchez discusses the choice to sit him due to injury – via Star-Ledger |
On his reaction to Coach Ryan’s decision not to start him this week…
It was disappointing. I’m pretty upset about it. I understand he wants to make the right decision for me, but it’s just a frustrating part of this game. I asked him if I could try to practice tomorrow. He said no way. He said, “I know if you practice tomorrow you’re going to play and we don’t want to run any risk of further injury.” It’s difficult to handle, but I’m excited for Kellen (Clemens). I’m backing him 100 percent. I think he’s going to do really well. I understand why he did it this early. At first, I guess, I was upset that he wouldn’t give me a chance to practice and try and wait until the last second. But at the same time I understand that Kellen needs all the reps possible if he is going to start this week. That is totally fair to him and I understand where Rex is coming from. It doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree or am happy about it. I support the team and I support Kellen.
On if he feels that he could play Sunday…
I would like to think so. Everyday has gotten a lot better. It’s been great compared to other injuries. The doctors stressed that in my position it is different than running down on kickoffs, not that there is one better. I am not saying that. I’m saying that the kind of motion you use, the steps you use, the kind of planting and force that goes into the ground is a lot different at quarterback than it is at a different position. That’s why when people say it’s just a pain tolerance thing, it’s not necessarily the case. They want me to be 100 percent and not worried about somebody coming after it or me having any second thoughts when I’m in the pocket. When I’m on the field I don’t want to feel like that anyway. I’d love to play. If this were the Super Bowl I would definitely be playing.
On what he is feeling in his knee…
It’s just not 100 percent. That’s really all I can say about it.
On if he realizes that not playing might be better for him…
I probably won’t realize that for a while. I just need to be prepared to support the team this week and be ready to play the next week.
On if he felt optimistic that he would play on Sunday…
I was planning on playing.
On when he found out he would not play…
Today. After practice.
On when the injury happened…
It’s hard to say. I don’t know. I didn’t feel the injury right away. It could have been when I got up from diving or it could have been the play before. I have no idea.
On if this makes him think about sliding…
I just need to be smart and protect myself when I can. That is really the message. I felt like in the situation the other day I am (diving) for a first down and I really (avoided the hit), I felt like. Obviously that wasn’t the case. We’ll reevaluate it later. When I come back I’ll be ready to throw the ball away or get out of bounds.
On if he thinks this is punitive…
It’s Rex’s decision right now. I’d love to play. I’d love to help the team, but that’s just not what the team needs right now. We’ll go on from there.
On if he thinks Coach Ryan is trying to teach him a lesson…
I don’t know about that. You’d have to ask Rex.
On if he is “mad as a hornet” at Coach Ryan…
Sounds about right (laughing).
On if it is frustrating that he won’t be able to travel with the team…
The last time I felt like this I was a redshirt freshman. You don’t travel to the game. It’s a weird feeling. I want to be there to support them, but I also understand those two days that I would be traveling and gone, I could be getting valuable treatment that will help me get back for Atlanta. That’s my timetable. Support the heck out of these guys, support them like I always do and trust in Kellen that he is going to do well like we know he is and be ready for Atlanta. That’s the goal.
On if there is any doubt in him playing next week…
I would say no doubt at all. I’d love to be out on the field and I’ll be pushing like crazy. The doctors have been just ecstatic about my progress. They say usually this thing swells like a balloon. That’s where you really miss time, when this thing swells up like crazy and you can’t bend it all the way. I’m doing a lot better than a lot of people. Like I said, it’s a different injury. A lot of guys put a brace on and hobble down the field. I’m not in that position right now. I need to be effective.
On wearing two knee braces…
I don’t know. We’ll see, when the time comes, what feels comfortable and what I need for protection. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
On if he will ever get rid of the other brace…
I don’t know. I’ll think about it.
22 Responses to Sanchez on Sitting
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spentmiles says:
Sanchez is going to regret this injury for the rest of the season. Clemens is going to throw for 500 yards and 6 TDs. Then Rex will have to play the hot hand. Old Clem is going to take us all the way to the Superbowl and secure the Jets starting job for the next decade.
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Shamik says:
Hey Spent, can I have some of that ganja? Sounds like its good stuff.
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Matt says:
Yeah seriously what are you two smoking?
You want Vince Young or JaMarcus at QB, basically not caring whether they play or not? If Brees said this everyone would be like “oh what a competitor, what a leader, the Jets never… blah blah blah.”
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Brendan says:
Matt, let’s be fair to Vince. Grouping him in with Jamarcus is just plain wrong. Doin’ Vince dirty.
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dknyj,
He’s not disagreeing with the head coach. How many times can he says that he supports the decision and knows Rex is looking out for him. Would you rather him say he’s fine with not playing? That he’s ok with staying home instead of being on the field in a must-win? It’s not like he’s being spiteful, he’s being honest, in that he wants nothing more than to play on Sunday. I’ll take that mindset any day.
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I wonder how much of this decision is a punishment for Sanchez’s insubordination. Regardless if the dive was the “good football play” or not. Sanchez was told directly by his head coach to slide in situations like that. Unable to control his instincts, he takes another head first dive and injures his knee. I think it’s a good move by Rex to bench him for a game to ensure that Mark is listening to his boss.
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starz31 says:
a 23 year old rookie should want to play. The coach is the one that makes the decisions and it takes it out of the kids hands. There is nothing wrong with what Sanchez said. You should expect the kid demands to play. Thats not disrespectful one bit.
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I will bet anything that this is a medical issue, and not an issue of insubordination. Rex admitted it himself, that Sanchez has to be coached, over and over, to slide. It’s not a skill he will have ingrained in him in a day. And while Rex may have been upset with the play, he isn’t going to bench his QB for making a vital play in that game. That was a big first down, Sanchez saw he had the space, and he went for it. I would highly doubt this is Ryan benching Sanchez. This is definitely an issue about his knee and Rex seeing this game as one where he can rest Sanchez.
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oscarfactor says:
Marky Mark Sanchez needs to STFU. We have the number 1 or 2 defense in the league and the number 1 rushing offense. If we don’t make the playoffs, it’s because a certain rookie QB tossed 5 int’s in two games that we otherwise would have easily won. Yes, I know we expected growing pains from Sanchez, but until he WINS games for us (as opposed to managing games that we win) I don’t want to hear it from the San-chize.
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Jay says:
I think he had the perfect tone. He’s clearly pissed about not playing, which speaks to how much of a competitor he is. I don’t know why everyone is ripping on sanchez all the time.
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ED says:
I’d be worried if he wasn’t mad at his coach, and I don’t think he has said anything out of line. Guys who think he did, what type of leader do you want? A mouse or a man?
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Bob Vila says:
Oscar, the kid is just passionate. He SHOULD want to play. He SHOULD be frustrated getting deactivated. It doesn’t matter what he’s accomplished, it matters what he wants to do for this team.
His head is in the right place, and he’s beginning to come around as a ball-protecting QB.
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oscar,
If we don’t make the playoffs, it’s not Sanchez’s fault. It’s the team’s fault. You don’t blame an entire season on a rookie QB who had 3 bad games. The defense lost 2 games, and the special teams lost one as well. It’s called a team for a reason.
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brian311 says:
no way this is some sort of “punishment”. rex is a first year coach with a team that has a legit shot at the playoffs. he is going to do what is in the best interest of the team. he is not going to lose a game (and effectively end the season) to teach mark a “lesson”. no way
also, it was clear from rex’s presser that he made the decision on the advice of the doctors. the doctors thought the best way to recover from this injury was to take an extra week off. that is pretty cut-and-dry
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I hear you guys and can see your points about passion and youth. There is also blame to go around the rest of the team (Dolphins and Jags last minute drives to win). But to me, you need to achieve at a high level first before you act the part of team-leader/hero. Sanchez has not won us any games yet – I just want to see a game where we can all say that Sanchez put the Jets on his back and he’s the reason we won. Then I will take him seriously as our QB of the future.
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Oscar…he’s 23 years old. This isn’t the NBA where 19 year olds can come in and dominate. He needs time to become stronger physically and mentally and that takes time (especially at his position). His struggles aren’t exclusive to him, as almost every rookie in the history of the sport has had similar issues.
And despite what people may think, he is a leader for this team. At his position, he has to be. I am positive that his speaking like this is what keeps the veterans supportive of him. If he was struggling and ho-hum about stuff like this, he would not have gained respect of the veterans of this team (some of which have been in this league for a decade).
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and look at the two stars from last year–Flacco and Ryan. Both are having a hard time. Why? Because now they are being asked to do more.
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Harvlis says:
I think that there is nothing wrong with this whole situation. Both parties are doing the right thing. Rex’s responsibility is to protect his players and do the right thing for the team in the long term. Sanchez is showing that he is ready to play through injuries for the Jets. If Mangini would have pulled Jenkins and Favre, at the end of last season, when both of them broke down — we would have been in the playoffs. All is well.
It’s too bad we go over and over these non-issues. I blame the media who, I feel are so incompetent that they discuss this garbage instead of interviewing players like Sione Pouha, Shaun Ellis, David Harris, or Calvin Pace. The media does the same thing on the front page of the newspapers, when they continue to hound Tiger Woods, when they should be worried about Iran, the new health plan, solar energy, etc…
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Johnny Reefer says:
Hey, Oscar.
Sanchez brought us down field and took the lead late in the 4th twice.
The D blew both games.
Sanchez brought us to the 12 in the other Miami game to have Schotty call some horrible plays. In a game we dominated, only to have the special teams blow up.
To think, he is a rookie qb with all of 16 college starts. And dont go giving me the whole matt cassell didn’t even start in college. Matt Cassel had 4 yrs in the league and his system. Sanchez has a whole 3/4 of a yr.
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Mike S. says:
This has nothing to do with a knee injury.
This kid needs to be disciplined, the celebrity rookie needs to be brought down to earth – it will be good for him in the long run.
Rex Ryan should have benched the kid sooner. -
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A 23 year old rookie should not be disagreeing with the head coach publicly. Mark – shut up and sit down.
This cocky “I can do it all” (when I’ve really done nothing yet) attitude is really starting to get to me. Rex is doing the right thing – this kid needs some humble pie.