New York Jets Divided Over Mark Sanchez?
After some New York Jets players allegedly anonymously blamed quarterback Mark Sanchez for their team's 8-8 record and lost playoffs dreams, others are stepping forward to come to his defense.
A number of players anonymously told The New York Daily News that they were unhappy with Sanchez's performance as of late.
One player called the quarterback “lazy,” and spoke about a desire to bring in another quarterback.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
“We have to bring in another quarterback that will make him work at practice,” one player told The New York Daily News. “He’s lazy and content because he knows he’s not going to be benched.”
Some of the Jets’ players told the New York Daily News that they wanted Peyton Manning.
“We already have his coach- Tom Moore,” one player said. “Plus, he’s a field general and will get everyone lined up. He will get his play-makers the ball. We can win a Super Bowl with Peyton.”
Although Sanchez threw 26 touchdown passes during this past season, he also had 26 turnovers. Another anonymous source in the organization said the team coddles Sanchez.
“They see the organization babying him. They see him with a sense of entitlement,” the source from the organization said in The New York Daily News report. “He's been given all this and hasn't done anything. They gave him the captain tag ... he should have never been a captain."
However, some feel the criticism of Sanchez may be a bit too harsh. Another source from the organization defended the quarterback in the same publication, citing the entire team as the issue behind their 8-8 record.
“Everybody got down on the quarterback, but they weren’t looking at the situations we were putting him in,” the source said. “I don’t think he’s as bad as people are making him out to be. When the s--- started snowballing and he lost confidence, he never recovered.”
Dustin Keller, Jets' tight end, told The New York Daily News that the claims about Sanchez being lazy were unfounded.
"I've never, ever heard anyone question his work ethic," Keller told Newsday. "I think Mark's great work ethic is something that no one can argue. I really wish that any sources that believe that to be true would step forward."
Jets' guard Matt Slauson also spoke up in defense of the teams' starting quarterback. He claimed that the controversial New York Daily News article painted Sanchez in the wrong light.
"Everything in that article is wrong," Slauson told Newsday. "Mark is the hardest-working quarterback I've ever played with and he has so much potential. He works harder than anyone."
Before the team’s season ended, Sanchez brushed off the criticism he was receiving. However, he mentioned that he was trying to do well for his teammates.
“I’m not out to prove anything like that to people,” Sanchez said. “I just want to work hard for these guys on the team. These are the guys I’m playing for right here in this locker room and in this building.”
