Difficulties loom ahead for New York Jets’ Quarterback Mark Sanchez –NFL Special Part 1
Though the New York Jets’ owner, Woody Johnson, along with head coach, Rex Ryanm and the general manager have been pretty consistent with their support for the quarterback, Mark Sanchez, yet there seems a shift in the stance of the owner lately with regards
to his future policy towards the quarterback.
Earlier on it had always been an outright support that Johnson had expressed for Sanchez but recently talking to the team’s writers, the owner seems to have changed his thoughts.
The owner was no longer 100 percent sure if Sanchez would be the starting quarterback next year.
He did not rule out the possibility of considering Peyton Manning as an option as well, if they were allowed to take a chance at him.
However, Johnson did not want to say anything for sure.
“I'm not going to ever tell you guys what we may or may not do”, Johnson said.
So was that a threat? Or was the owner trying to boost Sanchez’s performance by providing him with competition?
That was exactly what the Jets’ running back, LaDainian Tomlinson, had stated.
Tomlinson termed the quarterback as being a bit “pampered” as there was no competition around him and called for a proper back-up in order to boost his performance.
Maybe that is what the owner is trying to do. Be clear and demanding towards his quarterback.
The message however, is now clear for Sanchez, which is that the team will no longer be looking at him as the only alternative.
In order to get to the top as Johnson is determined to, he may view any possibility available in order to achieve that task.
It could be that Johnson really meant what he said, so there exists a chance that some one other Sanchez would be the starting quarterback.
This change in the scenario comes in contrast to what Ryan had earlier said of Sanchez. Fully supporting his player, the coach had gone to the extent of saying that he would prefer the likes of Peyton Manning to Sanchez.
"I recognize Peyton Manning is an unbelievable quarterback. But do I think it's even a consideration for us? No, I don't”, Ryan said.
That was weeks back. Now the situation is different. As it comes about, there would not be any further opportunities for Sanchez if he fails to deliver.
The Jets have a back-up plan, which is surely going to happen in case Sanchez does not come up to the mark.
Criticism is not something that is new for Sanchez. He has been accumulating loads of criticism since weeks from angry fans who have been disappointed at his shortcomings, which included failing to lead his team to the playoffs.
Many have termed him as not being the answer to the team’s long term problems while some have even called for him to be replaced with Peyton Manning.
Sanchez has been guilty of poor performance towards the end of the season which included a loss in the season’s finale game against the Miami Dolphins.
The loss no doubt came owing to three interceptions by Sanchez, all of which went for field goals and Ryan too blamed the interceptions for the loss.
Earlier on, Sanchez had fared poorly as well. A clumsy time out in the first half by Sanchez against the New England Patriots proved to be the biggest blunder of the game as it allowed the Patriots’ quarterback, Tom Brady, with the opportunity to launch
a touchdown drive on their road to a 37-16 victory.
A furious Ryan had termed it the "stupidest play in NFL history".
To be continued...
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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