New York Jets’ owner plays down criticism on Mark Sanchez – NFL News Update
New York Jets’ Mark Sanchez has found further solace after Jets' owner, Woody Johnson, supportted him on a TV programme.
The much needed support comes a day after some other players said they were confident of their quarterback, amidst loads of criticism by fans and angry comments by anonymous players.
Criticism is something which is not new for the quarterback. Ever since the humiliating loss to Philadelphia Eagles, the Jets' quarterback has come under hoards of criticism by angry fans.
The criticism intensified after Jets lost to the New York Giants with several questioning Sanchez as being the long term answer to Jets problem.
Another victim of criticism, the Jets’ offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer just left the team, thus, leaving the ground open to criticism about Sanchez.
The critics were emboldened with Brian’s departure.
Once Sanchez failed to deliver in the season’s finale against Miami Dolphins, critics could no longer wait.
They have wanted Sanchez to be replaced with Peyton Manning since then. This controversy took a new turn as NYDailyNews reported anonymous players saying they wanted Sanchez replaced, quoting one player saying Sanchez is “lazy”.
That had put a serious doubt over the quarterback’s future with the Jets but now it seems that the critics will only have to wait as Johnson jumped to defend his quarterback.
Referring to the quote that Sanchez was lazy, Johnson said that he had never heard anything like that.
Johnson pointed out to how hard working Sanchez was.
"He's the first guy in the building every morning and the last guy to leave, so lazy is the last thing he is. He's an NFL quarterback. I mean, that's what you expect of an NFL quarterback." Johnson said.
However, the owner agreed that frustration was evident due to their team being eliminated from the playoffs.
“New Yorkers don’t like losers. They want a winner. And there is frustration.” Johnson said.
The much needed support that Sanchez was in dire need of has finally come.
Sanchez had already received the vote of confidence from Coach Rex Ryan who had maintained that he had confidence in his quarterback.
Recently some other team mates had also come forwarded to defend Sanchez and had expressed their confidence in him. Three such players were guard Matt Slauson, Tight end Dustin Keller, and centre Nick Mangold.
As for calls to bring in Peyton Manning, Ryan had already dispelled that notion saying that he would prefer Sanchez to the likes of Peyton Manning.
"I recognize Peyton Manning is an unbelievable quarterback. But do I think it's even a consideration for us? No, I don't.” Ryan had said.
With the coach and owner out there to support him and the players coming forward to announce support, the $10 million-a-year quarterback may have succeeded in silencing the critics down for some time.
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