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I respectfully disagree with the take of Bob Wischusen/Jason La Canfora regarding Mark Sanchez playing in the 4th quarter and getting hurt – hypocrisy has nothing to do with it . . .
“You can’t be more two-faced than the media has (on Sanchez),” Wischusen said ESPN-98.7 Sunday. “It was as if Rex Ryan put Aaron Rodgers in the game (Saturday night). Five months ago the media (now defending Sanchez) would have shipped him out of town for a bag of balls.”
“But, please, spare me the faux outrage over Sanchez, the same guy everyone wanted to run out of town after the butt fumble last season, if not sooner,” La Canfora wrote for CBSSports.com.. “The guy who is only there because of the guaranteed money tied to his contract. The guy who was being ridiculed for his propensity to continue throwing mind-numbing interceptions just a week ago in this very preseason.
“That’s the quarterback who is supposed to be under bubble wrap? Really? It’s an affront to great quarterbacks everywhere and the football gods to put Sanchez behind a back-up offensive line in the third pre-season game as the staff continues to evaluate the position with rookie Geno Smith just back from injury himself? Because somebody was going to have to take those snaps, and the Jets season — imperiled before they ever gathered for the start of camp — is now doomed by Sanchez absorbing a tough blow?
“Seriously?”
Yes, seriously.
Bob and Jason are wrong, and here is why.
Yes, some people ripping Ryan for putting Sanchez in the game late, against the Giants, behind a backup offensive line, leading to an injury, are the some of the same people trying to run him out of town after last season.
And I’ve been as critical of Sanchez as anyone, so maybe I fall into this category.
But times change, scenarios change.
Sanchez clearly outplayed Geno Smith in an over-hyped quarterback competition this summer. Smith isn’t ready to be an NFL starter.
And then Smith went in against the Giants, in his big chance to show the Jets’ brass what he could do in extended game action, and laid an egg.
He threw three picks, and gave up a safety.
Once Ryan and the Jets’ offensive coaches saw this underwhelming performance from Smith, they should have said to themselves, “We can’t put Sanchez in behind the backup offensive line because Geno’s clearly not ready to start, and we need Mark to start the opener.”
This isn’t second-guessing or being two-faced – it’s common sense.
And on top of that, Greg McElroy is dealing with a knee injury, so that is another reason to be careful with Sanchez against the Giants.
So sorry Bob and Jason, I’m not buying what either one of you are selling.
Considering Smith’s inconsistent camp (where he held the ball too long constantly), and his “brutal” performance against an average Giants defense, Rex, Marty and company shouldn’t have put Sanchez in behind a backup line.
End of story . . .
The Jets added QB Graham Harrell today. It’s a smart move. He was in Green Bay the last three seasons playing in a similar West Coast offense to what the Jets are playing under Marty Mornhinweg. He got some excellent training from Aaron Rogers and coaches Mike McCarthy and Tom Clements. Harrell is a smart quarterback who knows where to go with the ball. With all the uncertainty at the Jets quarterback position right now, Harrell is a terrific insurance policy to have in the mix.
August 28, 2013
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