Remember when Rex Ryan wanted to win a preseason football game so badly that he left starting quarterback Mark Sanchez in with the second team offense and the result was a season-ending injury? Sanchez certainly is not laughing now. The quarterback has undergone surgery that has ended his season before it even began. If there were not already questions surrounding his future with the Jets, the screaming he did at general manager John Idzik will certainly create them.
When speaking with the media, Sanchez said all the right things. He went on and on about how he supported the decision of his coach to keep him in late in the fourth quarter in a meaningless preseason game. He said how he supported Geno Smith as the starter and would continue to stand by the team while his shoulder healed.
"What's done is done," Sanchez said, via the New York Post. "I don't think you heal right if you hold grudges. That negative stuff doesn't help. It's over, it's done with. I've moved on, and we're moving on together."
Well apparently behind closed doors, Sanchez is going back on his words. The New York Post reports tension has risen between the Jets and Sanchez after the quarterback ripped both Idzik and Ryan after the initial injury took place. Sanchez was reportedly furious over the move to keep him in the game and claimed it was intentional in order to make a clean break from him to Smith.
Naturally Ryan has gone on the defense about Sanchez. While his season may be over, the head coach is assuring the media that the quarterback has a bright future ahead of him in New York.
"We're acting like he's dead. Mark Sanchez is not dead," Ryan said, via the New York Daily News. "Sanchez is going to be 100 percent healthy, guys. It's not like his career's over. Well again, I'll say it about anybody. Guys, you know how I feel about all of our players. I never want to lose a player ever. But I also understand there's business sides for every decision, for [Antwan] Barnes included and Mark and every player."
The Jets are saying all of the right things in front of the press. Sanchez continues to appear like the team's biggest cheerleader, but when the season is over and money is owed, the likelihood of everyone remaining happy-go-lucky is slim.
