"Riding a two-game losing streak, Jets coach Rex Ryan turned to a motivational ploy this week to spark quarterback Mark Sanchez: Ryan has given backup quarterback Mark Brunell reps with the starters in an attempt to light a fire under Sanchez.

Ryan did the same thing last December after the Jets lost two in a row. Months later, Sanchez told GQ he wanted to fight the coach for doing it.

"I know Mark Sanchez extremely well," Ryan said. "I know how tough, how [much] fighting spirit he has. If it takes me to do this and take a punch in the nose I don't care. I'll do it. But we've got to have it from him. He's the guy. He's my guy and we have to have it from him. … When he's that way we're extremely hard to beat."

Ryan said he knew Sanchez was upset about it from his body language and that the quarterback had not spoken to him.

Sanchez said he was not mad but gave very short answers about Ryan's move.

"I guess maybe last year it did [motivate me]," Sanchez said. "That's Rex's deal. I don't know.""