Mark Sanchez News: Pro Sports Daily

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October 29

New York Post

"n a hurry to clean up an image that the Jets felt was tarnished when Mark Sanchez was caught on camera eating a hot dog on Sunday in Oakland, Sanchez has donated 500 hot dogs and 500 hamburgers through A&P supermarket to the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown, N.J. "Something happened here and I wanted to turn it into a positive," Sanchez said yesterday. Rex Ryan, who revealed that he spoke to Sanchez about the incident on the plane ride back to New Jersey Sunday night, wasn't so positive about Sanchez's actions. "I was disappointed in it and he certainly wasn't meaning it in a disrespectful way, but I don't want to take anything away from the league, his teammates or the game," Ryan ..."

Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez makes food donation after Hot Dog Gate in Oakland

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October 29

New York Daily News

"Let's be frank: What Mark Sanchez did Sunday in Oakland, eating a hot dog on the Jets' bench, isn't going to land him on Roger Goodell's long list of NFL bad boys - not unless there's a conduct policy for processed-food abusers. But the fourth-quarter snack was enough to bother Rex Ryan, who scolded his rookie quarterback on the flight home. "To me, you're disrespecting the opponent, you're disrespecting the game itself," Ryan said Wednesday. Treating Hot Dog Gate as food for thought, Sanchez decided to turn it "into a positive," donating 500 hot dogs, 500 hamburgers, plus rolls and buns, to the Community Soup Kitchen in Morristown, N.J. He wanted to buy 1,000 each, but he was told there ..."

Sanchez sorry for hot doggin'

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October 26

New York Post

"Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez sounded like a scolded teenager after yesterday's 38-0 victory over the Raiders when asked about the hot dog he was seen eating on the sideline late in the fourth quarter. "I've been getting a little heat for that," Sanchez, who moments before his press conference had been pulled aside by a team official for a quick chat, said. "I want to apologize for doing that. I wasn't feeling very good and couldn't eat much before the game. I felt a little queasy and toward the end of the game I probably should have eaten one of those [energy] bars or something. "But somebody offered [the hot dog] up, and I grabbed it. I tried to be discreet about it, but ..."

Sanchez caught dogging it

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October 26

Sacramento Bee

"Despite what Bob Griese might think, Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez was not off having a taco during the fourth quarter; he was having a hot dog, with mustard, on the sideline. And while his Raiders counterpart, JaMarcus Russell, refuses to fully accept responsibility for his oft-poor play, Sanchez apologized for "hot-dogging" it late in the Jets' 38-0 win over the Raiders. "Toward the end of the game, I probably should've eaten one of those (energy) bars or something," said a contrite Sanchez. "Somebody offered (a hot dog) and I grabbed it … tried to be discreet about it. "That won't happen again." Griese, the Hall of Fame quarterback now working as an analyst for ESPN, said during ..."

Mark Sanchez eats up easy test as New York Jets trounce Oakland Raiders

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October 26

New York Daily News

columnist Filip Bondy

"Just when it appeared Mark Sanchez might play a mistake-free game, he performed his best Charles Barkley imitation Sunday by chowing down on a fourth-quarter hot dog along the sidelines, in full view of the TV cameras. This was no great sin. Sanchez was hungry. The wiener was available. But rookie quarterbacks are supposed to be digesting playbooks during games, not processed meat. "I've been getting a lot of heat about that," Sanchez said, apologizing after the 38-0 laugher over Oakland. "I should have just had (an energy) bar. I tried to be discreet. Obviously I was not discreet enough." If you hoped to chart Sanchez's progress Sunday as a professional, you came to the wrong football ..."

Mark Sanchez looks to rebound against Oakland Raiders

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October 25

New York Daily News

"Brian Schottenheimer isn't sure who put it there, but there was a stat sheet on his desk the other day, comparing Mark Sanchez after six starts to Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Carson Palmer and Joe Flacco. Let's call it a six-gun study. "It's amazing, the numbers," said Schottenheimer, the Jets' offensive coordinator. "They're not identical, but they're close to identical." Among that elite group, Sanchez's 56.6 passer rating ranks third (behind Flacco and Palmer) and his 3-3 record is tied with Flacco for the best. Moral of the anecdote: Patience. Sanchez's recent struggles put him in pretty good company. Problem is, the Jets' rookie is leading a team that began 3-0 and believes it's good ..."

Jets offensive line in a rush to help out Mark Sanchez

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October 21

New York Daily News

"The new buzzword around the Jets is "simplify," - as in, they're planning to simplify the offense for struggling rookie Mark Sanchez. RT Damien Woody has a suggestion: "Put it on us," he said, referring to the offensive line. The line's confidence level is high after Sunday's 318-yard rushing performance against the Bills, the second-most in franchise history. A team never expects to gain that many yards in a game, but the line felt it was due for a breakout game. The Jets are employing more zone-blocking than last season, and zone blocking requires more coordination than man-to-man. That could be one of the reasons for the slow start over the first five games. Now, with Sanchez a ..."

Sanchez has toughness to ride out growing pains

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October 21

New York Post

"The kid's going to be all right. Has Mark Sanchez looked like the "Sanchise" during the Jets' three-game skid and thud that's included only one touchdown pass, eight interceptions, a lost fumble and a lot confused looks on the sideline? Of course not. But who among even the most Pollyanna-ish of Jets fans thought that, at 3-0 through his first three NFL starts, Sanchez wasn't going to play poorly enough to cost the Jets a game or two? The restless, sports-radio-ranting knee-jerk experts need to relax and let this process play out. Sure, Sanchez was awful in the Jets' inexcusable loss to the Bills on Sunday, but he shouldn't be benched. Let's remember that, for as pathetically as he ..."

Out of his element, Mark Sanchez throws away game for New York Jets

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October 19

New York Daily News

columnist Tim Smith

"After starting the season with three straight feel-good, high-flying victories, the Jets have now suffered three straight demoralizing, kick-in-gut losses. Having describing the previous two losses as "horrendous and embarrassing," they can now add "amazing, baffling and deflating" to their ever expanding list of adjectives following a 16-13 overtime defeat to Buffalo at the Meadowlands yesterday. Amazing? Yes. How else to describe the fact that rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez threw five interceptions (three leading to Buffalo points) and the Jets still managed to send the game into overtime and have a chance to pull out a victory? Of course, Sanchez derailed that chance with his fifth ..."

Jets will stick with struggling Sanchez at QB

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October 19

New York Daily News

"Some quick post-game thoughts on Bills 16, Jets 13: 1. I knew it was going to be a competitive game, but who could've imagined this? 2. The coaching staff faces a massive rebuilding project this week -- on Mark Sanchez' psyche, that is. At times, he looked hopeless on the field. Afterward, he appeared to be on the verge of tears as he faced the media and tried to explain the five interceptions. 3. Rex Ryan was wrong two weeks ago when he said he told Sanchez, "It can't get any worse than this." That was on the flight home from his three-interception disaster in New Orleans. Well, it did get worse. 4. Ryan made the right move after the game, sticking with Sanchez as his starter. This is no ..."

Jets' Sanchez shuns glitz to focus on football

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October 17

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

"His first big splash as quarterback of the New York Jets came in June, before he'd ever taken a snap in an NFL game. Mark Sanchez was given macho-model status in a GQ photo spread with Hilary Rhoda. Great work if you can get it, especially since his real job requires him to snuggle up behind a bunch of sweaty offensive linemen 40 to 50 times a game. But the glitz and glamour didn't stop there for the rookie quarterback. After winning his first three starts for the Jets, and even taking a head-first dive into the end zone for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans, Sanchez was being praised by teammates, opponents and analysts. Sanchez, however, isn't so sure any of it is justified. After ..."

Time for Keller to step up

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October 16

New York Post

"Brett Favre did it last season. Now it's time for Mark Sanchez to do it. Find Dustin Keller. This should be high on Sanchez's to-do list Sunday against the Bills -- not only because Keller has potential to be one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the league, but because it looks like Jerricho Cotchery might not play because of a hamstring injury. Cotchery didn't practice again yesterday and coach Rex Ryan said, "It doesn't look very good" that he'll play Sunday. That puts added emphasis on Keller, whose production (12 catches, 1 TD) has been less than expected after a 48-catch rookie year in 2008. Last week, Keller had only one pass thrown his way and he didn't have a catch. "I ..."

On night when Mark Sanchez lights up scoreboard, New York Jets defense lays an egg

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October 13

New York Daily News

columnist Tim Smith

"Jets coach Rex Ryan did his best to cheer up Mark Sanchez on the plane ride home from New Orleans last Sunday night after the rookie quarterback suffered the first loss of his pro career. Now it's Sanchez's turn to cheer up the coach, after his pride and joy, the Jets' defense, flat out laid an egg against the Dolphins, and their Wildcat offense, Monday night. Despite Sanchez finding an instant rapport with new receiver Braylon Edwards for five catches, 64 yards and a touchdown, the Jets lost, 31-27, as their defense gave up three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the game-winner on a 2-yard run by Ronnie Brown with six seconds to play. Ryan called the defensive performance ..."

Dolphins rally to beat N.Y. Jets in Monday night shootout

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October 13

Miami Herald

"On a night when the Dolphins' organization did everything possible to set up a celebration of Hispanic heritage, it was the heroic efforts of two running backs and its quarterback that kept this fiesta rocking into early Tuesday morning. For 3 ½ quarters of this epic 31-27 win against the Jets on Monday night, the Dolphins grinded and pounded and clawed for every inch of every yard behind the huge efforts of running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. But then, with one swift, smooth throw, it happened: Quarterback Chad Henne took over his team in the graceful, epic manner that will forever be sealed away in the vaults of long-standing history between these two teams. With the momentum ..."

Brutal twists, turns from start to end in Miami Dolphins' win

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October 13

Miami Herald

columnist Edwin Pope

"Just dial it up, folks, put the Dolphins and Jets on Monday Night Football and stand back and watch them bruise each other. Just don't call it a night too early, or you miss Ronnie Brown's triumphant 2-yard touchdown burst for this 31-27 classic victory with six seconds left. It's ferocity in semi-maniacal mode, violent twists and turns from the first whistle. It's bloody defense against breakaway offense and the Dolphins breathlessly, finally prevailing in the 77th game between these hatred-fueled rivals. Everybody expected a brawlgame, but it was supposed to be fought down and dirty, with the linemen swinging the haymakers. Instead, coaches Tony Sparano and Rex Ryan unleashed early ..."

Dolphins' Chad Henne grabs spotlight from Jets' Mark Sanchez

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October 13

Miami Herald

columnist Greg Cote

"This was Chad Henne's night. If this night was what the kid's future looks like, well, the long search for The Next Marino might have ended at last. Premature? Jumping to conclusions? So what. Nights like this are for hoping, and dreaming, and believing. The Dolphins saved their once-foundering season Monday night here with a huge and hugely thrilling 31-27 triumph over the division-rival, nemesis New York Jets, and Henne wasn't so much the author of a victory as the artist of a personal masterpiece. In his second career NFL start, before a national TV audience, all Henne did was complete 20 of 26 passes for 241 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. The crazy math that figures ..."

Don't blame this on 'Sanchise'

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October 13

New York Post

columnist Steve Serby

"YOU blame Gang Groan for Dolphins 31, Jets 27 last night. You blame Rex Ryan. This time, you do not blame The Kid. He had not made a mistake, had not had the football stripped from him, had not thrown a pick six. But Ryan's defense was being bullied by the Wildcat. It was Dolphins 17, Jets 13, early in the fourth quarter. Now it was time for Mark Sanchez to make a play. A big play. Go win the game if he could. Once upon a time, there was Namath-to-Maynard. Last night, the nation watched Sanchez-to-Edwards. Sanchez, off play action, lofted a beauty of a bomb for burner David Clowney, for 54 yards, past Vontae Davis and Yeremiah Bell. Then Sanchez, trying desperately to backpedal away from ..."

Cotchery may not go

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October 12

New York Post

"Quietly, injuries have begun mounting up on the Jets and could be a significant factor when they play the Dolphins tonight at Land Shark Stadium. Top receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who leads the team with 23 catches and 356 yards, is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. Cotchery hasn't practiced since Wednesday, and that wasn't a full session. It puts significant pressure on Braylon Edwards, who was acquired during the week and has had only three practices to get ready for his Jets debut, as well as Brad Smith, David Clowney and Wallace Wright."

Jets' fate could rest on bounce back

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October 12

New York Post

"How do they get up off the mat? That is perhaps the most compelling question to tonight's Jets-Dolphins AFC East showdown: How the Jets respond from their first loss of the season -- their first loss under Rex Ryan's leadership. The Jets' feel-good 3-0 start was derailed by last week's 24-10 loss in New Orleans. The Dolphins halted their 0-3 start with a rout over the Bills last Sunday and saved their season, for the moment. What gives tonight? The Jets can truly separate themselves from their AFC East rivals with a win tonight, and that's not something lost on Ryan, who said, "This game counts as one-and-a-half games." At the head of the list for Jets among those needing to bounce back ..."

Duel of young QBs highlights Miami Dolphins-N.Y. Jets matchup

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October 12

Miami Herald

"Maybe it will never reach the heights of Montana-Elway. Perhaps it will never merit the prestige of Manning-Brady. It probably won't ever reach the catty nature of that less-elite, more recent quarterback rivalry between Philip Rivers and Jay Cutler. ``I don't think so,'' said Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, laughing lightly about the latter comparison of those three. But if all goes as planned, tonight's nationally televised showdown between the Jets and the Dolphins could mark the first of a significant chapter in a rivalry that already includes volumes of well-documented history between these teams. The title of the latest book? Chad Henne vs. Mark Sanchez. ``I was thinking about that the ..."

Dolphins LB Channing Crowder says NY Jets Mark Sanchez will get 'cussed out' on Monday night

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October 8

Newark Star-Ledger

"Channing Crowder has apparently found two more targets in his seemingly endless verbal sparring match with the Jets. The Miami Dolphins' linebacker hurled some venom in Leon Washington and Mark Sanchez's direction Wednesday. Crowder, a Florida alum, has butted heads several times with Washington, who starred at Florida State. "We do not like each other," Crowder told the Associated Press Wednesday. "With Florida State, I hated him. I hate him now. If I see him out, I'm not going to talk to him. I'm not going to slap him, but I'm not going to be pleasant." Crowder admitted the Jets-Dolphins Monday night showdown in Miami won't be a PG affair."

Jets not giving up on San-chise after Mark Sanchez looks the part of a rookie in loss to Saints

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October 5

New York Daily News

columnist Gary Myers

"Mark Sanchez finally played like a confused and disoriented rookie and is the only reason why the Jets can now forget about becoming the first team to go 16-0 and win the Super Bowl. On his way up the tunnel to the locker room after he threw three interceptions, one of them returned 99 yards for a TD by New York QB-killer Darren Sharper, and also lost a fumble recovered for a TD by the Saints in the end zone, Sanchez found the reassuring arm of assistant coach Dennis Thurman draped over his shoulder. His teammates just about gave him a group hug after the game, too. For good reason. The Jets, with their shutdown defense, are a legimate playoff contender and will go only as far as Sanchez ..."

Mark Sanchez's hit on Jonathan Vilma during interception low blow

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October 5

New York Daily News

"Is Mark Sanchez developing a reputation as a cheap-shot artist? On Darren Sharper's 99-yard interception return Sunday, Sanchez gave chase and - for some reason - dived at the legs of former Jets LB Jonathan Vilma, who was blocking. Sanchez was flagged for a personal foul. "He got my knees," Vilma said. "Thank God, I didn't get hurt. I hope he gets fined for it, like Brett Favre in the preseason." In the season opener, Sanchez was penalized for a similar infraction while giving chase on a long fumble return for a touchdown. LINE OF DISCONTENT: Jets LG Alan Faneca didn't directly criticize offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for opting to throw the ball on two third-and-1 ..."

Mark's miscues lead to 1st loss of season

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October 5

New York Post

"There was bound to be a day like this for Mark Sanchez and the Jets. They just hoped it wouldn't come this soon. The Jets and their rookie quarterback were ambushed early by the Saints inside the imposing, earsplitting Superdome, and they staggered home 24-10 losers to New Orleans after this anticipated clash of the undefeated yesterday. After a three-week honeymoon of feel-good, winning football, the Jets' three-game winning streak to start the season came to an unceremonious and crashing halt. They dropped to 3-1 and are in a tie for first place in the AFC East with the Patriots, who scored a 27-21 victory over the Ravens. Sanchez, who had gotten away with some mistakes throughout the ..."

Big Queasy! Mark Sanchez falls back to Earth

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October 5

New York Daily News

"One day, you're the new Broadway Joe. The next, you're Broadway Schmoe. Mark Sanchez's excellent rookie adventure came to a sudden and nightmarish end Sunday at the Louisiana Superdome, where the Jets' prized quarterback committed four turnovers in a 24-10 loss to the undefeated Saints. It was Rex Ryan's first loss and Sanchez's first time on an NFL hot seat. Sanchez turned his postgame news conference into one long mea culpa, beating himself up more than the Saints did. "The truth is, the team played well enough to win and I let them down," said the former USC star, who suffered his first loss since last Sept. 25 at Oregon State. "My mistakes killed us, absolutely killed us. It's 10-10 ..."

Rookie already the toast of Broadway

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October 4

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The Vikings are happy to have Brett Favre, but that doesn't mean the New York Jets miss the future Hall of Famer. Whether the stories about Favre not getting along with younger teammates in New York last year are true or not, the Jets are giddy nonetheless with 22-year-old rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. "The most impressive part is how he's won this team over so quickly from the standpoint of being a young guy who's become the leader not only of the offense but the entire team," said Jets fullback and former Viking Tony Richardson, who considers Favre a close friend. "We have a lot of veterans on this team. Mark's still kind of a silly kid off the field. Of course, he's only 22. But when ..."

Gang needs Sanchez to match a master

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October 4

New York Post

columnist Steve Serby

"Mark Sanchez has gotten his NFL feet wet by dipping his toes in the water. Today, in the hostile Superdome, against Drew Brees and the explosive Saints, the kid gets thrown into the deep end of the pool and the Jets will need him to swim. This absolutely does not mean that anyone should be asking Sanchez, four games into his career, to engage the assassin Brees in any shootout — as unlikely as that eventuality may be given Rex Ryan's violent, chameleon defense — because he will not live to tell about it. But for Sanchez to get the Jets to 4-0, he must be considerably more than anybody's caretaker rookie quarterback who is fortunate enough to have a strong supporting cast that has his back ..."

Jets QB Mark Sanchez wins NFL Rookie of the Month Award

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October 1

Newark Star-Ledger

"Quarterback Mark Sanchez received what the organization hopes is the first of many awards Thursday morning when he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month. He's the first player in franchise history to ever win the award. Sanchez, nicknamed "San-chize," completed 49 of 83 passes (59%) for 606 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in leading the Jets to a surprising 3-0 mark. The Jets signed the fifth pick overall to a five-year, $50 million deal."

Jets scold Mark Sanchez for putting San-chize at risk with head-first dive

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September 29

New York Daily News

"Mark Sanchez got a bit of a talking-to Monday. Rex Ryan said the Jets' rookie quarterback heard from the coaches, the trainers and even his teammates about his swashbuckling touchdown run in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Titans. "He does need to realize that he's got to take care of his body through the long haul and he's got to take care of the football as well," Ryan said. "Those are things he's going to have to learn." As he scrambled in for a 14-yard score, Sanchez carried the football gingerly with one hand. He then lowered his shoulder and turned into two Titans defensive backs, risking injury, the football and the Jets' season for six points. "The way he is, it's going to be hard to ..."

Mark Sanchez scores big points with Jets on TD run as he lowers head, raises bar

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September 28

New York Daily News

columnist Gary Myers

"Mark Sanchez had already won over the Jets' locker room by the time he neared the goal line on their first possession against the Titans, on a day when he became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to open the season 3-0. Even before he beat the Patriots last week, his teammates were calling him The San-chize. But when Sanchez lowered his head instead of sliding and ran through Titans safety Michael Griffin at the 2-yard line and spun into the end zone, reaching the ball over the goal line, the players officially knew the kid was for real. He is not going to back down. He is not a "chuck and duck" quarterback, as Bart Scott put it. "That was a big-time hit on the goal line," ..."

Sanchez uses his head to make history

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September 28

New York Post

columnist Steve Serby

"ONE of these days, it won't be a safety named Michael Griffin waiting for Mark Sanchez at the goal line, it will be someone bigger and meaner and tougher, someone like Steelers linebacker James Harrison or the Chargers' Shawne "Lights Out" Merriman, and the outcome won't be as pretty as it was yesterday. But that's for tomorrow. This is for today: Sanchez is the first rookie quarterback in history to start a season 3-0. Sanchez put his head down, symbolic of the way Rex Ryan's Jets, 24-17 winners over the Titans, have barreled headfirst into the NFL's elite, and didn't care that Griffin was in his way, that was the goal line in his sights and there was a 14-yard touchdown to score and a ..."

Sanchez gets passing Marks

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September 25

New York Post

""Sanchise" or "Franchez" -- depending on which of the nicknames his teammates have given their new franchise quarterback you prefer to use -- hasn't had to perform for the Jets as his handles suggest. And the fact that rookie Mark Sanchez hasn't had to carry the team might be the biggest and best news of all for the Jets. To date -- and keep in mind the season and Sanchez's career is a mere two games old -- there have been no catastrophic mistakes that rookie quarterbacks are prone to make. There have been no prolific 300-yard passing games, no last-minute comeback drives to win a game, either. But the Jets have needed neither from Sanchez, and that's exactly the plan coach Rex Ryan had ..."

Sanchez listed on Jets' injury report

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September 25

New York Daily News

"Mark Sanchez has a "little tendinitis" in his right knee, according to Rex Ryan. But Sanchez was added to the Jets' injury report Thursday because there's no such thing as a little injury to a quarterback. The Jets learned that the hard way with the Brett Favre fiasco. Sanchez practiced fully, according to the team, and will start Sunday against the Titans. Nevertheless, in the wake of the heavy fines imposed by the NFL for failing to report Favre's arm injury last season, the Jets weren't about to omit Sanchez - especially after a reporter noticed him fussing over his knee during the portion of practice open to the media. After practice, Ryan announced that his $50 million rookie was on ..."

Sanchez Quickly Defies the Rookie Label

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September 25

New York Times

"Each Tuesday, quarterback Mark Sanchez receives the Jets' offensive game plan for their next opponent by e-mail. By Wednesday morning, he has printed the plan, reviewed it about 15 times and filled his notebook with questions for the offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer. When compiling the list of tasks that Sanchez does not perform like a rookie - converting third downs, commanding the huddle, posing for GQ photo shoots - add studying on his lone night off. "I feel comfortable, more and more comfortable each week," he said Wednesday. "I'm on that steady climb.""

Namath

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September 23

New York Post

"Count Joe Namath among those impressed with Mark Sanchez. The Hall of Famer, who was in town for "Joe Buck Live" last night, said he has liked what he's seen from Sanchez since a preseason game against the Giants in the Meadowlands. "He impressed me for the first time when I saw him against the Giants in the first series," Namath said. "He showed some things there that were outstanding, and he has these last two games." The inevitable comparison for any Jets quarterback is to Namath, the only one to lead the Jets to the Super Bowl. But though Namath shied away from making that comparison, he made no secret that he was hoping it would happen. "I'm pulling for him, I promise you," Namath ..."

Mark Sanchez has Jets looking good as gold with win over Patriots, 2-0 start

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September 22

New York Daily News

columnist Gary Myers

"Mark Sanchez walked around the Jets' locker room Monday chatting with teammates, signing team pennants for one of them, not looking at all like a kid out of place or straining just to fit in. It helps that in two games, he has turned the ball over just one time, not lined up behind the left guard, as John Elway once did his rookie year, or shown any signs the job is too big for him. It has been only two games, but Sanchez already has raised expectations for the Jets this season. Rex Ryan will have games when he has to play around his rookie quarterback, but after beating the Texans and Patriots and being all alone in first place in the AFC East, this is no longer looking like a 7-9 ..."

Rookie Mark Sanchez looks Super vs. Tom Brady's Patriots in Jets' 16-9 win

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September 21

New York Daily News

"Mark Sanchez and Tom Brady have a few things in common: They are both starting quarterbacks with cover-boy good looks and California-cool demeanors who represent the face of their respective teams. Yet few expected Sanchez, a rookie from USC, to outduel Brady in the Jets' home opener Sunday. And he certainly wasn't supposed to throw more touchdowns passes. But Sanchez backed up his team's boisterous pregame talk by throwing the only TD pass of the game and outplaying the three-time Super Bowl winner in the Jets' stunning 16-9 win. When the final seconds ticked off, Sanchez rose, pumped his fist twice and was mobbed by a sea of photographers. Sanchez completed 14 of 22 passes for 163 ..."

Sanchez outswaggers Brady

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September 21

New York Post

columnist Steve Serby

"REX RYAN'S Jets had talked the talk, but they weren't going to walk the walk unless their kid quarterback could stop crawling. Now the second half began and here came Mark Sanchez, the precocious rookie who is not here to kiss Tom Brady's rings. "There's no pressure when you play on a team like that," Sanchez said after the 2-0 Rexorcists announced themselves on this raucous day of reckoning with a 16-9 throttling of the Patriots. "Look at the way we played. Look at the way guys were excited. Playing for each other. Playing for our head coach. Playing for this organization and the Jets logo, and what it represents." J-E-T-S used to represent Just End The Season. Today it represents Just ..."

Joe Namath's pep talk just the right recipe for Mark Sanchez's success in Jets' debut

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September 14

New York Daily News

columnist Gary Myers

"Mark Sanchez, the Jets rookie, and Joe Namath, the Jets icon, met each other for the first time Sunday on the field right after the pregame warmups. They spoke for just 90 seconds, but the kid was so fired up, he had to calm himself down before kickoff. "What happened in your first game?" the wide-eyed Sanchez asked Namath. "I don't remember," Namath said. Joe Willie then told Sanchez he remembers big wins and the Super Bowl victory over the Colts 40 years ago. "It ain't about me, either, it's about you today," said Namath, who didn't start until the third game of his rookie year in 1965. "It's about you playing for these guys." It may not have exactly been the rousing speech Rex Ryan ..."

Sanchez earns Jets' trust

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September 14

Toronto Sun

columnist Ken Fidlin

"When Mark Sanchez left early from USC to enter the NFL draft last spring, he did not get the ringing endorsement of his college coach, Pete Carroll. Perhaps miffed that he was losing his starting quarterback a year early, Carroll said Sanchez was making a mistake, that he wasn't ready to play on Sundays. That, despite the New York Jets' offer of a five-year, $60-million US contract, $28 million of it guaranteed. Now, to be charitable, the impressive debut by Sanchez yesterday in leading the Jets to a thorough 24-7 road victory over the Houston Texans was only one game, but there probably isn't anyone today saying he's not ready. When the game was over, Sanchez had completed 18 of 31 ..."

Jets' third-down efficiency vexes Texans

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September 14

Houston Chronicle

"Despite across-the-board mediocrity in almost every visible aspect of the 24-7 loss Sunday at Reliant Stadium, the failure of the Texans' defense against the Jets and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez came down to third down. New York converted on 10 of 18 third-down opportunities and was practically flawless in its four scoring drives, extending drives on nine of 10 occasions. That, in turn, enabled the Jets to hog the clock, holding the ball for 38:46 and topping 10 minutes in every quarter save the second. Turnovers lacking "We get off the field on third down, we could have hung in there a little longer," said Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans. "We didn't get enough turnovers, and we didn't ..."

Rooked again

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September 14

Houston Chronicle

"Taking everything into consideration, Sunday's 24-7 loss to the New York Jets just might have been the worst defeat in Texans history. It's difficult to believe the Texans could have produced a more wretched performance against a team with a first-year head coach, a rookie starting quarterback and a defense missing its two best pass rushers. Perhaps it was the Texans' all-white uniforms. As soon as the Jets saw them, they thought the Texans had surrendered. Perhaps it was an appearance by Broadway Joe Namath, whose pregame pep talk inspired rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez to play like a veteran who had guaranteed a victory. "It's the first one, and it's as bad as you can feel," coach ..."

Sanchez shows a whole lot of Joe cool

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September 14

New York Post

columnist Mike Vaccaro

"Mark Sanchez was already nine degrees of amped, geeked, and jazzed as it was, waiting for the minutes to melt off the big scoreboard clock at Reliant Stadium so he could get on with his football life. The Jets were finishing up their pregame warm-ups, getting ready to hear Rex Ryan go all Knute Rockne on them in the locker room. Then the Jets quarterback of today noticed something quite remarkable standing in front of him: yesterday's quarterback. Forever's quarterback. "Good luck today, Mark," Joe Willie Namath said. Well, what do you do now, rock star? After months of saying the right things, and doing the right things, and energizing the Jets' fan base in a way it hasn't been sparked ..."

Jets bring Texans' offense to a halt

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September 14

New York Post

"This day was surely about Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan and their respective NFL debuts. But, while assessing the Jets' 24-7 season-opening victory over the Texans yesterday at Reliant Stadium, don't forget about the defense, because it set the tone for the entire day. It was no accident that, when the Jets won the opening coin toss Ryan opted to "defer," giving the Texans the opening offensive possession of the game. That was Ryan's plan all along. Defense was going to set the tone for this game and the season, and so it did, holding the Texans to just 183 total yards on offense, forcing two turnovers and allowing them into Jets' territory only twice -- the deepest penetration being only ..."

Jets' impressive start to new era

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September 14

New York Post

"The visitor's locker room was quiet with anticipation. Rex Ryan, standing in the middle of the room following his first NFL victory as a head coach, a 24-7 Jets' dismantling of the Texans yesterday at Reliant Stadium, handed the game ball to team owner Woody Johnson and said a few words. His eyes watered as the powerful emotion of the moment overcame him. Ryan's first victory, signaling a new Jets era rife with tantalizing potential, was not lost on his players as they stood quietly and watched the emotional moment unfold. "We were really excited for him, but I don't think it was getting him his first win that we were excited about -- it was how he responded to it," nose tackle Kris ..."

Mark Sanchez, Jets can back up Rex Ryan's mouth against Texans

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September 13

New York Daily News

"These aren't your Eric Mangini Jets anymore. They think big and talk big. They attack on defense. They will sell out to get your quarterback. They will run their "Ground and Pound" offense until you break. They will bloody your nose. They will act like champions even though they haven't won a title in 40 years, because their coach likes it that way. Welcome to the start of the Rex Ryan era. After eight months of buildup, highlighted by a stream of brash sound bites from Ryan, the Jets finally get a chance to validate the tough talk. They face the upstart Texans Sunday at Reliant Stadium, where they close the retractable roof when the projected game-time temperature exceeds 80 degrees. It ..."

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez uses James Taylor tune to get pumped before taking the field

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September 13

New York Daily News

"Before he steps onto the field today and becomes the first rookie quarterback in Jets history to start an Opening Day game, Mark Sanchez will listen to "Fire"

Jets 'must win' debut of Ryan, Sanchez

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September 13

New York Post

"The long offseason, which included the draft, minicamps, training camp and too many preseason games, is over and now it's time for Rex Ryan to show what he's got as the Jets' latest head coach. His tenure began with bold words about bringing the Jets to the White House for a Presidential visit within the next few years as Super Bowl champions. It has continued on to some fun-spirited verbal tweaking of Patriots coach Bill Belichick and even some rival players. All along, Ryan has made proclamations about how good his team can be and how good he feels about it. Today's regular-season opener against the favored Texans at Reliant Stadium is sure to give everyone an early taste of what's to ..."

Jets' Sanchez avoids rookie mistakes

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September 12

New York Post

"To date, Mark Sanchez has done all the right things. Since he was drafted by the Jets, Sanchez has been well-spoken, confident, but not cocky, humble and hard working. He won the starting quarterback job over veteran Kellen Clemens and he was gracious doing it. Since being named the starter, Sanchez has performed well in the preseason games, said all the right things, won over the admiration and confidence of his teammates and generally acted the part to perfection. Now, with the Jets' regular-season opener awaiting tomorrow in Houston, the question is this: Will Sanchez take that act to the real world in the NFL, help the Jets win real games and help lead them to where they want to go?"

For Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez, debut against Texans now 'must-win'

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September 10

New York Daily News

"Opening Day. New coach. A rookie quarterback. On the road. A must-win. Wait a second...a must-win? Yep, that's what Mark Sanchez called Sunday's season opener in Houston. This isn't USC anymore, and this isn't the BCS points system. There's no such thing as a must-win in Week 1, but say this for Sanchez: He likes drama and he doesn't seem to mind pressure. "It's a big first game for this organization, for both sides of the ball, for special teams, for Coach (Rex) Ryan," the Jets' $50 million rookie said Wednesday. "It's his first game. For me, it's my first game in this league. So this is a must-win for us. That's the way we feel. It's going to be like that every week, but this first ..."