Sanchez: I'll 'absolutely' win Jets QB competition

In between water balloon toss and big dinners with his wide receivers during workouts at his old high school in Southern California, Mark Sanchez sounded more than confident that he will win the New York Jets quarterback competition against rookie Geno Smith. So sure in fact, Sanchez said he'll "absolutely" win the job.

 "When it comes down to a competition, I just put my money on myself," Sanchez told The New York Daily News after Friday's workout. "And bet on myself and go play and go win the job. So if that’s what it’s going to be like it’s been clear that’s what it is, alright let’s go."

Sanchez will be fighting for his quarterback life when he heads to camp with the rookies July 22 in Florham Park before heading to Cortland. But said he holds no grudge against Smith for skipping his annual Jets West passing camp in his hometown.

“I don’t hold it against any of the guys that can’t make it,” Sanchez said Friday after workouts on his old field of glory.

 “I probably should have said that right away. There are no hard feelings about anything like that. Greg (McElroy’s) not here. (Matt) Simms isn’t here. Guys are on vacation. Some guys are going and getting married. They’re doing stuff. There’s plenty of other things that they could be doing.”
 
Sanchez invited all of the offensive skill position players, including Smith, to participate — as he has done for the past few summers.

Smith was strangely vague and non-committal about joining Sanchez the rest of the players.
 
"If they can make the sacrifice and be here, awesome," Sanchez said. "If they can’t, (it’s) totally fine. And I would never hold a grudge against anybody who’s not here. But we’ve (Tim) Tebow here. We’ve had (Mark) Brunell here. We’ve had (Kevin) O’connell. So it’s not like I don’t invite those guys. They’re more than welcome to come and we’ll invite them every year."
 
Smith opted to work out in Florida rather than make the trip to California and take part in weight lifting, playbook review and on-field sessions with 12 other teammates that included running back Chris Ivory, tight ends Kellen Winslow Jr, Jeff Cumberland and Konrad Reuland and receivers Jeremy Kerley, Stephen Hill, Jordan White, Clyde Gates, Vidal Hazelton, Thomas Mayo and Ryan Spadola.

Two other quarterbacks — McElroy and Simms — also skipped the voluntary workouts.
 
"It just doesn’t look like he’s going to come," Sanchez said about whether Smith made it clear to him that he wouldn’t attend. "I don’t want to make it bigger than it is. It’s really not a big deal. If he’s not going to make it, he’s not going to make it."
 
Smith’s absence won’t necessarily put him behind in the competition, but it couldn't hurt. It’s clear that the players in attendance believe there’s a tangible benefit to spending the time to build a relationship with his new teammates in a low-key atmosphere.

 
"He just couldn’t make it," Hill said. "That’s what I’ve heard. I didn’t actually get a chance to speak with him. It would have been good for him to be here, but I know he’s working back in Florida. He’s doing what he has to do. He’ll be ready for camp."
 
"It would have been great to have Geno and all of the quarterbacks out here," Reuland said. "The more , the better. However, I don’t think it’s a make it or break it type of thing. It’s still going to be camp as usual. No one’s going to win a spot based on what they do out here."

Will the competition with Smith be closer than expected?

"We'll see," Sanchez said. "I hope not."

 

Jets' McElroy says he'll miss Tebow

A New York Jets player finally came forward and expressed sadness at seeing Gang Green's unceremonious deep-sixing of Tim Tebow on Monday and it came from an unlikely mourner —  Greg McElroy — one of Tebow's rivals for the Jets starting quarterback job.

McElroy said Wednesday that he was sorry to see the Tebow era come to a close in New York even though it means one less player challenging him for the starting job, according to The New York Daily News.

The third-string quarterback got the surprising call over Tebow to start one game last season when Mark Sanchez was yanked for Game 15.

"It’s disappointing to see anybody get cut. That’s your teammate, that’s your buddy," said McElroy. "That’s a guy you’ve spent countless hours with over the last 365 days or however long we’ve been together."

Thirteen months to be exact.

McElroy's promotion over Tebow in that one game was sort of a premonition signaling the end of Tebow's future with the team.

Now that McElroy has been unofficially bumped back to third on the depth chart— behind the incumbent $8.25 million Sanchez and second-round draftee Geno Smith — he will be in a five-way battle for the top spot. David Garrard and Matts Simms are also in the mix.

"I don’t view it as anything like that," McElroy said at Midstreams Elementary School in Brick, N.J., after speaking to students about the "Eat Right, Move More" campaign. "Just go out there, we’re all competing, and just enjoy the competition and try to make each other better."

Jets GM, John Idzik, on SiriusXM Wednesday, said those outside factors relating to Sanchez and Smith won’t play a role in determining who is the starter and whoever gets the call will do so on merit in an "open competition."

"We don’t feel like there’s any pressure to get (Smith) in there right away, especially with the cast of quarterbacks we have in the competition," Idzik said.

On Sanchez, Idzik said, "We take finances out of it."

McElroy is already familiar with Sanchez and said he had met Smith only briefly and said hello, but had not had any contact with him beyond that.

"Competition brings out the best in everybody," McElroy said.

GM John Idzik: Jets will have 'open competition' at quarterback

The day after the New York Jets released Tim Tebow, general manager John Idzik indicated that any one of the five remaining quarterbacks will get a shot to be the Week 1 starter. With one down, that leaves Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith, David Garrard, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms to grab the top quarterback spot.

"It’s an open competition," Idzik said on ESPN radio’s Mike & Mike show on Tuesday. "It’s an open competition not only at quarterback, but at all positions on our roster. That will hold not only throughout the entire year, but hold as long as I’m here. Mark’s in the competition. We fully expect that it will help him get better. It will help David get better…. It will help Greg. It will help Matt Simms. It will certainly help Geno. I think the more quality, depth and competition you can bring in at the position, it makes everybody better. That certainly includes Mark."

Sanchez, last year's flawed and unpopular starter, is not expected to be released before training camp opens, according to sources.

Tebow was unceremoniously kicked to the curb Monday —  even after Idzik was humming that you can't have too many quarterbacks tune to the press. Although the move seemed inevitable.

"We had six quarterbacks," Idzik said. "Something had to give. We thought it was appropriate at that time to release Tim."

"We just entered this offseason open-minded and said, 'Let’s bring Tim in and let him get in our offseason program and take it from there,'" Idzik added.

The Jets' new GM said that the Jets fielded calls on possible trade opportunities involving Tebow (“There’s a lot of kicking tires so to speak,” he said. “We’ll field those calls. If it’s not in the best interest of the Jets, we’ll just hold firm.”), but nothing materialized.

Oddly, Idzik said that he didn't even ask Tebow to change positions.

"While I was here, he was slated as a quarterback," Idzik said.

  

It was suspected by everyone that Tebow’s days were numbered regardless of whether or not the Jets drafted Smith.

Smith, meanwhile, will inherit the glaring tabloid Kleig lights after the Tebow fiasco.

"If you’re a first-round quarterback—first-round any position – the spotlight is a little bit brighter," Idzik said. "Him coming in as a second rounder, perhaps it’s a little dim, but being that he’s in the New York market, he’s at a high profile position, I think he’s going to be center stage regardless.”

Idzik said that Sanchez, whose days as the starter appear in jeopardy, has been "even keeled" throughout this process.

"I told him that I really admire how he’s handled some very difficult situations," Idzik said. "He’s focused. He’s energized. He’s been very positive."

In other words, get ready for another dog and pony show in Jets camp. 

Jeff Garcia: Jets should unload Tebow ASAP

Jeff Garcia just joined a long list of those who think keeping Tim Tebow hanging around in a New York Jets uniform can only do more damage than good.

The former NFL quarterback — who has been working with Jets starter Mark Sanchez this off season — told USA Today on Thursday that he thinks the Wildcat quarterback is a hindrance to the Jets right now.

"If there's going to be competition at the position, it's not going to come from Tim Tebow," Garcia said. "Having Tebow there (last season) just became more of a distraction, more of a circus show. Obviously, it's their decision. But from an outsider looking in, having Tebow there doesn't bring anything positive. It just brings distraction. For Mark, the main competition is going to be with David Garrard and Greg McElroy."

Garcia doesn't understand why the Jets — who went to McElroy after Rex Ryan benched Sanchez and then back to Sanchez in Week 17— are keeping Tebow in the equation even if it's only to push Sanchez to a higher level of play.

"When you're a quarterback, you don't need artificial competition," Garcia said of Sanchez. "And it's not fair to Tim to put him through all that. If there's a place for Tim that gives him a chance to be a contributor in an offense with another team, let him go be that guy."

Garcia is working with Sanchez to get the quarterback up to speed on Marty Mornhinweg's up-tempo West Coast offense.  The former four-time Pro-Bowler played under Mornhinweg with the Eagles and, so far, Garcia is impressed with Sanchez's grasp of the Jets' new offensive coordinator's Xs and Os.

"Mark did a great job of really getting into the playbook," Garcia said. "He has that determination, that attitude where he really wants to prove to himself more than anybody that he can be a great leader for that team and lead the Jets to great results."

Now if the Jets can only trade away that 240-pound thorn in Sanchez's side.

Jets new GM: Sanchez will be competing for QB job

At Thursday's press conference to introduce John Idzik as the New York Jets new general manager, the  incoming GM didn't comment specifically on any Jets player.  But later, on ESPN Radio, it sounded like Idzik had some good news and some bad news for Mark Sanchez.

The positive news for Sanchez — it doesn't sound like you're going to be put on the trading block.

On the flip side for last year's starting quarterback — you're going to have to fight for that same position next season.

Speaking on "The Michael Kay Show," Idzik said Sanchez will be back as part of quarterback competition.

"We're going to bring in competition," said Idzik.  "Mark is a competitor.  He's not adverse to competition.  He'll probably welcome it.  It will make everybody better and that will be our direction."

Jets head coach Rex Ryan took the more direct approach about his fifth-year quarterback.

"I believe Mark needs to erase his hard drive," said Ryan.

Sanchez had a miserable season (18 INTs) and the Jets finished 6-10 but Ryan thinks Sanchez must be chomping at the bit at the prospect of working with a pass-oriented offense with new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

"He's got to be popping out of his skin, as any quarterback would," said Ryan.

The Jets still have Greg McElroy and Tim Tebow under contract behind Sanchez and his $8.25 million guaranteed contract in 2013 but Idzik said all personnel would be evaluated with an eye on cap space.  By the way, Sanchez's deal was orchestrated by ousted GM Mike Tannenbaum.

The Jets could take a shot at Matt Flynn — the backup on Idzik's former Seahawks team — or possibly the 49ers' new second-teamer Alex Smith, both who could put the pressure on Sanchez and maybe take his starting job.

Ryan sounds excited about trading in his ground-and-pound offense for a more streamlined run-and-gun attack.

"I can't wait to get out there and see how our offense will look," said Ryan. "Will it look different? Yes it will."

For some reason, it sounds like bad news for Sanchez.

McElroy and Jets teammates hid concussion from coaches

New York Jets coaches were apparently unaware that Greg McElroy was experiencing concussion symptoms during practice this week — after getting sacked 11 times last Sunday against the San Diego Chargers — but some of his teammates did.

The Jets quarterback — who went from nursing a minor abdominal injury to being benched for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills — had been concealing his symptoms "for days" telling teammates about the situation but only finally going to the team on Thursday morning.

It's not uncommon for NFL players to quietly play through injuries but the alarming aspect to this story is that more than a few of his Jets teammates knew about about McElroy's serious condition after the 27-17 loss and kept silent.

"He came into my room [Christmas night] and we talked about it" receiver Clyde Gates told ESPNNew York.com. "He was hurting real bad .  I was like, 'Bro, I know, I've been down that road already.  I'm just saying you can't try to tough it out cause you going to end up hurting yourself.  You've got to let everybody know how you really feel."

McElroy finally told Jets trainer on Thursday — after experiencing headaches during a morning weightlifting session.  Head coach Rex Ryan later announced that McElroy wouldn't play this Sunday.

Guard Matt Slauson was also aware of McElroy's situation.  "He definitely has that [warrior] mentality, but it got to the point where it was scaring him," he said.

One has to take in a couple of perspectives from all the players involved to explain their actions.  Illogical and as dangerous as it may seem, the NFL culture breeds this type of reasoning.

McElroy — the one time third-string quarterback — is finally getting a shot at showing the league he is worthy of being a starter.  Unless he battled through the pain, it might be a long time before he is given this window of opportunity again.

His teammates, while showing concern for their teammate's safety, would have been breaking an unwritten code betraying a confidence if they went to the coaches about their concerns before McElroy actually did.

These are grown men fighting for their livelihoods in a violent and mostly short-lived career. The NFL has their work cut out for them if they intend to curb the rash of concussions in the league.  Apparently the players themselves aren't going to help themselves even when they are at risk.

Sanchez will start for concussed McElroy in Jets finale

The three-ring circus that is the New York Jets brought back an old headliner when their tumbling act — otherwise known as the quarterback situation — took another bizarre and unexpected somersault.

The team discovered starting quarterback Greg McElroy had suffered a concussion in Sunday's loss to the San Diego Chargers after he experienced headaches while lifting weights Thursday morning, reports The New York Post.

Head coach Rex Ryan told reporters McElroy won't play Sunday against the Buffalo  Bills and Mark Sanchez — who McElroy replaced last week as the starter — is back in as starting quarterback.

Ryan began Thursday's press conference by saying," You're not going to believe this one."

One person who was probably shaking his head was Tim Tebow, who still has not started a game even after Sanchez's season imploded.

"I'm going to start Mark Sanchez," Ryan said.  "The reason I'm starting Mark is we have two practices and one walkthrough to get ready for Buffalo.  He's very familiar with them.  That's the reason I'm going with Mark."

Tebow proponents have already taken to the Internet blasting the decision to use an ineffective Sanchez over the underutilized Tebow in a meaningless game.  Theories about Tebow being passed over again range from the Jets afraid to see Tebow succeed and make the coaches look bad to Tebow's bags are already packed and headed to Jacksonville after the season.

McElroy was sacked 11 times during the Jets 27-17 loss and suffered an abdominal injury.  He showed no symptoms of a concussion after the game but Ryan was convinced that McElroy couldn't play this week.

"I'm not going to play him," said Ryan.  "There's no doubt. I don't care what the tests say.  We're going to err on the side of caution."

It sounds like Ryan is erring on the side of a cautionary tale.  Imagine the backlash if Tebow won.

This is another tough blow for Tebow to take and was a legitimate chance to give him a shot as a "regular quarterback."

The top-secret Wildcat offense Ryan boasted about  all preseason is still pretty much a mystery and last week Tebow was passed over for McElroy when Sanchez was benched for his five turnover performance against the Titans two weeks ago.

Now Tebow is on the outside looking in once again.

"Obviously, Tim's not happy with that as you'd expect," Ryan said.

Expect to hear "Te-bow, Te-bow" from Jets fans for the last time.

Tebow thinks he was misunderstood by Rex Ryan about Wildcat

http://bcove.me/lb9doekqTim Tebow pulled an audible Wednesday and attempted to clarify any reports that he asked out of the Wildcat offense before Sunday's loss to the San Diego Chargers.  During the game, Tebow stood on the New York Jets sideline while Rex Ryan replaced him with Jeremy Kerley in the Wildcat formation.

Contrary to reports, Tebow denied asking out of the Wildcat during a meeting with his head coach last Tuesday, shortly after he found out he would not be the starter against the Chargers.

The backup quarterback admitted that he did express his disappointment in the decision today for the first time in a "man-to-man" talk with Ryan — the first of which Tebow's had all year.

Tebow told Ryan he wanted to play "regular quarterback,' something he reiterated several times.

During the week leading up to the Chargers game, Tebow said he and Ryan spoke little and — after seeing Kerley get increased Wildcat snaps in practice on Thursday — the unhappy quarterback sought out Ryan to clear the air after he only had a few Wildcat reps that day.

On Friday, Tebow was finally able to meet with Ryan and talk.

"I said, 'yeah, I'm frustrated with this,' absolutely and he knew that, he knew that I was frustrated by me saying it," Tebow said.  "But I didn't ask out, or say I wouldn't do anything."

Tebow added: "(a possible misunderstanding) is why I expressed back to him Friday, I said, 'Coach, you still know I'll do anything for this team, right? I'll do whatever.  He appreciated that, I think he knew that but I think he appreciated me going back and saying it."

The media analysts who bashed Tebow's character and labeled him a "quitter" because he wasn't named the starter was a little like putting verbal coal in Tebow's Christmas stocking.

Rex Ryan clams up about Tebow drama

Rex Ryan wasn't in a Christmas giving mood Monday when he sidestepped reporters' questions about whether or not quarterback Tim Tebow actually refused to play in the Wildcat formation during the New York Jets loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

During a 20-minute conference call with reporters, the would not divulge any specifics about Tebow's reaction to being passed over as starter for Greg McElroy except to say his Wildcat quarterback was "disappointed."

Ryan's answers didn't confirm or deny if Tebow had demanded his exclusion in any Wildcat schemes on Sunday and he danced around the questions regarding Tebow's status on the team.

Maybe the head coach was taking this whole "Silent Night" thing a little too seriously.

"He is a competitor and he was disappointed," Ryan said.  "He was disappointed that he was not named the starter."

Even with Tebow's limited role this season, yesterday's interview still centered on the polarizing quarterback and if he asked out of the Wildcat offense.

According to various sources, Tebow was irked when Ryan announced he was passing him up for McElroy last Tuesday.  The angry quarterback voiced his frustration to Ryan then didn't speak to his head coach for three days.  On Friday, Tebow finally told Ryan he was available for any role the team deemed him nessessary for.

McKnight: Fans' boos helped push Ryan to bench Sanchez

New York Jets running back Joe McKnight said he believes the lack of fan support for Mark Sanchez could have possibly played a big role in the decision by Rex Ryan to bench his starting quarterback.

And not in the way you would think.  McKnight thinks his teammate got rattled by the din of boos in the stadium and it affected his play on the field.

"I think it did," McKnight said Wednesday. "Any time you're the starting quarterback and you're on the football field and you're trying to call plays and you got the people that are supposed to be rooting for you screaming for the other quarterback, that's kind of frustrating.  That kind of takes you out of the game.  And I think that's kind of made it tough for the coaches to make their decision."

While the chants of "Te-bow, Te-bow" might have hindered Sanchez's performance on the field, it did nothing to bolster Tim Tebow's reputation with the head coach.  On Tuesday, Ryan chose third-string QB Greg McElroy over the choice of the people to start Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers.

McKnight might have more of a special kinship with Sanchez than the rest of the team.  They played together at USC and McKnight has always had his buddy's back.

Tebow and actress girlfriend Camilla Belle have reportedly split up

It looks like Cupid has pulled a Rex Ryan on Tim Tebow and benched the backup quarterback in the love department.

A day after the New York Jets head coach dimmed the lights of Tebow's football career by replacing the Wildcat quarterback with third-string QB Greg McElroy, US Weekly reports that Tebow and his actress girlfriend, Camilla Belle, have called it quits.

The supposedly match made in heaven ended after seven months of bliss.

A source told US Weekly, the pair "Just didn't work out."

The Jets backup quarterback and the "10,000 BC" actress met at the Met Ball in May and had been quietly dating ever since.  They were spotted last month happily bowling together in Jacksonville, Fla. when the Jets were in town to face the Jaguars.

In Touch magazine reported earlier this month that Tebow had introduced Belle to his parents who had given their blessing to the relationship.

"His mom, Pam, like that Camilla comes from a strict Catholic family, and loves that she does so much work with a children's charity," reported the magazine.  "Pam thinks Camilla could be the girl Tim has been waiting for."

Tebow has been linked to Glee actress Diana Agron and singer Taylor Swift in the past.

NFL following up on death threat made against Mark Sanchez via Twitter

The NFL security team has joined forces with the New York Jets in an attempt to find the party responsible for death threats made against quarterback Mark Sanchez via Twitter, according to league spokesman Greg Aiello.

The two separate threats were made by a user who tweeted a series of suspicious messages to Sanchez's official Twitter account, reports The Star-Ledger.

"DON'T COME TO PRACTICE WEDNESDAY I PROMISE YOU BULLETS EVERYWHERE.. @Mark_Sanchez."

The twisted messages continued with:

"Kill yo self tonight ! Or Imma do it for you Wednesday at practice @Mark_Sanchez."

Aiello said Tuesday the league is aware of the threats.  He told NFL.com that cooperation from the NFL team is common procedure in these cases

Sanchez, who had been relieved of the starting QB duties by head coach Rex Ryan earlier in the day, played a horrendous game Monday night against the Titans.  The struggling Sanchez had five turnovers — including four interceptions — as the Jets (6-8) officially fell out of playoff contention.

Greg McElroy will start Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers.

In the wake of the Newtown shooting, one can only hope they find the person(s) who sent these threats and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.

Braylon Edwards backs Sanchez: Blames 'idiots calling shots' for problems

A former Jets player who helped Mark Sanchez through the first two years of his NFL career has come out and said the benched quarterback is not to blame for the team's current struggles.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who spent most of 2009 and all of 2010 as Sanchez's main target with the Jets, posted to his Twitter account early Tuesday morning:

"I played there.  Blame the idiots calling shots. Mark is a beast and will [prove] it when given proper chance."

The Twitter blast may be directed at the Jets general manger Mike Tannenbaum.

There is no love lost between Edwards and Tannenbaum.  The animosity began after the Jets let Edwards go as a free agent before the 2011 season and the GM chose not to reunite him with Sanchez before this season when he was a free agent again.

The tweet is probably not directed at head coach Rex Ryan whom Edwards has always had a good relationship.  Edwards was caught by HBO's "Hard Knocks" cameras naming Ryan as the one person in the NFL who would give him a good reference when he was trying out with the Miami Dolphins this summer.

McElroy gets cheers after replacing Sanchez for the Jets

Mark it down on the New York Jets' 2012 season highlight reel. At 4:48 of the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals, Rex Ryan finally pulled Mark Sanchez and put in another quarterback.  The move was made more notable because the exchange did not include anyone named Tim Tebow.

To the delight of the Gang Green faithful, Greg McElroy entered the game to rousing cheers and capped off his first drive with a short touchdown pass to Jeff Cumberland after guiding the team 54 yards on 10 plays.

It was kind of strange to hear the din of applause inside MetLife Stadium; especially when the Jets are on the field.

Starting QB Sanchez — who threw 3 INTs in the first half — could only watch with a clipboard and baseball cap as McElroy gave the Jets something he couldn't — a 7-3 lead and, ultimately,  some sort of hope throughout Jetland.

McElroy got the call after Tebow's broken ribs put him on the inactive list. Third-stringer McElroy, a seventh-round draft pick, was next on the depth chart and was making his 2012 debut.

One can only wonder if, had Tebow suited up, would the calls for "Te-bow, Te-bow" finally have been answered.

Only the head coach knows for sure while the plot thickens.

Sanchez invites Tebow to his 'Jets West' passing camp

 Mark Sanchez has extended an invitation to competing New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow to join him at his private passing camp in Southern California this summer.

Tim Tebow told the New York Daily News that he will be attending Sanchez's "Jets West" passing camp in a few weeks.  Sanchez, hoping to establish himself as the unquestioned leader of the offense, has extended the invitation to his backup.

The two quarterbacks— who have had every move and gesture analyzed since the team traded for the former Denver Broncos quarterback in March— will headline the annual workout.  The camp will held for five days in late June or July and will be closed to the press.

Only a small group of skill position players are ever invited to these informal workouts and Tebow was already publicly left out of the camp Santonio Holmes ran in Orlando back in April.

Sanchez— who has organized the passing camp with his family over the past two seasons— made sure to invite his teammate and purported rival.

"It's just so important to spend time together as possible," said third-string QB Greg McElroy, who will attending the week-long camp for the second year in a row.  "It's a good opportunity for us to get out of our element and do something social as a group with the benefit of working and great weather.  It's a lot of football and fun."

Eight players showed up for the inaugural camp in 2010 and doubled in size last year.  The players work out at Mission Viejo High School— Sanchez's alma mater— and the quarterback has picked up the tab for his teammates in the past— including renting fancy villas.

Besides Tebow and McElroy, nine players have told the New York Daily News they will be attending.  It is not known if Holmes— who has been running hot and cold with Tebowmania— will attend.  He skipped the camp last year.

Ex-Jet Damien Woody: Team "Babied" Sanchez

 Former New York Jets tackle Damien Woody said he agrees with the anonymous Jets sources who were quoted in the New York Daily News Wednesday as saying Mark Sanchez has been "babied" by team management and thinks the team should give some thought to getting a veteran quarterback to push the struggling player.

Woody doesn't exactly call Sanchez another Blue Ivy Carter, but says the first-round quarterback is still a work in progress and needs a competitor to light a fire under him.

"I do think he needs to pick it up, needs to pick up his play.  I wouldn't call him lazy, but I do think there are certain things about Mark and the organization that need change," said Woody.  "I think the organization does baby him and they definitely need  to bring in a viable backup— a viable backup to really provide that competition.

"With competition, either you're gonna rise, or you're gonna just crumble.  You bring in a viable backup and let it play out and we'll see which mark Sanchez shows up after that."

Woody— a Jet from 2008-10— joins rookie quarterback Greg McElroy as the only members of the Jets family to criticize the team in public.

While McElroy was criticized for breaking the "locker room code" for speaking out— he's the only active player with enough cojones to put a face with the quote.

Last week, McElroy— in a radio interview— didn't criticize Sanchez personally, but used words like "selfish" and "corrupt mindset" to describe the whole 2011 Jets team.

"It's definitely not a fun place to be.  I can assure you," the seventh-round draft pick said.  "It's the first time I've been around extremely selfish individuals, and I think that's the nature of the NFL."

Woody was more specific in his assessment of the team by criticizing Sanchez but still thinks the quarterback "deserves one more year to see if this guy can be the future, and, if that doesn't happen, it's time to look in another direction."

The former Jets player thinks the team's front office goes out of its way to protect Sanchez from the swarms of New York media.

"You can see if someone's playing well and someone's not," said Woody.  "But the organization really tries to baby him and protect him as far as the media's concerned."

"When you're playing quarterback in New York, you have to have tough skin and be able to stand up to the criticism," said Woody.  "When things are going great, you're going to be  a god in this city.  But when things aren't going well, you have to man up and take it all.  I think the organization can do a better job of letting the man be a man and stand up and take the bullets like all the other players."

Woody had some harder words for the "unnamed sources" who attacked Sanchez with their harsh anonymous quotes.

"You're scared to put you're name on it, that's just speaks badly of your character as a player," he said.

As for head coach Rex Ryan claiming he "didn't have the pulse of the team," Woody said he wasn't surprised by any of the locker room dysfunction this season and how Ryan lost control of his players.

"When you've had success, it's great," he said.  "But when it's not going well, this is what happens and now you're seeing the ugly side to it."

It looks things are going to get real fugly.