The two quarterbacks stood about 20 feet from each other Thursday in the locker room, addressing barbed questions from reporters. It was the New York Jets’ quarterback controversy — in stereo.
Tim Tebow denied speculation that he is frustrated in his smaller-than-expected role, and starterMark Sanchez — in his strongest comments to date — insisted he’s not concerned about the possibility of being replaced by the popular backup.
“I don’t feel threatened to lose my job at all,” Sanchez said. “It’s no different, whether it’s Tim orMark (Brunell) or Kellen (Clemens). It doesn’t change. I’m really not worried at all.”
Actually, it is different because Brunell and Clemens — Sanchez’s previous backups — never posed a legitimate threat. The same cannot be said of Tebow, who proved last season with the Denver Broncos that he can lift a team from a poor start.
Sanchez, mired in a three-game slump, faces quite possibly the most pressure-filled start of his career Monday night against the Houston Texans. He will play the league’s top-ranked defense without his No. 1 weapon, injured wide receiver Santonio Holmes.
Sanchez has a patchwork receiving corps, but that won’t stop the home fans from chanting for Tebow if he gets off to a slow start.
“It’s another opportunity,” said Sanchez, whose 49.2 completion percentage is the lowest in the league. “Nobody expects it to work. Nobody expects it to go right. Nobody expects us to win. That’s fine.
“I’ve been in situations like this before. I’m confident I can handle it, and there’s only one way in my mind to go about it — and that’s really to attack it.”
During his first three years, Sanchez had elder statesman-type players to lean on, namely Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson. This season, he’s surrounded by youth. In fact, Sanchez has more career starts (51) than the combined total of all the wide receivers and tight ends.
(Story Continues…)
WRITTEN BY Rich Cimini | ESPNNewYork.com & FULL STORY HERE
