Jets' Sanchez says knee feels fine if not 100 percent
New York Jets football quarterback Mark Sanchez arrives for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon at the White House in Washington. (May 19, 2010) Credit: AP
HARDYSTON, N.J. - They didn't bring in a mammoth bouncer to grab a fistful of red jersey and yank him off the field.
The Jets' staff also wasn't forced to pull out a makeshift hook to get Mark Sanchez to exit stage left during his first two practices on his surgically repaired knee.
"Not like a distinct grab me by the face mask and throw you out, but it was like, 'All right, last rep,' " Sanchez said Wednesday at Brandon Moore's golf tournament to benefit the Jack and Jill Late-Stage Cancer Foundation.
"It was no joke after that. I was like, 'All right. I'm out.' "
Sanchez whipped the ball around during Monday and Tuesday's Organized Team Activities - "I don't know if anybody thought I was going to be doing any of this," he said - making good on one of his goals. Sure, he was limited both days. But it was a step up the rehab ladder for Sanchez, who had surgery Feb. 17 to strengthen his left knee's patella ligament.
He's taken part in 7-on-7s, walk-throughs and soft-toss drills this week. He's been able to do some cutting.
"It feels really good," said Sanchez, who headed to the White House with D'Brickashaw Ferguson last night to attend a state dinner for Mexico president Felipe Calderón and his wife.
"I think I'm doing more than anybody thought I would do. I'd like to be doing more, trying to sneak in some reps here and there and getting yanked off the field a little bit.
"But that's what it's all about. Feeling good and not pushing it too hard."
Sanchez hasn't started running full-bore and probably couldn't do it yet if he tried.
"It just doesn't feel 100 percent," he said. "It's functional. It just wouldn't be smart to really [say], 'Let's go test it.' So I haven't had to sprint. But from where I'm at now, all I can say now is it feels good.''
Count Moore among those thrilled to see Sanchez doing his thing again.
"He's got a factor about him," said Moore, who has raised more than $40,000 to donate to Jack and Jill. "When he steps in the huddle, we feel like we can go now. He's going to be ready. I'm sure he'll be taking live reps with us toward the end of these OTAs. So he needs to take his time."
Those extra minutes on the sideline gave Sanchez an opportunity to hear some chatter from a few Jets guests invited to watch practice.
"It's like, 'Wow, did you see L.T.?' " Sanchez said, "and 'Oh, Jason Taylor. And Santonio [Holmes], he can really run.' You can kind of feel it. It's like Jets fever or something. It's good. It's good."
