Sanchez excited about playing in Jets new stadium
Mark Sanchez, left, has a laugh with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine during Jets training camp in Cortland, N.Y. (Aug. 4, 2010) Credit: AP
CORTLAND, N.Y. - Mark Sanchez is as giddy everyone else when it comes to the Jets' new home.
That's why the second-year quarterback can't wait to hit the New Meadowlands Stadium field for just the second time when they host their co-tenants Monday on "Monday Night Football."
"Absolutely," Sanchez said Saturday. "I'm excited to see how the fans react and to see how the locker room is on a game day, get everything scattered out so I can go through my game day routine and test it out in these first couple preseason games, get out on that field and see that stadium.
"It looks great with nobody in it. I think it will look even better with people in it."
The preseason opener marks the first true game action for Sanchez since his February left knee surgery. But Sanchez, who sported a black sleeve on the knee in practice yesterday, isn't really even thinking about that.
"I want to hopefully get hit," Sanchez said, "not blindsided or anything, take a little shot here or there after a play. It's good. It will be fine."
Conner strikes again
If John Conner keeps this up, the Jets may not have many linebackers left in camp.
The fullback with "The Terminator" nickname has laid the wood on another victim. Conner blew up LB Josh Mauga in Friday's live goal line drills, giving him a concussion and knocking him out of tomorrow's game. Conner, who's having an impressive camp, also lit up LB Kenwin Cummings last week among others. But Ryan isn't about to tell the Jets' fifth-round pick to cool it on his teammates.
"It's an unfortunate consequence," Ryan said. "But this guy is going to knock out a bunch of guys, not just our guys."
Extra points
Ryan said the starters will probably play a quarter plus possibly one series Monday . . . LB Brashton Satale (ankle) is only at about 70 percent and Ryan said he won't play.
