Sanchez looks to rebound off poor effort
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez took a tremendous beating, both on the field and in the locker room last Sunday.
Yet, there was nothing black or blue about Sanchez's mood Wednesday as he talked about the need to bounce back after the Jets' 34-17 loss in Baltimore. Sanchez, who was criticized by teammate Santonio Holmes after the game, asserted himself Wednesday, and said that he is in charge of the team and plans to set a positive tone in the locker room this week as his team prepares to play the Patriots.
"I need to set an example that win, lose or draw, I need to be the hardest-working guy in the building," Sanchez said. "I needed to come back on a Wednesday and show these guys I'm the man. I don't care what anyone says.
"I'm the man in this building and we're going to win this game. That's how I got to be, and that's the confidence I have to exude."
Although it might be going a bit too far to say there will be A.J. Burnett-like pressure on Sanchez this weekend, his performance will go a long way in determining whether the Jets lose their third straight game. Sanchez, who was hit 10 times and committed four turnovers that led to four Ravens touchdowns in the loss to Baltimore, needs to rebound against an archrival.
"Mark will be just fine," wide receiver Plaxico Burress said. "This is a time where he has to put everything to the side, not pay attention to what people say on the outside and focus on what he needs to do and go out and play . . . We've got to help him. Everyone. Offensive line, myself, running backs. We've got to help him."
Sanchez believes he and the team took the first step toward rebounding in practice Wednesday.
"I need to show these guys that bad stuff happens," he said. "Losses like that happen . . . We hit it hard today. I was really proud of the way guys were really positive. I'm proud of the way we came out and practiced."
There are some signs, however, that as the Jets head into a game that could determine the direction of their season, not everyone in the locker room is on the same page. At the end of his news conference, Sanchez addressed Holmes' criticism, and said the team had talked about the need not to air its dirty laundry in public and that "moving forward that won't happen again."
The problem is someone forgot to give Holmes the memo.
He said no one talked to him about his remarks and that as the team captain he has a right to express his opinion.
Said Holmes: "The coach put a 'C' on my chest. Everybody should listen to what I have to say, whether it's good or bad, and let's build from that."
