(Photo: Ed Yourdon, Flickr) BY NICK ST. DENIS
The Jets' organization stunk from top to bottom in 2011. It wasn't one guy.
However, one guy, quarterback Mark Sanchez, took the brunt of the blame for the Jets' 8-8 season from many fans, media, and even some supposed "teammates."
Sanchez has improved statistically, and by a rather substantial margin, each year since the Jets drafted him in 2009. Most of his teammates and coaches have thrown their support behind Sanchez this offseason, but some unnamed players ripped him for his shortcomings at the end of last season.
“Hell, he deserved more respect then he got last year," Jets legend Joe Namath told Metro New York. "Let me rephrase that — he deserved more respect from his teammates than he got. There was some bad vibes between him and his receivers, but Mark handled it like a true soldier. You could see though that he was emotionally hurt, but he deserves better than all that.”
Namath views Sanchez's progress as something to build on. With that, he doesn't believe bringing in free agent and fellow legendary quarterback Peyton Manning would be best for Gang Green.
“These guys — the Jets — thought Sanchez was a championship quarterback. Has that suddenly changed now?” Namath said. “I haven’t heard that. Let them come out and say it. I haven’t heard that and I don’t think they should.
“... Mark’s going to be around awhile. His demeanor was angry last year with all the things going on behind the scenes. His feelings were clearly hurt. I hope they work through all that because I’m rooting for him. But I don’t see Peyton coming to the Jets.
“Sanchez is a grown man now; he’s not a boy. He’s played his first few years and I know myself, I’d be tired of being called ‘kid’ or ‘rookie’ or whatever."
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