Photo: killthebird, Flickr BY NICK ST. DENIS
Left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson is one of the Jets' best players. And while he's likely one of the most respected players in the locker room, he isn't much of a vocal leader. He prefers to lead by example.
Ferguson, however, considers another offensive player a clear-cut leader. It couldn't be...
"I think Mark [Sanchez] is a great leader. I follow Mark," Ferguson told Joe and Evan of WFAN New York Thursday. "Any guy who can play that quarterback role has to be strong and I think he demonstrates a lot of great qualities..."
Sanchez boasts a 94.3 quarterback rating in six playoffs games, all on the road in his first two seasons in the league. That ranks him sixth all-time in that category. Sanchez's postseason work, despite his pedestrian regular-season numbers, are probably big factors in being looked up to in the locker room.
Adamantly backing Sanchez has been a trend for the Jets' offensive linemen this offseason. At least Sanchez is on their good side, as they're ultimately responsible for his safety.
When anonymous locker room sources ripped Sanchez in a New York Daily News story at the conclusion of the 2011 season, All-Pro center Nick Mangold came to Sanchez's defense that very day, saying no one in the locker room cares more about the team than Sanchez.
I believe it was guard Matt Slauson who said later in the offseason that if teammates found out who the "anonymous" voice was, it wouldn't be good for that person.
All-World cornerback Darrelle Revis has been a Sanchez defender this offseason, recently referring to him as a leader. You wouldn't know it, as a big deal was only made when Revis said Tim Tebow showed leadership qualities.
Also, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath has also been a defender of Sanchez, so despite national perception, the Jets' fourth-year signal-caller has a large enough support system to withstand the everyday lashing he takes from the majority of the media.
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