The Hall-of-Famer and lone Super Bowl-winning New York Jets quarterback, while being interviewed at a United Way event Tuesday, acutely set up shop in Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez's corner.
"I promise you you'll see a different guy (this year)," Namath said, via the NY Daily News. "I believe you'll see a different guy.
"Mark's not a puppy anymore. He's gone through some things, growing process. As far as Sanchez goes, even if he's not with the Jets, he's going to play as long as he wants to. He's that good. As long as he wants to, he's going to be in the NFL."
Namath wasn't a fan of the Jets' using a second-round pick on West Virginia signal-caller Geno Smith, noting that the team needed more help on the offensive line, in the secondary and at linebacker.
He thinks Sanchez could use a little help in the skill-position department, too.
"I am pulling for him," he said. "... I know what he can do better than he's done. And we saw him lead a team to two AFC championship games, right? I also know what it's like not to necessarily have the weapons you'd like to have, not to necessarily have the time you'd like to accomplish."
Sanchez does have a stout playoff resume, going 4-2 in postseason games -- all on the road -- in his first two seasons. He threw nine touchdowns to three interceptions in those games, completing more than 60 percent of his passes and spearheading a couple game-winning, come-from behind drives.
That small sample of success has obviously stuck with Namath.
However, the now fifth-year quarterback out of USC has been beyond abysmal for the majority of his regular-season play, which makes up a much larger chunk of his body of work than the playoffs.
He thinks Sanchez could use a little help in the skill-position department, too.
"I am pulling for him," he said. "... I know what he can do better than he's done. And we saw him lead a team to two AFC championship games, right? I also know what it's like not to necessarily have the weapons you'd like to have, not to necessarily have the time you'd like to accomplish."
Sanchez does have a stout playoff resume, going 4-2 in postseason games -- all on the road -- in his first two seasons. He threw nine touchdowns to three interceptions in those games, completing more than 60 percent of his passes and spearheading a couple game-winning, come-from behind drives.
That small sample of success has obviously stuck with Namath.
However, the now fifth-year quarterback out of USC has been beyond abysmal for the majority of his regular-season play, which makes up a much larger chunk of his body of work than the playoffs.
