Despite a poor performance in Sunday night's game, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has decided to start Mark Sanchez at quarterback for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Fox News.
Just days after one of the young QB's worst games ever as a starter, Ryan's announcement arrives as a shock to Jets fans. As the New York Daily News notes, many saw Sunday evening's game against the Arizona Cardinals as Sanchez's "final audition" as the team's starter. And things did not go smoothly. Sanchez completed a miserable 10 of 21 for 97 yards and threw three interceptions before getting benched for the first time in his career.
''I'll just keep working, go study this film and keep trying to improve,'' Sanchez said Sunday after the game, according to Yahoo News. ''I need to understand where the mistakes came from, keep studying, keep preparing, be ready to play next week and see what happens.''
Sanchez was pulled Sunday with 4:48 left in the third quarter, when third-stringer Greg
McElroy's numbers for the night were hardly cause for celebration - he went 5 of 7 for 29 yards - but his performance energized the team and the crowd. McElroy came in and led the Jets to the only touchdown of the game on his first NFL drive, narrowly winning the game, 7-6. Fans chanted "Mc-El-Roy!" throughout the game and booed Sanchez loudly nearly each time he stepped on or off the field, particularly after each of his three interceptions.
According to the Daily News, Ryan sought advice from many within the organization in what some consider "the most important decision during his four-year tenure as head coach."
Opinions within the team were mixed as to who should lead the team in light of recent events.
While Jets' owner Woody Johnson preferred Greg McElroy for a starter, General Manager Mike Tannenbaum and offensive coordinator Tony Sparano sided with Sanchez, sources told the Daily News.
The Jets have struggled at quarterback all season long, seemingly unable to decide whether to start Sanchez or the most famous backup in football, Tim Tebow.
Following the team's sloppy win Sunday, Ryan was forced to reevaluate his ongoing support of Sanchez.
"Well, I think right now," Ryan said Monday, "I definitely need a little more time to make that decision."
Many have assumed all season that Tebow would eventually take over Sanchez's position, but after McElroy's short, but electrifying performance, Jets fans have been calling for him to take over.
"I'm comfortable and confident with all three quarterbacks," Ryan said. "I think all three guys have, now, proven they can win in this league."
Tebow was expected to have a major role in the offense this year, but instead has been just a spare part averaging about seven offensive snaps per game. After being the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart, he could see the No. 3 leapfrog over him and start for the Jets.
"I'm not into hypotheticals," Tebow said. "I'm just trying to get healthy right now."
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