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Florham Park – The quarterback controversy kicked into high gear for the Jets on Wednesday with the naming of Mark Sanchez and not Greg McElroy as the starting quarterback in Jacksonville.
As the media ran with the story, it should be noted that head coach Rex Ryan named “Mark as the starting quarterback this week.”
That wasn’t exactly a long-term endorsement for a quarterback coming off three interceptions in the first half and who has thrown more interceptions this season (13) than touchdowns (12).
The decision, according to Ryan, had “absolutely zero” to do with the fact that Sanchez is guaranteed $20.5 million. Ryan said there was no fight back from ownership on this call.
“Absolutely, it’s a New York Jet decision,” Ryan said.
Ryan tried to spin the benching on Sunday as a good thing for his fourth-year quarterback.
Ryan said of the benching that “sometimes you learn from when you’re put in that position, when somebody goes in and sometimes it’s as easy as your step back and see somebody else in that role. He really hasn’t had that before.”
Sanchez was named the starter before Week 1 of his rookie season in 2009 and has never had to fight for his job.
The quarterbacks were informed of the decision prior to their daily meeting before practice. In addition to Ryan, offensive coordinator Tony Sparano and quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh were in attendance.
The health of Tim Tebow remains a mysterious issue. In practice on Wednesday, Tebow threw and he told reporters that he was more active than last week. Being on the inactive list last Sunday was a puzzling move for Tebow,
Tebow didn’t have much to say on the matter and didn’t really seem to have an answer why his head coach won’t play him when the medical staff said he can play.
“I just try to do what the trainers and doctors say and what the coach asks me to do. That’s all I can control,” Tebow said. “I can only do what I’m told.”
He was asked by the New York Daily News if he will be able to play on Sunday. His answer was brief.
“I hope so, I believe so.” . . .
Nose tackle Sione Pouha is pleased with the progress his lower back injury has made. The injury shelved the player for much of the early part of the season, but Pouha said that the difference now is “night and day.”
It barely limits him in practice.
“I’m starting to get going now,” Pouha told Jets Confidential. “I’m not really limited much at all.” . . .
Looking around the locker room, it becomes apparent at times which Jets players could be coming back from being cut. Just a couple weeks ago, fullback John Conner’s locker was finally cleared, his personal items gone and his nameplate off the locker. Now it looks like Aaron Maybin’s locker is undergoing the same treatment.
Maybin’s personal items were boxed up and his nameplate removed from his locker . . .
Battling hamstring injuries this year, wide receiver Jeremy Kerley returned punts on Wednesday. An emerging part of the offense, it is a good sign that Kerley is practicing early in the week.
Tight end Dustin Keller did not practice on Wednesday but did do work with the training staff, including on the treadmill.
Among the other players who did not practice was Joe McKnight. On Monday, McKnight told Jets Confidential that his ribs are fine and he fully expects to play this Sunday . . .
Yesterday, the Jets signed defensive end Tevita Finau, who was recently released from the Cowboys’ practice squad. A product out of Utah, Finau was told by the Cowboys to hang around and expect a phone call to come back to the team relatively soon. He was surprised when he got a call asking him to come to the Jets.
The call came this past Saturday morning, he said.
“I was really surprised because the depth they have at this position,” Finau told Jets Confidential. “They have some good veterans here and good guys to learn from but they also have a lot of talent at the position.”
December 5, 2012
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