In what has already been a very productive, proactive offseason for beloved New York Jets, this may be the most encouraging.
Rich Cimini of ESPN NY did the honors of investigating exactly where the hell Mark Sanchez has been recently, and what he’s been up to. The results are music to every Jet fans ears. Some highlights:
Nick Sanchez, the quarterback’s older brother and business manager, said Mark has been “in the basement,” so to speak, using the downtime for quiet introspection. Some might argue that Sanchez has been in the storm cellar, riding out the tumultuous offseason and ducking controversy.
“He’s just been focused on, ‘How do I improve?’” Nick Sanchez said. “He’s been very introspective. He’s back in the basement, back in the laboratory, watching as much film as he can and trying to figure out how to make this work. In his mind, it’s not, ‘How many interviews can I do?’ It’s, ‘How many games can we win?’”
Sanchez vacationed in the Caribbean after the season. He swung by South Florida, where he hooked up with former Jets and Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington for playbook study sessions — an introduction to Tony Sparano’s offense.
Sanchez has spent most of his time in New Jersey and has been spotted many times at the Jets’ facility, according to sources. Supervised instruction can’t begin until April 16, according to the new collective bargaining agreement, but he has been working out on his own, strengthening the pinched nerve in his neck that flared up late last season.
On Monday, Sanchez began a six-week training program with Norman — two to three hours a day, five days a week, until the Jets begin their offseason program. Teammates Joe McKnight and Patrick Turner, both former USC teammates, are expected to join Sanchez for the sessions.
I think I speak for every Jet fan on the planet when I say “ADA BOY, Mark!” This is EXACTLY what we want to hear. Staying out of the spotlight and just flat out grinding. Studying, working, improving. Bettering himself and in turn bettering this team.
While the true results will come on the field in September, you gotta admire the fact that Mark is doing his best to hone his craft and silence his doubters. Much of the impending success of the 2012 New York Jets will be predicated by the results of next week’s free agency period and next month’s draft. But if the man under center doesn’t improve, nothing else will.
Getting back to the playoffs and realigning themselves as Super Bowl contenders begins and ends with number 6, Mark Sanchez. Good to see he’s already begun, now let’s see where he finishes.
