The New York Jets quarterback competition has grown so uninteresting that even head coach Rex Ryan isn't watching it play out.
According to various reports, Ryan said he "never saw" the interception that Mark Sanchez threw to rookie defensive lineman Ziggy Ansah on just the Jets fourth offensive play of the game in their 26-17 loss to the Detroit Lions in the team's preseason opener Friday at Ford Field.
"I never saw it," Ryan said according to NFL.com. "I caught the tail end of it."
Ryan later admitted that he was too preoccupied with the defense to see what was happening on the field, but his quarterback situation, which had mild expectations at best, went from bad to worse.
Geno Smith, who has admitted to his lack of experience while competing with incumbent signal caller Sanchez for the starting job, rolled his ankle early in the third quarter after only completing two first downs on four drives.
The final line for the quarterbacks didn't paint a compelling picture as to who should start. Sanchez finished 10-for-13 for 125 yards with a touchdown and a terrible interception, while Smith's brief stint before the injury saw the rookie go 6-for-7 for 47 yards.
Despite Smith taking his first NFL snaps and Sanchez trying to shake off two seasons of horror that have seen him booed out of the Jets own home of MetLife Stadium and surrounded the 26-year-old with criticism, Ryan admitted that he didn't see much of the early stages of the quarterback situation play out. Ryan said he didn't even get a good look at Smith before he exited early.
"I had my own issues on the other side, so I never really focused a whole lot while he was in there," Ryan told NFL.com. "We'll see it on tape."
Sanchez was disgusted at himself for the interception but insisted he'll move on and do better.
"Bad plays happen," Sanchez told the Daily News. "Crappy plays like that happen. Freak plays happen. We happen to be on our own 10-yard line and (Ansah) scores. So what? You can't do anything about it. Just don't let it happen again."
Sanchez better hope it doesn't happen again or it may be Smith starting Week 1 when the Jets take on Darelle Revis and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sept. 8 at home.
On the flip side, if Sanchez manages to improve, he can only hope that his head coach is actually watching.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
