Mark Sanchez Transcript (03/09/12)

Opening Statement…

SANCHEZ:  Well, thanks, guys.  Again, echoing what Mr. Tannenbaum said about waiting up all night, I appreciate that.  Number one, I want to thank Mr. Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum, Coach Ryan.  I know Mike mentioned Jackie and Ari, who did a great job; Dave Dunn at Athletes First, my brother Nick and Andrew Kessler for getting this deal done.  It meant the world to me to be drafted to New York and play and have the opportunity to play these past three years. (To play) in one of the greatest cities in the country and have the success we had, especially in those first two years was so much fun to be a part of, so to find out I can come back for three more years means the world to me.  I’m absolutely pleased to be a Jet. My family is ecstatic, and now it’s time to get to work and get back at it, and that’s what I’ve been doing these past few weeks, and I apologize for not being available like I usually am, but there were negotiations going on and things going on that I couldn’t really talk about yet.  So I hope you guys understand that, and I know it’s part of my job to be available to you guys, so I’ll obviously do my best with that in the future.  But I’m not hiding from you guys.  We have a great time talking, I know that, and it’s not always easy but you guys do a great job and I appreciate that.

On how he dealt with the Jets looking into Peyton Manning…

SANCHEZ:  You know, honestly, I completely understand, especially being there for three years now in the NFL that this is a business, and the team has its obligation to consider all of its options.  I’m excited that the Jets believe in me and that I was the guy they want to move forward with in the future.  You know, I really didn’t think too much into it.  I know there’s 15 to 20 plus other teams that have thought the same thing, and they have starting quarterbacks from last year who might get upset about that.  But honestly, I was thrilled that our negotiations were going on and I knew if things played out the right way that I’d be their guy just like I was in the beginning, and that means the world to me.

On what this offseason has been like for him with the criticism…

SANCHEZ:  Well, I think it doesn’t really bother me at all.  I just know that that’s a part of this position, especially in New York City.  I mean, it wasn’t too long ago after my first seasons with the Jets, how well we did, we make it to the AFC Championship and everybody is praising us after the season that we’re on the right track, and the next step is the Super Bowl, and then obviously we have a setback last year, but it’s understandable that the positive praise and positive criticism, that’s gone and forgotten, and everybody remembers the 8-8 season where we don’t make the playoffs, and I get that.  That’s a part of this league.  If anything, that fuels me.  It gets me excited about this next year, and I think if anything this past year I learned more than my first two years combined about how to handle adversity and things I could have done better, whether it’s on or off the field.  I just know that there’s so much more for us to accomplish together, and I’m excited to be able to do that with Rex and Mr. Tannenbaum and Mr. Johnson.  That’s a part of the job, and I totally understand that.

On if he felt insulted the Jets were looking at Manning…

SANCHEZ:  Not at all.  I knew that’s a part of Mr. Tannenbaum’s job, to look into every viable option, whether it’s at offensive line or running back, receiver, any defensive position.  It’s something they have to do. But the best part about it is they chose to stick with me.  I’m going to be the starting quarterback for the next few years here, and that’s exciting.  It gives the team just a reminder that I’m the leader of this team, and I’m excited to get back, and I’m going to be working my tail off these next few months to become the best possible starting quarterback that this franchise can have.

On if he would have remained on the team if the team had signed Manning…

SANCHEZ:  You know, same thing that you guys asked Mike T., I’m not going to speculate on things like that.  All I know is I’m the starting quarterback and I’m thrilled about it, and I’m excited to get back with Rex and Coach Sparano and get this thing going.

On if he met with Santonio Holmes this offseason…

SANCHEZ:  Sure, sure.  We’ve been in contact really this whole off season, and I think a bigger deal was made out of that than needed to be.  But that’s okay.  With neither of us commenting on it, I think it got bigger.  We’ve kind of laughed that off at this point now, weeks ago, but I’ve been down to see him, and I’ll get into more of that stuff on Thursday.  Right now, I just want to talk about how excited I am about this contract. But we’ve been in constant contact, and I know he’s in Africa doing some charity work now.  But he’s excited about the next year.  I can tell you that.  And when he comes back, I know he’s going to be speaking with you guys, I believe.  I’ll talk more about it on Thursday.

On when the Jets approached him about a contract extension…

SANCHEZ:  Probably a couple weeks after the season.  I know they talked about it with Dave Dunn and my brother before they even brought it to me, and they wanted to make sure I got my time to get away from things and just relax, clear your head, just like you do after every season, and take out your yellow pad and notes and write down the things you wish you could have done better and how you’re going to get better and improve.  They talked about it I think really close to the end of the season.

On if he was surprised by the contract extension offer given the way the season ended…

SANCHEZ:  Well, I wasn’t    honestly because the team I know has great perspective on things, and our first two years together, along with all the great teammates I’ve been fortunate enough to play with and this great organization, those are some of the best years that the Jets have had in a long time.  So they understand that, and they wouldn’t let one season change their view on me, because they know how hard I’m going to work to come back next year and be the player that we all know I am and that we can be the team that we all know we are.  So I wasn’t surprised.

On meeting with Chad Pennington and what he wanted to improve on this offseason…

SANCHEZ:  I think some of the things are personal, and I’ll keep those to myself and the guys on the team.  But as far as Chad goes, he was open to having me come down and meet with him, and after quite a few meetings, I don’t know if there’s anybody (better). The same guy who has talked to you guys as beat writers, has played in New York and one of the toughest positions in football, he knew everything and understood when we talked about the difficulties of the season and really underachieving last year, he knew every situation I was in and more.  It was great perspective to hear.  And really get a chance to talk with him about different situations in a ballgame and then we got into more specific stuff.  Like I said, I’ll talk about more of that stuff on Thursday but Chad was open to the thought of me coming down and talking to him, so I owe him a lot of gratitude because he was great.

On keeping his thoughts about last season private…

SANCHEZ:  Those are more thoughts about the season.  That’s more of an emotional time where you just kind of empty your brain and your heart on a piece of paper and think about it for a while and you remember that feeling.  The plane back from Miami after losing and not making the playoffs, not even giving ourselves a chance to make the playoffs, those are the kind of things that you think about and you remember and you make sure you write them down, and hopefully we never have to feel that way again.

On the last game of the season and critics who say he can’t read defenses…

SANCHEZ:  Well, I think there’s going to be critics no matter what, especially a few more on that bandwagon of critics when you go 8-8 and don’t have your best game at the end of the year.  I’m totally taking that in stride.  I understand that.  That game obviously wasn’t our best effort, and we totally moved on from that, and we’re excited to get back to work this next season with Coach Sparano and really improve.

On his reactions to anonymous sources being critical of him…

SANCHEZ:  I think number one, if you’re an unnamed source, you don’t speak for yourself and therefore you don’t really speak for the team, so I really didn’t pay it any mind.  There are plenty of guys like Nick Mangold and Dustin Keller that didn’t need to (speak up) that went on the radio and stuff and defended my position and they defended me because they know how hard I work and how much I care about this team and my fellow teammates. But that was something that they’re really non issues, and I don’t really worry about it.

On critics saying he is coddled…

SANCHEZ:  When people say I’m coddled, I wish they could just sit in a meeting after I haven’t played my best or I threw a few interceptions because Coach Cavanaugh and Coach Schottenheimer and even Rex at times, there’s nothing close to coddling going on in there.  At times, it’s pretty rough.  I think they would see that. But the team is going to do its best for (the quarterback) position, and obviously number one that was to sign me to an extension, I’m very thankful for that.  And then when it comes to other guys competing for the job, then they’re going to have a tough time doing that.

On being challenged for his starting job or being taken out of the game…

SANCHEZ:  I don’t really think about that when I’m playing.  I don’t think about getting taken out or who’s going to challenge me because I’m challenging myself so hard.  Your play obviously dictates your play time, and that’s obviously dictated by Rex.  Whatever he says goes, and that’s how I play.