Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Jets' Brunell gets some 1st-team reps Tues.

Rex Ryan had New York Jets backup quarterback Mark Brunell take some of the first-team repetitions Tuesday durning practice.

Was it a motivational tactic to light a fire under quarterback Mark Sanchez? Sure.

Did it work?

"I don't know," a somewhat reserved Sanchez told reporters Tuesday. "We'll see Sunday."

Sanchez has struggled a little the last couple games, though he's been solid overall this season. However, just solid isn't what the Jets are looking for in their third-year franchise quarterback.

Ryan used the Brunell tactic last season when Sanchez went through a rough patch of games, and he came out with an effective performance in leading the Jets to a big victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I know Mark Sanchez extremely well. I know how tough he is and that fighting spirit that he has," Ryan said. "If it takes me to do this and take a punch in the nose, I don’t care, I’ll take it, but we have to have it from him.

"He’s the guy. He’s my guy and we have to have it from him. Everybody has to play that way, and I just love that when he’s that way, we’re extremely hard to beat."




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