Jenkins: Sanchez should “grow a pair” http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...should-grow-a-pair-stop-posing-for-magazines/ Former Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins has joined the piling on in New York. Jenkins, who played for the Jets his final three seasons before retiring prior to the 2011 season, said on the Mike Lupica Show that he doesn’t believe quarterback Mark Sanchez is the kind of leader the team needs. Jenkins praised third-string quarterback Greg McElroy for speaking out about the toxic environment in the Jets’ locker room, and questioned why Sanchez hadn’t similarly spoken out. “The No. 1 quarterback should have said that a long time ago,” Jenkins said. “It would have been all part of the process of him growing a pair and standing up and being a man. But the thing is, he lost his because he got caught up in the wash that is New York, the spotlight, taking pictures in the magazines and doing all that stuff. That’s just what everybody has seen with Mark Sanchez, they got tired of it.” In fairness to Sanchez, who posed for GQ during the lockout, he’s far from the first NFL player to have his picture taken for a magazine. When Tom Brady poses for GQ, no one says he’s not a leader. The difference is that Brady didn’t become a celebrity outside the football world until he had a Super Bowl ring. Sanchez is finding out that quarterbacks who get the celebrity treatment before they get the ring will hear harsh criticism. Jenkins said he was impressed by Sanchez’s potential when they played together, but he questions whether Sanchez has it in him to command respect within the Jets’ locker room. “Mark wants to be a leader but there’s a difference between wanting it and taking it,” Jenkins said. “He’s always trying to be a crowd pleaser. He’s always trying to be nice. He wants to be a leader but he won’t take it.” So far Sanchez has kept quiet about the problems inside the Jets’ locker room. Perhaps the first step toward assuming leadership inside the Jets’ locker room is to speak up about the problems inside the Jets’ locker room.
Wow one media article I actually agree with ... Sanchez needs to leave that whole "nice guy I'm going to do what it takes" act. This experience will change his career completely.
I agree with this. This is where it shows that Mark was only the starter for one season in college. McElroy learned how to be a leader in college, Sanchez never did. And learning that in the NFL is much much more difficult. Hopefully though this is the off-season where both Rex and Mark (and Tannenbaum) grow a pair. I'm hopeful... this is the first time they get their face pushed deep into a pile of shit... hopefully they get the message.
This is constructive criticism. He's not saying "Mark will NEVER make it in the NFL", he's saying "I've been in the NFL a long time and this is what you should do to become a leader". Whoever denies this isn't a Sanchez fan, he's a Sanchez homer. PS Personally I like Mark and think he'll make the most out off this off-season and come out next year as the true leader on O.
Sanchez needs a little bit of Big Ben in him. Yes, it means he has to be a dick sometimes. Look at most of the HOF QB's in this league..they were either fiery guys, assholes, or both.
Imo Actually the way Sanchez keeps things in house and doesn't publicly trash his team is a great leadership quality. Its amazing how young and PROFESSIONAL he had kept it with a zoo like atmosphere with the Jets. You do not throw any player under the but unless done in private. And we have heard Mark hold offense meetings, and It seemed to me he showed Holmes who the real captain is by targeting him once. Mark can't bench Holmes but he can certainly punish him not throwing him the ball. Mckelroy needs to learn how to handle interviews with the media. I think he meant well but it is not his job to grade players and team. Sanchez is hyped way too much and had decent numbers. I think he breaks out next year, and will shut the so called experts.
I think the QB as the true leader of the team clearly should be trashing all the malcontents in the locker room through the media. He should be calling out the offensive staff for their ineptitude. He should be taking pot shots at the line for setting him up to fail. he should be calling out his wide receivers for running into each other so often and dropping catchable passes. He should be yelling at the tailback to man up and take some carries so he doesn't have to throw the ball 43+ times in a one score game through two and a half quarters. He should be making a general PITA out of himself so that everybody else will be more accountable. Then we can setup a nice playpen for him to play in for the rest of the day. That's how a 2 year old would manage this.
Why is it that all of the guys who go on IR are the grumpiest? Especially one like Jenkins that spent more time on the IR than as a Jet? If Damien Woody questioned Sanchez and his leadership attributes, then its worth a listen. Same with someone like Tomlinson. Jenkins has a defensive mind and feels that Sanchez held the Jets down in 09/10 so that's why he carries a bit of a gripe. That being said, this could help light a fire into Mark come this offseason so if Jenkins is trying to accomplish that, then mission accomplished.
And i have to ask : WHY? Why should Mark air out the team's dirty-laundry for the world to see? That's not "leadership", that's simply providing more NEWS/COPY for the Newspapers to write about. I guess Jenkins is working for the Daily News now....perhaps he's hanging out with the Daily News Live crowd too much.... Sanchez needs to IGNORE the talking fools of Media(that includes Fatass Jenkins who never saw a twinkie he didn't like) and keep on being the PROFESSIONAL he is by NOT throwing players under the bus(like Holmes), by NOT airing the team's dirty laundry on live radio(like McElroy), and so forth...
Concerning the Jets, the fans and the media are unreal at this time. If this team was in the playoffs, would we be hearing this shit? No so everyone needs to calm down and shut up.
One thing like it or not towards the people who want Sanchez to speak up is if people would listen to Mark if he is having a bad series of games or what not. The guys like Brady, Brees etc. get away with this stuff because they produce and play well. Sanchez hasn't played that greatly so its tough for him to all of a sudden come down and critiquing on a player or players. McElroy was able to get away with this because he hasn't played a single snap, thus people have no idea how good or bad he is.
Sanchez has it in him, He needs to stop being a pretty boy and go back to being a football player be the leader and demand the respect and fuck everybody esle who says other wise.
Ben wasn't really respected by the Pitt players until recently. This stuff can take time, everyone has to be held accountable for this poor season.
I completely disagree about airing it in the media but I do think Sanchez failed with leadership based on some of the things we've heard. When Holmes was allegedly acting like a douche in offensive meetings Sanchez should have nipped that in the bud right there one way or another. Maybe he should have told Holmes to fucking get his head in the game or leave and follow up with both Schotty and Rex if he didn't fall in line. From the sounds of it he just kind of ignored it and hoped Santonio would still be his bestest buddy.
did he step back b/c Holmes was also a captain? I said it back in camp, I hated the C patches. The guys in the LR know who the leaders are, they didn't need stupid patches to point it out and that was a source of division among the team.
