Mark Sanchez had a “dear in the headlights” look in his eyes before the Jets-Ravens game on Monday night and of course future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis got right in the rookie’s face. Sanchez threw an interception on the game’s first pass but did rebound to throw a TD pass later in the half. On Wednesday, head coach Rex Ryan named him the starting quarterback. Unfortunately for Sanchez, the NFL is not the Pac-10, so there are no easy weeks in the pro game.
The Giants got pushed around in the second pre-season game against the Bears. The game had an October feel to it as temperatures where in the low 60s at kickoff. Three things are clear early on for the Giants: First, third-year back Ahmad Bradshaw will see increased playing time in 2009. Second, LB Clint Sintim out of Virginia will be a factor in the Giants defense. Third, Super Bowl hero David Tyree is now an afterthought in the Giants offense.
If you thought things just couldn’t get any worse for the Mets, they did, ace pitcher Johan Santana will be sidelined the remainder of the season with surgery on his left elbow. Every time I hear or see a story about the Mets, I hear the “MASH” theme play in my subconscious. The Mets have no luck – just three years ago they were an inning away from the World Series. Sometimes, teams miss their window. Just look at the 1982 California Angels, the 1997 Orioles, the ’92 & 93 & ’96 Braves, the ’88 & ’90 A’s and of course the Red Sox in 1975, ’78 or ’86.
AJ Burnett and Jorge Posada’s blowout isn’t anything knew in the Bronx. Randy Johnson preferred to pitch to John Flaherty and one former reliever also admitted he didn’t like throwing to Posada.