Jets fans want to see some changes this offseason. After two seasons in which New York reached consecutive AFC Championship games, the Jets struggled mightily this year. Mark Sanchez did not take significant strides in his third full year as a starter and the Jets’ offense looked stale. As a result many fans, some anonymous teammates, and at least one former player want a change at quarterback. One name that has been thrown around quite a bit is Peyton Manning, but who said he was for sale? Jets center Nick Mangold alluded to that during an interview with The Michael Kay Show on Wednesday.
“I think if anybody could get a clean bill of health, shoot, I’ll take Joe Montana if he had a clean bill of health,” Mangold said sarcastically. “Dan Marino, I think, would be another great one. I think it’s all speculation, and I think that Mark Sanchez is my guy. Hes the one I want to go into battle with, and I wouldn’t be too keen to seeing that being changed.
“(Sanchez) puts in more work and more time, cares more about the team than I think anybody else in that locker room. And for somebody to come out and say (he’s lazy), and not put their name behind it, really bothered me.”
The “anonymous” Jets sources seem to feel the same way the fans feel, and despite Rex Ryan’s continuous support of Sanchez they are hoping to force some sort of move. The only problem is star quarterbacks aren’t just sitting out there waiting to be plucked away from their current teams. Everyone likes to talk about Manning being a potential target, but Colts ownership has insisted he isn’t going anywhere. Andrew Luck should be the quarterback of the future, but it’s doubtful Indianapolis will risk trading a healthy Manning and handing the offense over to Luck next season.
