Mark Sanchez will have to find a new veteran to lean on in his second season in the NFL.
A lot has been made of the Jets cutting ties with high-character guys like Alan Faneca and Thomas Jones. Sanchez said he will miss Jones and his veteran leadership that helped the quarterback get through his rookie season.
“It was bittersweet seeing him leave,” Sanchez said in an interview with Fox Sports Radio.
“It was hard, man. I became really close to him in the locker room. After good games, after tough games; he always told me what to expect each week. During the playoffs, he would describe every feeling I would have before the game, during the game, after the game whether we win or lose. He was right on. He has so much experience in this league and so gracious with his time — to mentor me, tutor me.”
And Jones was pretty good on the field, too — rushing for a career-high 1,402 yards last season. But the Jets decided to release Jones, who signed with the Chiefs, and bring in LaDainian Tomlinson to join Shonn Greene in the backfield.
“I think he has one more season left, at least, maybe more,” Sanchez said of the 31-year-old Jones. “Now we got LT and he has similar experience — another guy that wants to help and be a part of the team, lend his knowledge to a young quarterback like me. He is a different kind of back for our offense and now Shonn Greene is going to have to handle more of the load that Thomas had … it’s going to be tough not having him.”
The loss of Jones has not stopped head coach Rex Ryan from touting his Jets as the Super Bowl favorites after the team was bounced by the Colts in the AFC Championship game last season.
“That sounds like Rex,” Sanchez said. “I believe he said it for sure. That’s good. He tells us in all of our meetings that he’s not afraid to talk about the Super Bowl and say how much he wants to be there and how we deserve to be there when we put in the right amount of work and win enough games. That’s just Rex being Rex and we love it.”