Eric Mangini (Reuters)
Eric Mangini stood taller than usual in front of a podium inside the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center wearing a Rex Ryan mask, and sounding eerily like him.
Did he have any regrets about playing Mark Sanchez in Garbage Time Saturday night against the Giants, even with the prestigious Snoopy Trophy at stake?
“You know what? Again guys, as we all know in here, I spent a lot of time discussing my answer then after the game,” Mangini said. “From my standpoint, I have to move forward, we have to move forward, and that’s where we’re at, so what’s happened in the past you can’t do anything about right now. You’ve got to focus on the present and the future, and that’s where we are right now.”
One more try: Would he care to acknowledge playing Sanchez behind a very offensive line was a mistake?
“No, again, I’ve addressed that already, you guys know exactly how I feel about that,” Mangini said. “Do I regret that he got injured? Of course. Again, I’m not going to say anything more about it, because I think I’ve covered it already.”
No regrets. And, if he is to be believed, no concern expressed to him about a decision and a postgame press conference you might confuse with a death wish from owner Woody Johnson, who used to fawn over Ryan’s braggadocio and bluster when he coached here, or general manager John Idzik.
“No, absolutely not,” Mangini said.
Your 2013 New York Jets: See no evil, hear no evil, and at all costs, speak no evil.
No regrets, and no concern from his bosses, and no forthcoming answers forthcoming about quarterback, from Idzik’s Stepford Jets.
Does Mangini know in his mind who the Opening Day starting quarterback will be, since Sanchez’s shoulder won’t allow him to play in the preseason finale Thursday night against the Eagles?
“Again, you know what? There’s still one more preseason game to be played,” Mangini said. “I’m not going to put myself, or anybody in a box here to say, well specifically it’s going be this or this, based on Mark’s injury, based in whatever, Geno’s ankle, whatever it is. And that’s why we’ll let it play out, and when we’re ready to name a starter, we will.”
I, Robot.
Only once did Mangini step out of character, when he continued to reveal Sanchez had a shoulder injury.
“It’s not that I’m saying he’s got a wrist injury when it’s clearly a shoulder, or it’s a leg when it’s not a specific thing,” Mangini said.
Not once did Mangini turn sideways to answer a question, as he did at his bizarre press conference following the prestigious Snoopy Bowl.
“John and I, we are side by side on every decision with each other,” Mangini said.
They have sided with the notion Sanchez won’t play Thursday night, won’t practice until Friday at the earliest.
“I’m not going to go through the details of the shoulder injury,” Sanchez said. “I’m just going to say that, you guys obviously know I have an injured shoulder, and we’ll take it day to day. I’m trying to get back for Week 1.”
This high-level secrecy is undoubtedly designed in part to leave Darrelle Revis merely guessing as to whether he’ll be intercepting Sanchez or Geno Smith come Sept. 8.
Sanchez was asked: Have they told you definitely what the injury is?
“I’m not going to get into the details of the injury.”
Any more tests you have to go through?
“I’m not going to go through any of the rehab process.”
Did you start rehab?
“I can’t get into the details of rehab.”
No breaks on the MRI?
“I’m not going to get into the details of the MRI.”
Do you have full range of motion?
“I’m not going to get into any details of the injury, I’m sorry.”
I, Robot.
Sanchez revealed himself as either loyal to a fault, or just the good soldier who will not throw his head coach under the very bus he was thrown under by his head coach.
“Look, I’m a competitor,” Sanchez said, “and as a player, it’s not my job to worry about when you’re going in, who’s in, whatever, what string, this or that — if they call your number, you’ve got to play, that’s what I do, that’s what I’ve always done. So, that’s not my call, that’s a coach’s decision.”
Later: “They told me to be ready to play, so there was no real surprise.”
That’s different from how you normally go in, right?
“I mean, normally I’m starting,” Sanchez said.
Dead Quarterback Walking’s shoulder could be the excuse Idzik needs to give Smith the ball once and for all, even before he is ready. And guarantee you won’t hear a peep from Dead Coach Walking if that’s the case.
“I’ve been working extremely hard this offseason preparing myself to be a starter Week 1,” Smith said, “and given the chance, I will be prepared for it.”
Do you expect to be given that chance?
“I’m not expecting anything right now,” Smith said. “The only thing that I have to look forward to is tomorrow’s practice. I don’t try and look too far ahead, because that’s when you get ahead of yourself, so we’re going to just take it day by day.”
Do you know whether you’ll play Thursday night?
“No I don’t … but take it day by day as we always do and continue to work hard in practice as if I am.”
I, Robot.