LaDainian Tomlinson came to the defense of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez yesterday.
The Jets running back was a guest on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” yesterday. He was asked about Sanchez, who came under attack last week from anonymous teammates in a published report, including a quote that said he was “lazy’’ on the practice field.
“There are a lot of things you can say about Mark Sanchez, but to call him lazy is a bit much,” Tomlinson said. ”This is a guy that has worked very hard off the field, in the film room. I’ve seen it, in the weight room, putting in extra time with the coaches early in the morning after practice when everybody is gone. He is putting in time. So, he’s not lazy.”
Tomlinson, whose contract with the Jets is up, said he believes the root of the problem is between Sanchez and his wide receivers.
“I think some things that happened in the locker room between obviously him and the receivers,” Tomlinson said. ”I think that’s where this is coming from. Some of the disconnect that happened throughout the year. Maybe, some of the arguments that you guys heard about throughout the year. So, I think that’s where this may be coming from.”
Tomlinson agrees with the idea of bringing in a backup quarterback that can push Sanchez. Mark Brunell posed no threat to Sanchez’s job the last two years.
“With all of us as athletes, we play our best football, or whatever sport you may be playing, when you’re pushed,” he said. ”Competition brings that out of us. For Mark, he hasn’t had that competition to push him. I do think he’ll be a better player if he has some competition, somebody to push him.”
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Former Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will become the new Rams offensive coordinator, according to an NFL.com report.
Schottenheimer interviewed with new head coach Jeff Fisher yesterday. Schottenheimer spent six seasons with the Jets before splitting with the team last week.
brian.costello@nypost.com