So Mark Sanchez is getting fined for bad body language in practice, a penalty that’s supposed to be part fun and part education of a quarterback who apparently should remain stoic regardless of circumstances.
Among the fineable offenses Sanchez incurred this week was when he thought someone messed up a play and he made an accusing gesture.
“[Sanchez] screwed something up and he kind of looked like it was somebody else’s fault,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “That’s a fine.”
Schottenheimer was chuckling when he revealed the newly implemented fine system, insisting they are “just fun stuff” but useful because, “Hey, look, you’re the leader; stay composed and handle your business.”
It might seem like no big deal on the surface. But it feeds into the notion Sanchez is still a long way from being a mature quarterback. It also raises another question. How can Sanchez emerge as the Jets’ true leader if he’s being treated like a 2-year-old who needs a timeout whenever he shows emotion?
Think about the big picture. The Jets take a 5-2 record into Ford Field today hoping to rebound from a embarrassing 9-0 shutout loss to the Packers last week at New Meadowlands Stadium. The Jets offense was inept against the Packers. The running game was spotty, receivers dropped numerous passes and Sanchez missed open receivers.
“It’s embarrassing to get shut out,” Schottenheimer said, echoing a team-wide sentiment.
Afterward Sanchez fell on the sword, taking the blame for just about everything, which was noble to a fault. A year and a half into his tenure as the Jets franchise quarterback it’s like he’s still in grade school, taking the fall for the big kids and lacking the clout or credentials to scowl at a teammate.
At a time when Sanchez should be allowed to have his personality shape the offense, he’s still not to be trusted even with his own emotions.
“He’s a passionate guy that loves to play,” Schottenheimer said. “So we stay on him about that.”
Sanchez is supposed to be the leader of the Jets offense, emotionally and otherwise. But you get the feeling he’s not. You get the feeling he’s just the quarterback, a young quarterback that everyone else is trying to nurse along, which is why today’s matchup at Detroit is a crossroads game of sorts.
Having thrown four interceptions in his last two games, and being shut out in the last one, Sanchez is under a microscope to have the offense match a Lions offense that averaged 37.6 points in three previous home games.
Another ineffective outing could test the Jets’ team chemistry. So far there has been nothing but support for Sanchez within the Jets’ locker room. But he is still viewed as a work in progress with emotional high and lows that need to be monitored.
“He’s growing up,” Schottenheimer said. “He’ll handle this. I have no questions about this.”
When will the time come when Sanchez can administer some tough love of his own? Apparently, getting on his teammates is out of the question for now. Braylon Edwards said quarterbacks need to have “more experience and consistency” to earn a “respect level.”
I guess the Jets have decided it doesn’t hurt Sanchez’s respect level to be fined every time he shows disappointment over a poor play. Weren’t we supposed to be long past the brooding he did as a rookie?
To suck all the emotion out of his game can’t be a good thing. Check out Eli Manning’s face when a receiver runs the wrong route. He’s not exactly smiling. Some of the best quarterbacks in the league such as Dan Marino, Brett Favre and Phil Simms weren’t afraid to get on teammates and they played with plenty of emotion.
Jets fans are waiting for Sanchez to grow up and become the leader of their franchise. Maybe that happens today, but apparently it hasn’t happened yet.
george.willis@nypost.com