It’s no surprise that Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is being built up as one of the stars of this season of HBO’s Hard Knocks. But one moment in particular on the show’s first episode demonstrated what kind of leader Sanchez is becoming.
After coach Rex Ryan built up linebacker Bart Scott as the defense’s vocal leader and resident tough guy, viewers were treated to the sight of Sanchez telling Scott to shut up -- and Scott accepting it.
Head coach Rex Ryan said of Sanchez, “This is his team.”
Sanchez as team leader will be a major theme of Hard Knocks, but the show isn’t shying away from the biggest issue facing the Jets, the holdout of cornerback Darrelle Revis. Jets G.M. Mike Tannenbaum was visibly frustrated by the team’s inability to convince Revis to end his holdout.
“We’re so frickin’ far apart,” Tannenbaum said. “I just wish I had another card to play here.”
Ryan acknowledged during a profanity-laced address to the players that they’d miss Revis.
“He’s pretty f--cking good,” Ryan told the team. “But you know what, guys? It ain’t about one guy.”
Other highlights from the early days of Jets training camp included nose tackle Kris Jenkins celebrating a goal-line stand by informing the Jets’ offense, “That’s called gettin’ your ass whooped,” and Hall of Fame Jets quarterback Joe Namath telling Sanchez how to hold his hands while taking a snap. (Sanchez nodded his head politely, but his body language suggested that he didn’t feel he needed that particular instruction.)
In a sign of what could be coming in future episodes of Hard Knocks, there are indications that rookie fullback John Conner could push veteran Tony Richardson out of a job.
“We’ve got a hell of a competition at fullback,” Ryan said. “This is going to be an unbelievable battle.”
And finally, the first episode of Hard Knocks ended with two players, rookie linebacker Kevin Basped and rookie tackle Aaron Kia, getting cut. On his way out the door, Kia was told that the UFL might be the right place for him.
That isn’t what an aspiring NFL player wants to hear within his first couple weeks of his first training camp. But it did make for compelling television.
