It took a couple of days for New York Jets coach Rex Ryan to name Mark Sanchez his starting quarterback this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. There was a method to the madness, according to Sanchez.
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"I think he was more or less sending a message," Sanchez said, via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. "It's well received. I know. I got it."
Sanchez has thrown two touchdown passes and five interceptions in the last four games. He failed to complete 50 percent of his passes twice during that span. Greg McElroy entered the game in relief last week against the Arizona Cardinals.
"I'm just disappointed because I let a lot of people down," Sanchez said. "You let a lot of teammates down when you play like that. That never feels good. It just doesn't. Not the way I prepare.
"The skill set I've been blessed to have just doesn't marry up with the way I'm playing. So that's disappointing to me. It's no fun, but it happened. Now it's time to bounce back."
The season can't end soon enough for the Jets. They would have to win out to reach 9-7 and that, most likely, isn't enough to reach the playoffs. The sooner the season ends, the sooner Mike Tannenbaum can begin planning for a better offense in 2013 -- if he hasn't already.
That starts with the quarterback position. Tim Tebow couldn't beat out Sanchez this season, so it's unlikely to ever happen. Whoever gets the job -- Sanchez, McElroy or unknown -- needs more pieces around him on offense. That's on Tannenbaum, too.
There's little excuse for the way Sanchez has played. In actuality, there's just one: He needs more help.
Sanchez is who he is -- an average NFL quarterback. The Jets can, and have, won games with him. But not with that supporting cast.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
