If nothing else, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez takes criticism pretty well. But having thick skin probably is a requirement to play for coach Rex Ryan.
Ryan was quite vocal during Sunday night's 37-16 loss to the New England Patriots over a first-half timeout that Sanchez called, giving Tom Brady time to direct a six-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
A revved-up Ryan called it "the stupidest thing in football history" during a halftime interview on NBC, according to The Star-Ledger, although he backtracked Monday, saying poor headset communication between himself, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh caused Sanchez to prematurely call the timeout.
Sanchez brushed off Ryan's comments while taking his share of the blame Tuesday.
"It's a stupid play. He's dead on," Sanchez told reporters when asked about Ryan's comments. "I've got to know the situation, whether I heard something in the headset or not. You're not playing against a rookie quarterback, you're playing against Tom Brady, so even 30 extra seconds or whatever it was on the clock is inexcusable, so that's on me."
Sanchez explained the criticism -- even if it was broadcast to a national audience -- doesn't bother him because he should have known better.
"It shouldn't have happened, even if he takes the blame for it, then he's protecting me, whatever, but I know (better than) that," Sanchez said. "If something like that's going to get under my skin, then I'm in the wrong line of work. It's on the quarterback. I've got to be better than that."
