Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010
5:47 PM
By John Mullin
CSNChicago.com
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is struggling with a shoulder injury. Hes also struggling to get some real respect from the team hes about to face, shoulder permitting.
Linebacker Brian Urlacher had to search for thoughts on Sanchez, settling on, Um. Theyre a running football team. How about that? They try to be physical and pound the ball, and get in some good third and short situations, if they can.
The first Sanchez asset that came to the mind of linebacker Lance Briggs: Hes a resilient guy.
And defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, who last week lavished such praise on rookie Joe Webb that it was difficult not to suspect that someone had slipped a tape of Michael Vick into Marinellis projector, given Marinellis use of Vickian superlatives to describe Webb.
And Sanchez? I sense a really competitive spirit, Marinelli said. Hes got a real competitiveness about him.
NFL
Sanchez isnt even getting unqualified backing from his coach. Still struggling with a shoulder injury suffered in last weekends game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sanchez was limited in practice for the second straight day. He said Wednesday that if the game were being played right then, he would have played.
Not so, according to his coach. Rex Ryan has dubbed Sanchezs status as a game-time decision. And if Sanchez cant go, the Bears will be looking at veteran Mark Brunell in his fourth different costume, after playing the Bears as a Packer, Jaguar and Redskin in seasons past.
Sanchez hasnt thrown a touchdown pass in his three December games, 106 throws without one of them winding up in the end zone.
Sanchez has had flashes of brilliance. He also has been the quarterback in the four Jets losses when they scored 9 (vs. Baltimore), 0 (vs. Green Bay), 3 (vs. New England) and 6 (vs. Miami) points.
In all three, four of those games we had opportunities in the red zone that we just didnt capitalize on, Sanchez explained. In all of them we had turnovers except for the Baltimore game. There just wasnt a good flow to our offense, a rhythm. Its clear when you watch film from those games, and then all the other games it looks like a totally different team.
A little traveling music, please
Theyve been in Bourbonnais since 2002 and the Bears will be there for training camp at Olivet Nazarene University through at least 2012, with an option for 2013. The venue lacks the hills and trees of Platteville but its also a place you can get to in a little over an hour and its in Illinois, so your travel dollars stay in-state.
Playing footsienot
Lance Briggs was not going to be drawn into any of the brouhaha swirling about the supposed video of Jets coach Rex Ryans wife and her feet.
No. Nuh uh, Briggs said, laughing. No. I stay away from feet, you know what I mean? Im in bad need of a pedicure right now, so I dont wish anyone near my feet.
Sick bay
Wide receiver Earl Bennett sat out his second day of practice with an ankle injury, increasing chances that tight end Desmond Clark will be active for the Jets game. Two of Clarks four active game days this season were when receivers (Bennett, Devin Aromashodu) were placed on the inactive list.
Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) was limited in practice for the second day.
Safety Eric Smith (concussion) and tackle Damien Woody (knee) were held out of practice again.
John "Moon" Mullin is CSNChicago.com's Bears Insider, and appears regularly on Bears Postgame Live and Chicago Tribune Live. Follow Moon on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Bears information.