Antonio Cromartie Defends QB Mark Sanchez

Antonio Cromartie has joined us as people who also agree this past season was not at the fault of Mark Sanchez.  Cromartie spoke to reporters in Hawaii, and laid the blame on Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, without saying his name, and not Sanchez.

“We have confidence in Mark,” Cromartie said Friday after morning walk-through for the AFC team. “Like I’ve always said, even with the whole Tebow thing, if we’re going to sign Mark to a three-year extension, we need to make sure we put guys around him.”

Sanchez had 18 INT’s to only 13 TD’s in 2012, and fumbled the ball 14 times.  So, if Sanchez wasn’t the problem, what was?  Cromartie had the answer.

“If he has good, veteran players around him, ones that know how to practice and compete at a high level every day, then you’ll have a better quarterback.  But when you don’t have a supporting cast around him, you’re going to get an average or below-average quarterback. That’s what we got.”

I’ve been saying it all season, and finally, a member of the Jets said it.  Am I surprised it was Cromartie?  A little bit.  But Cromartie always speaks his mind, so it’s good to know he has faith in the embattled QB.

If you look at what Sanchez had to endure this season, lets recap.

-Sanchez lost his #1 WR Santonio Holmes in Week 4.

-His favorite target, Dustin Keller, was out most of the year with injuries.

-His remaining WR’s were Stephen Hill, Jeremy Kerley, Clyde Gates, and Chaz Schilens.  Edwards was a very late addition.  You tell me if any of those guys have proven ANYTHING.

-Had an offensive coordinator whose last coordinator job was in the 90′s at Boston College, was a horrible user of the minimal talent they had, and was the worst play-caller the NFL had ever seen.

Cromartie wants to see that change, and believes a new GM is a good way to start.

 ”He needs a better supporting cast,” Cromartie said. “That’s something the new GM has to look at and evaluate as he’s looking at the roster. He needs to get Mark some help.”