National Football League

Sanchez booed, then defended by DB

Published Aug. 4, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Last season, Mark Sanchez had to deal with the embarrassment stemming from his now infamous “Buttfumble” that brought Thanksgiving joy to most dinner tables in New England.

Now, it looks like the Jets quarterback has some more embarrassment to deal with on the homefront.

Sanchez had a tough showing during a team scrimmage on Saturday, and Jets fans let him know it. The 6,000 fans that were in attendance let out a chorus of boos directed toward Sanchez after he threw an interception, according to the New York Daily News.

Antonio Cromartie was the player on the receiving end of the interception, and he was not very happy with the fans who booed Sanchez.

“I think that’s bullcrap,” Cromartie said to the Daily News. “My thing is, if you’re going to be a fan, be a fan. You don’t come out here and boo anybody.”

But that wasn’t the only time that Sanchez got booed during the scrimmage. He also heard it from the fans earlier when he tripped over his feet and fell on his backside earlier.

And to cap off Sanchez’s tough day, he overthrew a wide-open Clyde Gates in the end zone, which his coach Rex Ryan noticed.

“He missed it,” Ryan said. “He wasn’t perfect, that’s for sure. Certainly Gates came open, ran a great route, was open and we’ve got to deliver the ball.”

Sanchez (6 for 11, 93 yards) did have one successful moment, when he threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to close out practice, but that was about it.

After the scrimmage, Sanchez responded to the boos.

“Oh, shoot, I don’t care,” he said to ESPN. “That’s the way it goes.”

This doesn’t bode well for Sanchez, as he is locked in a tight competition with rookie Geno Smith for playing time. Smith’s numbers weren’t flashy on Saturday either, as he was 9 for 16 with 77 yards.

Ryan didn’t make any indications as to who his starting quarterback will be to start the season.

“Again, guys, it’s just one opportunity to come out and compete,” Ryan said. “Certainly, this is really the beginning stages of the competition, and I think it will be interesting when we go to Detroit (on Friday) and start playing some live preseason games.

Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy the drama that is the New York Jets.