National Football League

LT says Sanchez lacks confidence

Published Jun. 22, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

You wouldn’t think that a guy who posed for a GQ spread before he’d ever played a down in the NFL would have a problem with confidence. But according to a former teammate, that’s exactly the issue with New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Retired running back LaDainian Tomlinson told the New York Post that Sanchez is reluctant to let the ball fly.

“Mark has to start to trust himself,” said Tomlinson, who played his final two NFL seasons with the Jets in 2010 and 2011. “Mark does a great job in the film room, but when he comes out on the field, he doesn’t trust what he sees out there in terms of coverages and the timing with his receivers.

“If he starts to trust himself and not hesitate in throwing the football, then he possibly could turn his career around. I think it’ll be tough at this point because rarely does a zebra change his stripes.”

Isn’t that a leopard changing his spots? No matter. How about the Jets changing their quarterback? LT said Sanchez could very well lose his job to rookie Geno Smith.

“If Mark Sanchez doesn’t show the ability to improve from turning the football over and that race is close between the two, Geno Smith will be the starter,” Tomlinson said.