Transcript of quarterback Mark Sanchez's news conference in front of his locker after the Jets' Wednesday afternoon practice at the Atlantic Health Training Center:
On his feelings on the quarterback change…
I respect Coach's decision. Obviously, I want to be out there playing, so I don't necessarily agree with it, but when something like that happens, I just do my best to support Greg [McElroy] and support the team and get him ready to play. Then, obviously, prepare like the starter in case I need to go in there.
On if he feels undermined by the organization…
I don't know about all that. I feel like I need to play better and put our team in a better situation and take care of the football better.
On if he knows what his role will be Sunday…
I'm assuming just charting plays and being there to support Greg and helping him out in any way I can.
On if he'll be the backup quarterback on Sunday…
I don't know. We haven't been told that, so I'm not sure.
On if he's considered the possibility that he may have taken his last snap of the season…
We're just taking it week to week, so I'll be ready to play. Obviously, I'm supporting Greg this week. If anything happens, I'll get in there and then we'll take next week in stride when we get there.
On what he saw on the video of the Titans game…
Pretty much the same things I said after the game, a missed throw, a pretty good play by a defender on another one and a then a couple of tough decisions there. So some things that I can clean up and hopefully play better when I get in there.
On if he saw the quarterback change coming…
I don't know. I just didn't play well and that was Rex's call.
On if he's frustrated…
Well, it's disappointing. You just hate letting other guys down on the team and that's the worst part of it. You're going in there, trying to play well and improve, and I just made some bad decisions. I just have to take care of the football better and own up to my mistakes and get better.
On how the season has been for him…
It's been a tough one, but we have two games left and we're really focused on just going out and playing well, playing for a little bit of pride here, trying to get back to .500. And whatever that means for me personally, just helping Greg as much as I can and then be ready for my next shot.
On if he's had any discussion about his future as a quarterback…
No, we haven't looked ahead that way yet.
On if he still thinks he'll have a chance as a starting quarterback…
Sure, absolutely. And you have to feel that way and be confident as a quarterback, no matter how many interceptions or touchdowns or anything you've thrown. I just have to be ready to come back strong and I will.
On if he believes he deserves another shot…
I mean, you want to be out there playing, I'm not going to just concede. You have to compete, so just keep on doing it.
On Coach Ryan speaking to him about the change after the game on Monday…
Yeah, in the locker room. We just talked, spoke briefly. He let me know what his decision would be and that was that.
On what he thought of Coach Ryan pulling him aside to discuss the change…
I don't know. I appreciated he wanted to sit down and talk about it. So we had a good conversation about plenty of things.
On when Coach Ryan told him about the change…
It was right after the game.
On if he wants to stay with the Jets…
Of course. We want to win this week. That's all I'm worried about, I'm not worried about anything else.
On if he's thought about his future…
I really haven't gone there in my mind, so I'm really not worried about that. I'm focused on helping Greg as much as I can this week and helping this team win in any way I can.
On if at some point he'll dissect his situation back to when he was drafted…
I don't know about all that. I really haven't started to do any of that kind of stuff yet and like I said, I'm focused on this week, trying to help Greg and that's where my head's at.
On if he feels like the organization has given up on him…
I don't know about that. Rex went with the decision to go with Greg and I respect his decision, I don't necessarily agree, but at the same time I have to help Greg and that's really all I'm focused on.
On if he's concerned with the death threat made to him on Twitter…
I'm not going to comment on that.
On if Coach Ryan told him that McElroy was starting when they spoke after the game…
That's a good question. What did he say? I don't remember. I don't know.
On why he would want to stay a Jet…
Look, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals of me being here, not being here, whatever. We're focused on this week, we're ready to play San Diego and that's where my mind's at, so any question about what's going to happen next year, are you going to be a starter ever again, I'm not even going to go there.
On what give him the confidence that he'll be able to bounce back…
That's just the competitor in me, a guy who's done it before and won at the highest level. I feel like I just haven't played my best recently. I'll get to the bottom of it and figure it out and improve.
On how much of his struggles he would attribute to a lack of weapons around him… I'm not going to make excuses. At the end of the day, no matter what kind of situation you're in, the quarterback has the ball and it's my job to make good decisions with the football, regardless of personnel situations, who's in the quarterback room, that stuff, I'm not going to go there. Is every interception the quarterback's fault? Of course not, but they're attributed to the quarterback, it goes as my stat and you live with that, you own up to your side of the mistakes and you move on.
