Transcript of quarterback Mark Sanchez's news conference following Wednesday's midday practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
On Santonio Holmes returning to the team…
It's nice. He looked good today. I'm sure he'll be ready on Monday, but that doesn't change anything we're doing. He fits right into our plan this week. It doesn't matter who you're throwing to, as long as you're getting completions and we're moving the ball down the field, but we're thrilled he's back.
On Minnesota's trade for Randy Moss…
It was weird, but cool for them. That's great. It doesn't mean much for our offense. We're still going to play our game. We'll sic [Darrelle] Revis on him again [joking].
On the combination of Brett Favre and Randy Moss…
It's a big-time combination. We'll see how they do this week, but I'm confident in our defense. We'll put together a good plan for those two and be ready to play.
On getting to compete against Favre…
I feel honored to share the field with him, but I'm not playing against Brett. I'm playing against Minnesota, Jared Allen, their defensive tackles, Kevin [Williams] and Pat [Williams] and all those guys. It should be an interesting matchup.
On if it helped having Santonio Holmes in the meetings during his suspension…
I think so. I think we tweaked some stuff since camp and changed some things up, especially after the first week and he was here for a lot of that. He fit right in today and did really well.
On what impact Holmes will have on the offense…
I think Santonio'll just help, in any way he can. Whether it's one catch a game or 10 catches a game, it doesn't matter for any of the wideouts. It'll be big play by committee and we're happy about that. We're thrilled he's back and he's an amazing talent, but we're not going to force anything to him. We're going to let him work his way in and be ready to play all season.
On Coach Ryan saying that he is just finding the open guy…
That's what I've been trying to do, and trying to steer away from the defense. That's worked out for us, and we'll keep doing that. Hopefully, we'll add another win to the season, which is fun.
On the Minnesota defense…
They're fast-flow, aggressive, have a tough front seven, especially the front four. Those guys apply a lot of pressure to the quarterback. They disrupt your throwing lanes. It's imperative this week to keep two hands on the football because they're so notorious for strip-sacks. You have that thing in one hand, they'll be all over you. They apply pressure up the middle with both Williams at defensive tackle and then on the edges, Jared Allen, obviously. It's an important game for ball security and we need to be ready to play, make plays on the edge, handle the ball well, keep them off-balance a little bit. We'll be ready to play, though.
On how Holmes will be integrated into the game…
It'll be whenever we need him, whenever Schotty [Brian Schottenheimer] decides to put him in. We haven't decided exactly what he's going to do, but we'll have plenty of stuff for him to do and we'll mix him into what we've been doing and he'll be ready to go.
On if there's such a thing as too many options…
I don't think so. We just run our same plays and put him in there sometimes and then put Braylon [Edwards] in there and switch it up, put in J-Co [Jerricho Cotchery]. It's the same stuff. Nothing's really changed or that much different. We just have one more explosive player on the field. He might take a hitch for 90 yards. That's great. That'd be awesome. If it's one catch a game or 10 catches a game, who knows? As long as we're winning, everyone will feel good.
On what Holmes brings to the offense…
I think he just has big-play potential. If he catches an underneath route, he has the ability to run by people. We'll use him in the right spots. We'll plug him into what we're doing and I think he'll be a great complement to that and add to the offense.
On the targets he has to throw to…
When we're in a three-wide-receiver set, it's an explosive group. That's what everybody quarterback wants. The secondary, it will change. As long as I'm doing the right thing, we have a chance and that'll be the same.
On if he spent any extra time with Holmes…
Yeah, just a little bit, talking some things through, going over a couple of routes here and there, but he looks sharp. He's definitely been working out and his hands look as good as ever. He's just excited to be back and a part of what we have going on.
On the presence of Holmes even during his suspension…
He was working, encouraging guys, doing as much as he possibly could without breaking any rules or anything. It was good to see him around the building, listening in to what we have going on and now he's ready to get integrated back into this program. He's excited.
On matching up against Favre…
I'm excited to see Brett, but I just don't want to think about it too much. There's nothing really to get caught up in. He's a great quarterback just like [Tom] Brady, just like [Peyton] Manning. I've played against those guys before and we're so focused on what we're doing, that there won't be any awe factor. I totally respect him as a player, but there's not going to be any time wasted worrying about what Brett's doing. If I spend too much worrying about him, Jared Allen might knock me out.
On if he has ever met Favre…
I've never met him.
On if he has watched video of Favre…
Absolutely.
On if he has picked anything up from Favre…
Mechanically, no [joking], but he can sling it. He's fun to watch, but I'll be looking to win.
On if teammates tell stories about Favre…
Oh, I've heard some good stories about Brett.
On if he can share those stories…
Sorry.
On his hot streak…
It's been a fun little ride we've had going. We're just trying to keep it up. I don't think about it too much. It's not a worse feeling than wanting to beat my head into the wall — "Oh, I can't throw an interception." They are inevitable. It's going to happen at some point, so with that attitude, you have nothing to worry about. Just take care of the ball as best you can, have fun playing like you have been and be ready.
On Favre's abilities…
He's so good. Even when he's not having a great game, teams are terrified because he can always come back. He can always get you. He has magic. He's unbelievable. It's going to be fun to play against him.
On his thoughts on Favre …
Just a winner, a team guy, one of the toughest competitors you've ever seen. The guy is never out, it's unbelievable to see that. Tough guy.
On if he feels confident getting into an offensive shootout with Favre…
We're ready to play any kind of game we need to. Last week, we had to ground-and-pound it, that's fine. If it's snowing on Monday and we need to ground-and-pound it, that's great. If it's 72-71 and we're throwing for 400 yards, we right there. It's going to be great. It's going to be fun. If I have to hand it off, it'll be fun to. That's fun to watch.
On the confidence factor…
I think we're a lot more confident this year, me especially. Just with the production we've had these first couple of games, it's put us into a rhythm and I think we're more confident in having a game like that this year, than last year.
On honoring Hispanic culture this month…
It's an honor to represent my family heritage. It's an honor to be an American because we have that chance to celebrate our heritage and our history. Pretty unique country that we get to play in and represent them, so it is an honor every week and it's extra motivation and extra support.
On Minnesota's offense now that Randy Moss has been added…
Our defense is ready for them. We just need to play the way we've been playing. We'll have a good plan. Rex [Ryan] always knows what to do and it looks like Revis might be coming back so that'll be nice.
On if he ever thinks to himself that he's playing better this year…
Not really. Not even at all. It's so early in the season. That number can flip if you start reading into your stats and you start thinking that way. It's poison so I'm trying to stay away.
On if he feels that he's in the path of Favre's history…
I don't know. I might not be here or I might have been here for one year with him, which would have been pretty cool. He's Brett Favre. He's a household name. It's so cool to see that and strive to be that kind of quarterback, a winner. You take things from everybody's game. You want to have that comeback ability like Joe Montana and Dan Marino and you want to be a winner and a competitor like Brett Favre. You want to be tough that way. It's pretty cool.
On LaDainian Tomlinson's influence…
His work ethic. He's a pro about everything. He's not afraid to ask questions. He's not afraid to help out young guys, Shonn Greene and Joe McKnight especially. He's been in their ear trying to help them as much as he can. For me, he's that security blanket underneath. That check down option, he can run for 20-plus yards on a three-yard pass. That'll break a defense's back, so when we get really good at that, it'll make it tough to stop.
On what prompted him to give Tomlinson a gift when he came on his visit…
I don't know. We all felt a connection with LT. He's got one of those personalities that people gravitate towards as a leader. A well-spoken, humble guy, someone you can tell, he's a gym rat. He's a grinder. This is all he wants to do and you can tell with his preparation and effort every week. He's playing inspired ball and it's obvious that he was going to be a good player back then. Management was dead right.
On if his gift swayed Tomlinson to come here…
I don't know. I think maybe it just showed how open our team would be to him, how team oriented this organization is, how much Rex appreciates those guys. I just remember having dinner and hanging with him. I was like, "Man, this guy, I feel like I've known him for 10 years." He's that kind of person and someone you want on your team. You're picking a team, he's one of the first guys you pick, so we're thrilled to have him. We're pretty lucky.
On if he thought about what kind of player the team was getting when Tomlinson came to visit…
I haven't really doubted him at all. As soon as you talk to him, you know he's a winner. He's a guy that can help you lead. He can help quarterbacks. I thought about all the positives. There are very few negatives. It's obvious he's still a good player and when you put him in the right system, you have an O-line that's opening holes for him and you get a young, stubborn quarterback who is finally figuring out how to check the ball down, he looks like an all-star and he should. He's that kind of player.
