Sanchez hears boos during scrimmage
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is getting booed even before preseason games begin.
Sanchez threw an interception and stumbled on a dropback during a controlled Green & White scrimmage during training camp on Saturday night in Cortland, N.Y., and heard it from some of the approximately 6,000 in attendance.
"I think that's bullcrap," Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie said of the booing, according to ESPN.
Sanchez completed 6 of 11 passes for 93 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown strike to Stephen Hill on the final play of the scrimmage, but threw the interception, fell for a sack while going back to pass and overshot a wide-open Clyde Gates in the end zone.
"It was nice to close it that way and finish strong," Sanchez said.
Rookie Geno Smith, who is competing with Sanchez, was 9 of 16 for 77 yards without an interception and completed four straight passes on his first drive. Third-stringer Greg McElroy threw 47- and 70-yard touchdown passes.
"This is the beginning stages, if you will, of the competition," Ryan said.
Sanchez brushed off the crowd reaction after the interception.
"Oh, shoot, I don't care," he said. "That's the way it goes."
The Jets open the preseason on Friday night against the Detroit Lions.
"I think there were some good moments and bad moments," Jets coach Rex Ryan said of Sanchez's performance during the scrimmage. "Some of the protection never held up and then when it did, I thought the quarterbacks threw the ball well. ... It was a great throw that Mark made to Stephen, obviously, at the end there to close out the scrimmage."
