Jet: Smith better QB option than Sanchez

In the latest example of an unnamed player creating waves through the media during head coach Rex Ryan tenure, a veteran New York Jets player said rookie quaterback Geno Smith is outperforming Mark Sanchez in training camp.

"He can do more," the player told ESPN New York.

Smith is trying to unseat Sanchez as the starter, and his ability to pick up the playbook has impressed the coaching staff early in camp - as has his ability to avoid turnovers. Sanchez's 18 interceptions last season contributed to the Jets drafting a potential new quarterback for the future.

Asked on Wednesday whether he thought Sanchez had a bad practice, Smith said: "I don't evaluate Mark. My job is to be his teammate and to push him on the practice field and to encourage him and that's what I try and do. We all make mistakes and that's why we are out here practicing so we can try and eliminate those mistakes and get better."

Sanchez said he's not concerned about the potential perception that he's the underdog in the competition.

"I mean there's always going to be adversity, there's always going to be things that are working against you and you just fight through them and keep playing, control what you can," he said Wednesday. "You can't worry about other people's opinions and things like that."

So who IS winning the competition thus far?

"I don't know. Ask the coaches," said Sanchez. "I feel good though. I feel confident and I feel like I'm playing really well."