Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez doesn’t have the strongest base of support these days, but he can always count on CB Antonio Cromartie.
Cromartie has backed up Sanchez in the past and he did so again after Saturday’s scrimmage. Fans in attendance showered Sanchez with boos after he overthrew a deep ball that Cromartie picked off and Cromartie took them to task for vocalizing their disapproval of Geno Smith’s competition for the starting quarterback job.
“I think that’s bullcrap,” Cromartie said, via Brian Costello of the New York Post. “My thing is if you’re going to be a fan, be a fan. That’s what it’s all about. He’s our quarterback. Geno’s our quarterback and they’re in competition. You don’t come out here and boo anybody.”
The interception wasn’t the only thing Sanchez did that led to boos. He also tripped over his own feet while dropping back and fell to the turf, which just about every beat writer in attendance have dubbed the “Buttstumble” in reference to last season’s infamous “Buttfumble.”
He did hit Stephen Hill with a long touchdown pass that drew some praise near the end of the scrimmage, but Smith got more time with the first-team offense. Smith had an up-and-down day, leaving Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com to opine that the “glaring takeaway” from the night was that the Jets still have issues at quarterback.
Friday night’s preseason opener against the Lions will be their next chance to iron out those issues as Sanchez or Smith bid to move ahead in the race for the job.
