Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has a knee injury that could have him playing at less than 100 percent on Thursday against the Buffalo Bills.
In an effort to get Sanchez to protect that knee, Jets coach Rex Ryan is urging Sanchez to slide -- and bringing in an expert to teach Sanchez the right way to do it.
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi visited Jets practice and worked on sliding with Sanchez, who sometimes runs upright when he’s about to get tackled, rather than sliding. Ryan said he thought Girardi would be the perfect person to teach Sanchez how to slide properly.
“I want to make sure we do everything in our power to provide him with the best tools,’' Ryan said. “He’s the face of our franchise. We have to keep him healthy.’'
Ryan had Girardi address the entire team, but it was Sanchez he worked with most closely. And Ryan said Girardi helped Sanchez get more comfortable with going feet-first to the ground.
“He did a great job,” Ryan said. “He did a better job than I could do. When you have an opportunity to get the best, you get the best. As Mark went through it, you could see the more comfortable he got.’'
Sanchez’s first opportunity to show off his new sliding skills on Thursday night against the Bills.