Jets Fans Psyched After Quick Start From 'Purty Sanchez'

Despite the team's 23-20 loss to the Rams last night, Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez stepped onto the field for his first taste of NFL action and showed off an arm that was as red hot as the abs he put on display in GQ a few months ago. In Sanchez's first play from the Jets' 7-yard-line, he coolly tossed a 48-yard completion down the field to David Clowney. Sanchez went 3-for-4 on his only drive, passing for 88 yards and capping it off with a 2-yard touchdown pass. New Head Coach Rex Ryan told reporters after the game that he doesn't think "we're there yet" as far as deciding who will start at QB come opening day. But fans at Giants Stadium sounded like their mind was made up when a sea of newly bought Sanchez jerseys roared for the rookie out of USC when he replaced Kellen Clemens at the end of the first quarter. Clemens didn't help himself out in winning over the Gang Green faithful after a fumble on his third play of the game. Most of the coverage seemed to agree that Sanchez may have assured himself the job with the performance, even if the Daily News worries that the Jets had "a very vanilla game plan" with their rookie due to his unfamiliarity with the offense.