Sanchez and Schotty Sitting In a Tree

The Jets' PR team is working overtime this offseason. To wit, this afternoon's fawning New York Times profile of Mark Sanchez's and Brian Schottenheimer's growing bromance.

Some highlights:

The offensive coordinator of the Jets and his latest pupil seem like kindred spirits, not friends exactly but men inspired by each other, driven by each other and bonded by a mutual obsession: the finer points of playing quarterback.

Each day, Sanchez spends as much time with Schottenheimer as he does with anyone else in the organization. They go out for steak dinners and quote lines from Adam Sandler comedies. They act, according to Schottenheimer’s wife, Gemmi, like her third and fourth children, football-lost boys, fully grown.

“They started to develop a relationship beyond coach-player,” Cavanaugh said. “There’s a legitimate friendship there.”

“All off-season he was teaching, teaching, teaching,” Sanchez said. “But not just like a coach. More like a friend, like a father, like a brother. That’s the way our bond is now.”

In the off-season Sanchez and Schottenheimer attended baseball’s All-Star Game and an N.B.A. finals game. They developed inside jokes and sometimes seem like they’re speaking their own language.

Now, Sanchez finishes Schottenheimer’s play calls as well as sentences.

Evidence of the importance of their relationship is displayed in Schottenheimer’s basement. Each year, Gemmi frames an autographed jersey from one of her husband’s favorite players. Last year, she added a Sanchez jersey to a collection that includes those of Brees, Chad Pennington, Philip Rivers and Brett Favre.

The most cringe-worthy part of the article, at least for me, is Schottenheimer's likening of Sanchez to Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees. Oh dear.

BEN:

I think we all know the NYT is not a great place for sports coverage. the numerous embarrassing hagiographies of Mariano Rivera; the pointless speculations of Murray Chass and Jack Curry; the seemingly willful lack of interest in what fans are actually thinking or doing.

But: every local paper runs a story like this, especially when they've got a young player with potential. Heaven help the Boston Globe and their poetic waxings about Jacoby Ellsbury. Yes, they're stupid, yes, they're pointless, yes, they're frequently filled with idiotic predictions and comparisons. But I guess this is how we enjoy the game--it's not always just about watching them play.

These stories all conform to various archetypes: how many stories have there been about LaDainian Tomlinson "feeling young again"? How many about Jonathan Papelbon adding a new pitch? There are all kinds of variations on this theme. Players who watch a lot of video, teams that have a guru for some specific activity, teammates who get along, teammates who are willful and solitary. Etc. Etc. The presumption in all of these articles is that the rest of the league is simply treading water, or just kind of lollygagging along. Of course the NFL and MLB and (possibly) the NBA are filled with ultracompetitive people who know nothing other than to practice and learn about their sport. Rare is the person who truly isn't putting in the work, and, well, we've seen what that looks like.

As to the specific matter of Mark Sanchez, he may (or may not) improve hugely this year. I do have my doubts whether, if he throws a key interception, anyone will say "Impossible! He and Brian Schottenheimer are friends!"

But, then again, these stories aren't meant to be remembered, or even taken seriously, really. I can't think of the last time anyone called Ellsbury a "Native American warrior," but I don't think it was this year.

Let's Go Ahead and Get Started

Blogging's been a little light around here this summer, to say the least. For the past two months, I've had my hands full at work, while Ben's been busy publishing one of the fall season's best novels, among other promising titles. (Get bent, Jonathan Franzen.) Our dereliction of duty was so egregious that Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez has given up 35 runs since our wager, four times as many runs than he had at the time of our handshake. His total for the year now sits at a good-but-not-great 44, which works to my advantage. Jimenez actually trails third-place Boston's emerging ace Clay Buchholz in runs allowed by 9, which fills me with dread and an unhealthy amount of irrational anger. (I have a creeping suspicion that this Red Sox team is a lot like this year's Celtics. A September run strikes me as inevitable.)

Also during our absence, LeBron took his talents to South Beach. I've since come to terms with his Decision (TM), and for the first time in a decade, I'm actually excited about the Knicks. All signs point to the playoffs. (Get bent, Isiah.) A bunch of other events took place (The Big Leprechaun!), but they are far too legion to list here. Suffice it to say, Ben and I are committed to keeping this blog going, at least in theory. With the MLB playoffs around the corner and NFL training camp underway (Sign the contract, Revis), now's as good a time as any.

Here, then, is a clip of Rex Ryan addressing the Jets at the start of training camp. I'm breaking my longstanding rule about discussing football before Week 1 because this clip, taken from last night's "Hard Knocks" premiere, is awesome. Viewer discretion advised. Say what you will about Ryan's stated goals of the Jets leading the NFL in victories or winning the Super Bowl, he knows how to work a room--and a PowerPoint presentation. It's easy to see why players like playing under him. Win or lose, he keeps things interesting.

BEN:

Yeah, I let the whole summer pass. I let LeBron's decision and Cleveland's response pass. I let David Ortiz's win in the home run derby--likely Boston's only baseball triumph of the year--sail by. I never said a proper goodbye to Rasheed Wallace, or even the Celtics' almost-realized dreams of a championship--that one stung. I did not inveigh against A-Rod and his 600 dubious home runs. (Although, in fairness, the rest of the media handled that for me.)

It has been a long baseball season, even for someone as patient as me. Buchholz has been a revelation, Lackey a disappointment, and Ellsbury a baby. Beckett and Matsuzaka have been enigmatic. I will say that I think this is the best Dice-K has ever pitched, oddly. Pedroia is back, but it's hard to know what to expect from him. And all signs point to the Sox being left out of the playoff hunt. As you say, a late-season run seems possible. But at this point, I don't think it's likely to result in a playoff appearance.

Which leads me to the Patriots, and the Jets. We saw what they did to Eli Manning last night, and against what I think may be a pretty weak Giants team, the Gang Green sure did look tough. I'll give you my diagnosis: they're the Cowboys North. A penchant for signing the most famous player at every available position. Loudmouth, brash, not playing well with others. And real tough to beat.

But I think they also have some of the Cowboys' foibles. A tendency to underachieve for their talent level. An inability to get their big guns to fall in line. (Welcome to Revis Island). Also, a fat coach.

I think the Jets are the favorite to win the AFC East, and believe me, I don't like the way it feels to say that. As for Skinny Rex's goal of leading the league in wins, though, I'm not biting. The Ravens and Colts are big threats in the AFC. The Vikings, Saints, and Packers in the NFC. And then there are the Patriots.

I think this is one of the most likable teams the Pats have fielded since the heyday of Bruschi and Vrabel. A ton of young talent itching to get out and prove itself, the same old stud at QB (with a different 'do), and a new look all around. They might not be ready--we'll see. But I can't quench my homer optimism: I think they have a ton of potential. Besides--almost all of them are older than Mark Sanchez.

Yeah, ok, I blew it this summer. But fall is just around the corner. And guess who's back early?

MILES:

Sadly, the Jets don't enjoy nearly the cultural cache as the Cowboys, but I see your point. For better of for worse, this is a defining season for the Jets. Any result besides a return trip to the AFC Championship will be considered a disappointment, maybe even a, gulp, disaster. Some quarters would argue anything less than a Super Bowl victory will usher in Armageddon. Remember, this is a franchise that doesn't deal well with success, and there are about 1,001 things that could go wrong this season. Every week is going to be operatic.