Burress Says Sanchez Had Shoulder Injury in 2011

[JetNation]

Just a tidbit from Jets reading today: former Jet receiver Plaxico Burress told WFAN in an interview on Monday that quarterback Mark Sanchez was hampered by a shoulder injury last season that a lot of people didn’t know about.

“He definitely has enough arm,” Burress said of Sanchez. “He was battling some injuries last year, shoulder-wise that a lot of people didn’t know about…different things like that. But I think he really turned a corner.”

Sanchez hurt his shoulder at the end of 2010, but it was reportedly a cartilage tear and nothing major. There was no surgery, and Sanchez returned to start every game in 2011, even though he appeared injury report a few times for neck and shoulder ailments.

It was obvious that Sanchez was suffering from some physical issues last season. He only completed five passes longer than 21 yards all year, and after the November game in Denver, there was a significant decline in performance, even for a season that had been mediocre prior to the game. This was attributed to a pinched nerve.

Was this Burress sticking up for Sanchez or putting more responsibility on Sanchez for his own mediocre 2011 performance (45 receptions for 612 yards and 8 touchdowns)? Probably a bit of both. Is this alleged lingering shoulder injury something for Jets fans to be concerned about moving forward? It’s unclear.

Burress also commented on the acquisition of Tim Tebow.

“When they bring somebody in at your position, you don’t have no choice but to go up and either perform or go home,” he said. “It’s that kind of deal in the NFL. It’s a dog-eat-dog league.”

After a disappointing season, Burress, who will be 35 in August, has yet to sign with another team.  You start to think he’s beginning to audition for commentating gigs rather than wide receiving gigs.

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