The mark against Sanchez: He's no star yet

[Kentucky Jet]

There's no question Jets head coach Rex Ryan is the star of the HBO reality show "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets." He's a camera hog whether he's coaching, cussing or sneaking M&Ms.

But when the series ends and NFL the season begins, the real star of the Jets can't be Ryan, it has to be quarterback Mark Sanchez. But is Sanchez ready to be all that he wants to be?

If you've watched the first two episodes of "Hard Knocks," you still don't know the answer, which why it's good the cameras will be rolling tonight when the Jets meet the Panthers in a preseason game in Charlotte, N.C.

Getty Images

FACE FACTS: Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez looks concerned during Monday's preseason loss to the Giants.

It's just a exhibition game, but it's another important step for Sanchez, who had offseason knee surgery following an inconsistent rookie season sweetened by an appearance in the AFC Championship game. The color-coded handcuffs are supposed to come off this year, but three weeks into training camp, it's clear Sanchez still has some growing to do.

"Hard Knocks" has shown us Sanchez wants to be viewed as a leader, generally bubbles with enthusiasm and doesn't mind making fun of unsuspecting teammates. But we've also learned he has a tendency to pout when he is corrected by his coaching staff and has trouble letting go of failed plays, such as interceptions.

Thanks to HBO's cameras, we got to be a fly on the wall when quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer had a chat with Sanchez about his body language after making a mistake.

"Start challenging yourself," Cavanaugh said to Sanchez as the quarterback fiddled with something in his travel bag as if half paying attention.

You hoped Sanchez might have gotten past some of this by now, past needing backup Mark Brunell to remind him that his early interception against the Giants came in a preseason game and there was no need to brood.

Maybe it's easy to forget Sanchez is just 23 and this is just his second NFL season. He still has much to learn about being a pro and a leader.

Still, there's something special about Sanchez, and it's more than his strong arm and athleticism. Ross Greenburg, the president of HBO Sports, has been around the Jets since the beginning of the summer. He knows a budding crossover star when he sees one. And that star is not Ryan. It's Sanchez.

"He definitely has the it factor," Greenburg said. "He's got the charismatic smile and a swagger on and off the field. It's the way he walks, the way he talks, the way he acts around his teammates. I was around when he and Joe Willie [Namath] were at camp and they obviously identified with each other. It's going to be fun to see if Sanchez can blossom into this Joe Willie-like character."

Full disclosure, Greenburg is a Jets fan, who sat in the cheap seats at Shea Stadium. But he knows athletes and he knows cameras and he knows the potential for Sanchez to be one of the biggest stars in sports. Television appearances, commercials, movies, endorsements; all he needs is a Super Bowl ring.

"When you're the starting quarterback of a New York franchise that's winning, you're automatically in a certain upper level," Greenburg said. "After last year, to get to that championship game means something. The sky is the limit for him. I don't think it hurts he's 23 and single. If he starts producing, New York will be in a frenzy."

But first Sanchez has to grow into his job, and into being the leader he wants to be. He's not there yet. The camera never lies.

george.willis@nypost.com

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/the_knock_against_mark_he_no_star_89pKTnzVtAmndkxLEUWkLM?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0xHedhTTz

[Jets 0-16]

There's no question Jets head coach Rex Ryan is the star of the HBO reality show "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets." He's a camera hog whether he's coaching, cussing or sneaking M&Ms.

But when the series ends and NFL the season begins, the real star of the Jets can't be Ryan, it has to be quarterback Mark Sanchez. But is Sanchez ready to be all that he wants to be?

If you've watched the first two episodes of "Hard Knocks," you still don't know the answer, which why it's good the cameras will be rolling tonight when the Jets meet the Panthers in a preseason game in Charlotte, N.C.

Getty Images

FACE FACTS: Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez looks concerned during Monday's preseason loss to the Giants.

It's just a exhibition game, but it's another important step for Sanchez, who had offseason knee surgery following an inconsistent rookie season sweetened by an appearance in the AFC Championship game. The color-coded handcuffs are supposed to come off this year, but three weeks into training camp, it's clear Sanchez still has some growing to do.

"Hard Knocks" has shown us Sanchez wants to be viewed as a leader, generally bubbles with enthusiasm and doesn't mind making fun of unsuspecting teammates. But we've also learned he has a tendency to pout when he is corrected by his coaching staff and has trouble letting go of failed plays, such as interceptions.

Thanks to HBO's cameras, we got to be a fly on the wall when quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer had a chat with Sanchez about his body language after making a mistake.

"Start challenging yourself," Cavanaugh said to Sanchez as the quarterback fiddled with something in his travel bag as if half paying attention.

You hoped Sanchez might have gotten past some of this by now, past needing backup Mark Brunell to remind him that his early interception against the Giants came in a preseason game and there was no need to brood.

Maybe it's easy to forget Sanchez is just 23 and this is just his second NFL season. He still has much to learn about being a pro and a leader.

Still, there's something special about Sanchez, and it's more than his strong arm and athleticism. Ross Greenburg, the president of HBO Sports, has been around the Jets since the beginning of the summer. He knows a budding crossover star when he sees one. And that star is not Ryan. It's Sanchez.

"He definitely has the it factor," Greenburg said. "He's got the charismatic smile and a swagger on and off the field. It's the way he walks, the way he talks, the way he acts around his teammates. I was around when he and Joe Willie [Namath] were at camp and they obviously identified with each other. It's going to be fun to see if Sanchez can blossom into this Joe Willie-like character."

Full disclosure, Greenburg is a Jets fan, who sat in the cheap seats at Shea Stadium. But he knows athletes and he knows cameras and he knows the potential for Sanchez to be one of the biggest stars in sports. Television appearances, commercials, movies, endorsements; all he needs is a Super Bowl ring.

"When you're the starting quarterback of a New York franchise that's winning, you're automatically in a certain upper level," Greenburg said. "After last year, to get to that championship game means something. The sky is the limit for him. I don't think it hurts he's 23 and single. If he starts producing, New York will be in a frenzy."

But first Sanchez has to grow into his job, and into being the leader he wants to be. He's not there yet. The camera never lies.

george.willis@nypost.com

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/the_knock_against_mark_he_no_star_89pKTnzVtAmndkxLEUWkLM?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0xHedhTTz

Yea, he just isnt that good of a qb..it happens.