Jets Give Mark Brunell First Team Snaps Over Starter Mark Sanchez

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan will give first-team snaps at practice to veteran backup quarterback Mark Brunell over starting quarterback Mark Sanchez, according to NBC Sports. Ryan reportedly made the decision in an attempt to motivate Sanchez.

“You know me. If I think something’s working, we’ll go with it,” Ryan told the Daily News. “I don’t think it really matters, but for some reason he got a little hot under the collar and gave that super competitive fighting spirit that we know he has. It seems to work.”

Ryan made a similar move last summer, which prompted Sanchez to tell reporters he “wanted to fight” Ryan. Despite the move, Ryan flatly stated earlier this month that Sanchez will be the quarterback as long as Ryan is coaching in New York.