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Jets bench Sanchez, make change to McElroy – Metro US

Jets bench Sanchez, make change to McElroy

After a season of status quo, he may be the “Sanchise” may be no more.

The Jets announced yesterday, for at least one week, Greg McElroy will be the starting quarterback when San Diego comes to MetLife Stadium this Sunday, relegating former first-round pick Mark Sanchez to the sideline.

Head coach Rex Ryan said the decision was based on his “gut feeling.”

“I think it’s where we are right now. I just think it’s best for our team for this game,” Ryan said on his weekly conference call yesterday. “I made the decision that I’m going to make a change. I told Mark that last night. I never decided on the quarterback until today but I let Mark know.”

Ryan, true to form, wouldn’t throw Sanchez under the bus as the two have a strong history.

Sanchez led the Jets to consecutive AFC Championship game appearances in 2009 and 2010, but has gone 14-16 as a starter since. With the loss on Monday night, the Jets will now miss the playoffs for a second straight year.

“It’s not necessarily about one guy, it is about the team. He had obviously a poor day but he wasn’t alone with that,” Ryan said. “Obviously we can’t turn the ball over five times and expect to win. Again, has he had better days than that? Absolutely.”

Ryan was evasive when asked why he went with McElroy over a player in Tebow who has been the backup for much of the year and who, in theory, should have that role.

“I think it’s where we are right now,” Ryan said. “I just think it’s best for our team for this game.”

Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.