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Report: Unnamed Jets Rip 'Lazy' Sanchez, Call For Peyton Manning

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- With offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer gone, it's Mark Sanchez's turn to man the Jets' hot seat.

According to a report from Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, several Jets players are unhappy with the play and work ethic of their quarterback. It's gotten to the point, Mehta reports, that there's a growing call within the organization -- and in the locker room -- for New York to acquire a veteran quarterback to "push" Sanchez.

Someone like Peyton Manning?

"We already have his coach — Tom Moore," one player told Mehta. "He will get his playmakers the ball. We can win a Super Bowl with Peyton."

"If you have a chance to get a healthy 36-year-old Peyton Manning and you don't do it, then you're stupid," another source said. "If I could get a healthy 36-year-old Peyton Manning, then, hell yeah, I would trade Sanchez."

MORE: Schottenheimer thanks Rex, Jets on his way out

Manning, for years the heart and soul of the Indianapolis Colts, is rehabbing from multiple neck surgeries. His health and the likely selection of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in the NFL draft will factor into the Colts' decision whether or not to trade -- or release -- Manning.

According to Mehta, Sanchez is seen in the locker room as a coddled QB that can't handle tough talk.

"They treat him like a baby instead of a man," said the unnamed player. "He goes in a hole when someone tells him the truth."

It didn't take long for mixed reactions to pour in via Twitter.

"HOW ironic. Someone rips one person for not being a 'man' in an ANONYMOUS statement," one fan tweeted.

Another wrote: "If Jets want to win they need to replace Mark Sanchez."

"What a disgrace!" posted a Cowboys backer. "Jets players bashing their own QB-wanting Peyton. Our players would never bash Romo!"

Jets center Nick Mangold was quick to defend Sanchez.

"If 'unnamed sources' want to attack Mark, man up and put your name to it," Mangold tweeted Wednesday.

The quarterback's practice habits were also questioned in the report.

"We have to bring in another quarterback that will make him work at practice," one player told Mehta. "He's lazy and content because he knows he's not going to be benched."

Sanchez led the Jets to the AFC championship game his first two years. This season he regressed, and general manager Mike Tannenbaum admitted the young quarterback needs to be more consistent.

He set a career-high with 26 touchdown passes, but nearly half of Sanchez's 18 interceptions came in the last three games. One player told the Daily News that the Jets can basically forget about winning the Super Bowl with Sanchez continuing to make mistakes under center.

"How can we when he's not improving at all?" the player said. "He thinks he is, but he's not. He has shown us what he's capable of."

Perhaps the 25-year-old will shine under a new offensive coordinator. Schottenheimer informed the Jets on Tuesday that he won't be back, and the Jets announced Wednesday that former Dolphins coach Tony Sparano will replace him.

Schottenheimer was highly criticized for Sanchez's lack of progression -- and an offense that ranked No. 25 overall.

Your thoughts on Sanchez and the situation in Gang Green's locker room? Sound off below...

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