GM Disputes 'Corrupt' Locker Room; Ex-Jets QB Calls McElroy 'Entitled Brat'
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — Jets rookie quarterback Greg McElroy says there was a "corrupt mind-set" in the locker room during a disappointing season, and the team included some "extremely selfish individuals."
The Jets' seventh-round pick out of Alabama told 97.3 The Zone in Birmingham on Wednesday that New York's locker room was "definitely not a fun place to be, I can assure you."
McElroy missed the season with a thumb injury, but was around the team throughout as it finished 8-8 and failed to make the playoffs.
"There were people within our locker room that didn't care whether we won or lost as long as they got theirs, they had a good game individually," said McElroy. "And that's the disappointing thing."
McElroy didn't single out any players, but the comments came on the heels of Santonio Holmes being benched in the regular-season finale for arguing in the huddle.
Later Wednesday, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum admitted to WFAN's Mike Francesa that his team had "issues," but disputed the "corrupt mind-set" suggested by McElroy.
Listen: Tannenbaum with Francesa
"We knew there were issues during the season and we didn't get it done," Tannenbaum told Francesa. "We thought we addressed some of them, but we didn't do a good enough job and that manifested itself in the huddle this past Sunday. We have to do a better job, Santonio has to do a better job. And we will."
He added: "But I don't think we have a corrupt locker room."
Former Jets backup quarterback Erik Ainge didn't mince words when he tweeted Thursday morning: "Someone tell McElroy to keep his mouth shut about the NYJ 'Locker Room' speaking in the media about your teammates, entitled brat!"
Tannenbaum also put the starting quarterback question to rest. It'll be Mark Sanchez to start the season in 2012.
"(Sanchez) is the right guy and I know we'll see a better Mark out there next year," he said.
"I think he's shown he can be a winning NFL quarterback and that's what you need from the position," added Tannenbaum. "Do I think he's going to be Peyton Manning or Tom Brady or Drew Brees? Obviously, that would be hard to say as of today, but I do think we can win a lot of games with Mark as our quarterback."
Your thoughts on Tannenbaum's rebuttal? Sound off in the comments below...
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