Jets coach Rex Ryan says Mark Sanchez may not play Sunday due to a sore shoulder.  Earlier in the week, Sanchez was said to have a 98% chance of playing, but after Thursday’s practice, Ryan reduced his chance to just 80%. He said it may even come down to a game-time decision.

“I think I underestimated where he was with that injury,” Ryan said. “This one could be more of a game-time type decision than I thought it would be.”

During Thursday morning’s practice, Ryan and the Jets coaching staff noticed that Sanchez didn’t look comfortable. Although he did make some passes, none had any power behind them.

It is believed that Sanchez is suffering from a cartilage tear in his shoulder; Ryan describes it as a “sore shoulder”.

Regardless of the description, the Jets will be forced to give their QB backups, Mark Brunell and Kellen Clemens, more reps in practice and draw up some game-plan options. If Sanchez cannot start, long time veteran Mark Brunell is expected to get the start.

“Everyone knows the situation, we’re close to potentially getting in the playoffs,” Brunell said. “You think about that game, and in that game you think about one play at a time.”

What would be the ramifications of Sanchez not starting? Well, for one, Mark Brunell is left-handed. This fact alone could significantly affect the Jets passing game. Secondly, when the Jets did throw, you would expect the throw to the other side. Thirdly, you would expect the Jets to focus more on the running game. Lastly, the Jets would lose mobility at the quarterback position.

No one really knows if Sanchez will play in the NFL this week, but it’s obvious Ryan and the Jets are being cautious with their starting QB. Don’t be surprised in the Jets sit Sanchez.

New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards has guaranteed a Jet win Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals in week 16 of the NFL season. If he’s right the Jets secure a berth in the AFC Playoffs with a wild card selection and the fifth seed.

“We won’t lose this game”, said Edwards to reporters on Wednesday. “We want it too bad. You can just talk to the guys and get a feel. You can listen to (coach Rex Ryan’s) conviction when he talks to us”. Braylon goes on, “Guys are serious about winning this game. Guys aren’t talking about New Year’s Eve. Guys aren’t talking about family. All guys are talking about is the playoffs…”

Edwards comments may be arrogant but it brings up a dilemma for the Bengals coach Marvin Lewis. If the Bengals beat the Jets they will face either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the AFC playoffs. If the Bengals lose, they face the Jets at home in week 17.

Think about it, if you were coach Lewis who would you rather face: the Jets QB Mark Sanchez, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger or Ravens QB Joe Flacco and linebacker Ray Lewis?

The comments made by Braylon Edwards are sure to fire up the Bengals, but it will certainly do the same to his Jet teammates. Comments like this made by players are usually frowned upon, but Rex Ryan has been known to encourage trash talking by his players.

We’ll have to wait for Sunday, January 3, 2010, the first and last game NFL football game at Giants stadium, to see if Edwards words are golden.

The New York Jets made a bold move in signing rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez to the biggest contract in franchise history. The Jets are betting that Sanchez can lead the Jets to their first Super Bowl in 50 years.

Sanchez, drafted fifth overall, signed a 5 year deal worth $50 million. The deal guarantees Sanchez $28 million with incentives that could reach more than $60 million.

The Jets huge investment is the writing to on the wall for Kellen Clemens, the “other” Jets QB. Clemens was expected to start before Mark Sanchez was signed.

“For me, this is the tip of the iceberg,” Sanchez said yesterday. “There is so much more I want to accomplish. This doesn’t assume that you’re going to be successful. It’s going to take a lot of hard work.”

If the Jets had any reservations about signing a rookie QB to such a large contract, they only needed to look at Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, the first pick in 2008, who let Atlanta to the playoffs.

Hopefully the signing of a new QB, combined with a new head coach, will mark a new beginning for the post-Mangini Jets.