National Football League

Sanchez: Broken nose 'no big deal'

Published Sep. 27, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Mark Sanchez has no concerns about his broken nose - even if it means a few less magazine covers for now.

The Jets quarterback and recent GQ cover boy suffered what the team called a ''minor break'' in his nose Sunday, but he has already been cleared to practice this week without limitations and play in New York's next game at Baltimore.

''It feels a lot better now, and we'll just worry about it after the season,'' Sanchez said Tuesday during his weekly radio appearance on 1050 ESPN Radio. ''It's no big deal.''

It was the first time Sanchez broke his nose and said it ''felt weird for a little bit.'' He was hit in the face on a sack by Oakland's Kamerion Wimbley in the third quarter, had his nose reset on the sideline and finished by wearing a visor on his helmet, something he'll do for at least the next few games.

''We'll take it game by game,'' Sanchez said. ''We play in the elements out here, so I don't know how well a visor holds up. I've never even thought about wearing a visor before. We'll take it game by game, but I'm not worried about it either way.''

He's also not concerned about the cosmetic ramifications of the injury, even after appearing on the cover of the September issue of GQ. The magazine included several photos of the bare-chested quarterback, who was razzed by his teammates and other players around the league.

''I mean, if it's a cosmetic thing, I don't really care,'' Sanchez said. ''I'll break my nose every game as long as we're going to win. I don't care about that. It's not a big deal.''

Sanchez also stood up for his coach after Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath suggested during a radio interview that Rex Ryan is making his team overconfident, which helped lead to its loss Sunday at Oakland. Ryan said Monday that he wouldn't change who is because of Namath's opinion, and added that the former Jets star ''doesn't know our team. He's on the outside.''

''I respect Joe Namath to the fullest,'' Sanchez said. ''He's the most notable Jet of all time, the ultimate Jet, and I can understand why he would criticize the team like that, and I kind of see where he's coming from as an outsider's perspective. But you've got to understand that in this building, these guys prepare their tails off.''

Sanchez acknowledged some mistakes he made in the Jets' 34-24 loss, including a costly interception after Jeremy Kerley had a long punt return that put New York deep in Oakland territory.

''It wasn't a matter of preparation,'' he said of the defeat.

And as far as Ryan's brash attitude, Sanchez added: ''We wouldn't have it any other way, and that's the way it is.''

Sanchez also brushed off comments former Jets linebacker Jason Taylor made to a Miami television station that he thinks Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne has more talent than his former New York teammate.

''He's one of the best teammates I've ever had,'' Sanchez said of Taylor, who spent last season with the Jets. ''He's saying the right thing. That's his teammate and that's his quarterback.''