National Football League

Sanchez to GQ: I 'wanted to fight' Rex

Published Aug. 16, 2011 12:10 a.m. ET

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Mark Sanchez was fightin' mad when Rex Ryan considered benching him last season.

The New York Jets quarterback tells GQ magazine for a story in its September issue that he was angry when Ryan told reporters he would think about sitting him last December after a poor performance.

I wanted to fight him,'' Sanchez told the magazine. ''I was really mad.''

Ryan wanted to give backup Mark Brunell extra snaps during practice after Sanchez struggled in a loss to Miami. After agreeing, Sanchez tells the magazine he pushed Brunell away when he walked into the huddle. When offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer reminded him Ryan wanted Brunell to take snaps, Sanchez snapped back.

''I was like, 'He can come tell me,''' Sanchez said. ''And (Schottenheimer) is like,'Come on, man, don't do that.'''

Sanchez stayed in the lineup and thrived late in the season while helping the Jets to the AFC championship game for the second straight year. Sanchez said he and his coach have not joked about the benching comments, and he doesn't expect they will.

''Rex is super honest,'' Sanchez said. ''I wish he wasn't that honest at times, especially to say that.''

Ryan made Sanchez one of the Jets' captains this season and several teammates have praised the quarterback's leadership skills and desire to win.

In the GQ article, Sanchez also discusses how ''embarrassed'' he was after last season's 45-3 loss to New England in Week 13, the challenges of dating and his appreciation for Justin Bieber and the TV show ''Glee.'' Sanchez, who enjoys Broadway performances, also sees a comparison between being on stage and playing on the football field.

''Their life is so regimented, like mine,'' he said. ''They have eight shows a week. They have to take care of their bodies, stretch, eat right, take care of their voices. You know, their voice is like my arm.''