New York Jets quarterback doesn't seem bothered all that much by the growing criticism that now seems to surround him on an every-day basis.
Two straight losses by the Jets -- games in which Sanchez didn't play particularly well -- fueled speculation that he wasn't the long-term answer at quarterback, as well as a report he had fallen out of favor by some within the organization.
That led to Jets coach Rex Ryan to profess his faith in Sanchez on Monday, while his teammates also came to his defense.
"I'm not here to defend why I should be the quarterback," Sanchez said on ESPN radio on Tuesday, according to the New York Daily News. "When it comes to work ethic, the people in the building know how hard I work and how much I care about playing here and how much I love this team and franchise ... We'll assess the offseason when that time comes."
Sanchez said Ryan has seen "flashes of a great quarterback" in him, but that he's striving for consistency. He understands a fan base that has high expectations wants immediate results.
"People want results," Sanchez said. "People want answers when they don't get the results they're looking for ... Any questions (like), 'They're coddling me,' or 'Is he ready to do this?' or 'Is he the franchise guy?' All those things are going to happen when you lose a game. That's understood. So you ... brush them off and keep playing."
The Jets will be fighting for a playoff spot in Miami this weekend, and ultimately the play of Sanchez will go a long way in determining whether or not they achieve it.