Sanchez used "binky" vs. Bengals

CORTLAND – For the first time this offseason, Mark Sanchez whipped out the wristband.

Initially, the Jets quarterback was hesitant to use the play-calling aid, given his comfort level with Tony Sparano’s new offense. And truth be told, the coordinator wasn’t too keen on Sanchez using it either.

“I didn’t want to start with the binky,” Sparano said, forming his thin lips into a smile. “I kind of wanted to start with the verbiage and just keep throwing it at him and letting him handle it that way. Well, he kind of likes that. The words are coming out of his mouth so much easier. I could start a sentence and then all of a sudden he can finish it. That’s good, we’re making progress there.”

Nevertheless, he and Sanchez discussed prior to Friday’s night’s game whether the quarterback should use the wristband against the Bengals.

“Do you want to use it?” Sparano asked.

“To be honest, I really don’t," Sanchez replied. "But let’s use it and see how it goes.” 

Sparano said the wristband helps in some situations by eliminating the need for him to give the quarterback the whole play and Sanchez, in turn, relaying the whole play to the offense. 

“Some people like to have the play the way I’m giving it to them in practice,” the offensive coordinator explained. “Because when you get it that way, instead of getting a number, you get the play and it starts to draw a picture before you enter a huddle.”

Sparano isn’t sure yet whether Sanchez will continue to wear the wristband during the regular season. Whatever happens, though, it’ll be the quarterback’s decision.

“Honestly, that’s a conversation that he and I haven’t had yet,” said Sparano.

The Jets introduced Sanchez to a color-coded wristband back in 2009 to curtail his string of costly interceptions. But Sanchez is far improved from his rookie campaign, which featured 20 regular-season picks.

Sparano thought the starting quarterback played well Friday night despite the limited snaps for the first-team offense. And going forward, communication remains the top priority between the quarterback and his coordinator.

“I thought he did a nice job,” Sparano said of Sanchez. “As good a job in 14 plays as you can do.

“Mark’s pretty hard on himself, I’m pretty sure he will tell you, after reviewing the film with us, that there were a couple things where could have done a little bit differently. But I thought he did well.”