Kellen Clemens
Kellen Clemens New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has announced that quarterback Mark Sanchez will not play at Tampa Bay on Sunday because of a sprained right knee, and Kellen Clemens will start in his place.

According to reports, Sanchez is not happy about it at all.

"It's just a frustrating part of this game," a clearly irritated Sanchez said. "I asked him if I could at least try to practice Thursday and he said, 'No way, because I know if you practice tomorrow, then you're going to play and we don't want to run any risk of further injury.' It's difficult to handle."

Sanchez sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in the knee during the third quarter of the Jets' 19-13 win over the Buffalo Bills last Thursday night. It is not really clear whether the injury occurred on his dive for a first down or a previous
play.

Ryan said that he consulted the team's doctors and together they decided that Sanchez should sit this week out.

"He wants to play in the worst way and he's going to play," Ryan said. "It's just not going to be this week. I have a lot of confidence in Kellen Clemens and I think that instead of delaying this decision, I'm just going to make it now."

Clemens was New York's second round draft pick in 2006 and was considered the Jets' quarterback of the future. He sat for most of his rookie season but started half the games the following year with mediocre results. Clemens barely got on the field at all last season with Brett Favre under center and has only thrown three passes this season.

"You never like to see a teammate that's injured, but it's a good opportunity for me," Clemens said. "I'm excited to be out there playing again."