Cronan said. I remember at the first day of camp, she wo

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez understands the New York Jets starting quarterback job is still up for grabs. That doesnt mean he expects the final result to be anything different from what it has been the last four seasons: with him under centre leading the team every Sunday. "Naturally, as you progress in your career, you try and tighten up and hone in," Sanchez said Thursday after voluntary workouts. "But, like Ive said, this is something I dreamed about my whole life and now Im not planning on letting go." Sanchez is approaching this off-season as though he is the starting quarterback, despite his hold on the job being extremely tenuous. There is one less competitor in the mix, however, with David Garrard planning to retire because his balky left knee has continued to give him trouble. So with Garrard stepping away and New York cutting Tim Tebow two weeks ago, Sanchez, Geno Smith, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms are left on the roster. "Nothings changed," Sanchez said of his approach without Garrard on the team. "My mindset is the same: just stay focused, master this offence, improve on my fundamentals, be as accurate as possible, take care of the football and lead this team." It had been speculated by some that the competition to start would be between Garrard, Sanchez and Smith, despite GM John Idzik, coach Rex Ryan and offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg insisting it would be "open" to everyone. Now, Sanchez appears to have a clear advantage, although the organization is excited about the potential of Smith, the former record-breaking West Virginia quarterback who slid in the draft from a potential top-10 pick all the way to the second round. "He looks good," Sanchez said of Smith. "Hes sharp. He works hard, doesnt say too much. Just plays his butt off and competes. Thats great." Sanchez said Garrards retirement was "a little bit abrupt," but praised the 35-year-old veteran for "a career to celebrate." Now, Sanchez is the veteran of the bunch in the quarterback room. That could still change, of course, if the team pursues another experienced player to push Sanchez and mentor Smith, but there arent many options. The list includes the likes of Vince Young, JaMarcus Russell, Matt Leinart, Trent Edwards, Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch -- oh, and, Tebow. Sanchez, however, insists that McElroy and Simms should very much be in the quarterback conversation. "Dont count those other two out," he said. "Trust me, its a fierce deal. Were all excited." Sanchez is particularly thrilled to put a miserable season behind him in which he turned the ball over 26 times, including when he ran into the backside of guard Brandon Moore -- the blooper-reel favourite "Butt-Fumble" -- last November against New England. He was benched for the first time in his career late last season, and appeared to lose confidence. And, the hits keep coming for Sanchez. Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith said during a radio interview Wednesday that, "I wouldnt let Mark Sanchez throw me a paper bag sandwich." Sanchez took the high road, refusing to fire back and instead wishing Smith and the Panthers well. And, frankly, hes got bigger things to worry about these days. Mornhinweg said during a conference call with season ticket holders Wednesday that the Jets would have a "bona fide quarterback competition. Period." He added that he has thought a lot about how the snaps would be distributed in practices, but theres now one less quarterback to consider with Garrard no longer in the mix. Mornhinweg also indicated hed like someone to rise to the top of the competition "quicker rather than later." "I have no idea," Sanchez said when asked if he could be that guy. "Im focused on playing the very best I can. As soon as they tell me, Youre the guy; youre not the guy, then well know. Theyve given me no indication on when that should be." Sanchez has been working with Mornhinweg and new quarterbacks coach David Lee on cutting down his turnovers, making him throw the ball away in practice rather than forcing a play and making a mistake. "Marty touched on it," Sanchez said. "He said its a mentality. Theres a point where you bite your nails growing up or something and then you just stop. Whatever it takes, you just stop. Its a habit. It becomes a way of thinking and a way of making decisions on the field." Sanchez is also looking forward to playing in Mornhinwegs West Coast-style offence, something he was somewhat familiar with from his days at Southern California. "Im from the West Coast," he said with a big grin. He also spent time with Jeff Garcia, who played for Mornhinweg in Philadelphia, during the off-season and thinks this is a system in which he can be consistently successful. "I love to feel that way, and thats the way I do (feel)," Sanchez said. "I feel good about everything going in, about the progression of things." ------ NOTES: RB Chris Ivory, acquired during the draft from New Orleans, said he hasnt been told by the Jets hell be the No. 1 back but is preparing as if he will. Hell have a better opportunity to play than in New Orleans, where he was behind Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram. "It was just a tough situation over there," he said. "We all had our roles. Its just tough to fit four backs in a system." ... LB Quinton Coples was called out by Ryan last weekend for having a subpar day in the weight room, and the coach wanted to make sure last years first-round pick knew he was disappointed. "I agree with him," Coples said, adding that he "gave better effort" the next day, and "made sure that wont happen again." Stitched Nike NBA Jerseys . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. Cheap Authentic NBA Jerseys . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. http://www.cheapjerseysnba.com/ . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Wholesale NBA Jerseys Store . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. NBA Jerseys China . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The dozens of floral arrangements surrounding Pat Summitts statue showed the respect for the coach and the love she received around Tennessees campus.Summitt died Tuesday morning at the age of 64, five years after announcing she had early-onset dementia, Alzheimers type, a disease that prematurely ended a womens basketball coaching career in which she led the Lady Volunteers to eight national titles and won a Division I-record 1,098 games. The news created a somber atmosphere on Tennessees campus as fans gathered at Pat Summitt Plaza, the home of a statue of the coach standing and smiling rather than wearing her trademark glare.Amy Palmer of Knoxville said its like weve lost a family member after joining the dozens of fans who signed a We (Heart) Pat sign that was taped to the wall behind Summitts statue.Its very solemn, Palmer said. Theres just a hush. Theres a different air. I think it will always be that way. It will never be the same, ever.Over the course of the day, hundreds of fans visited the plaza featuring the 8-foot, 7-inch bronze statue of Summitt, which reflects the steely resolve she showed in building the Tennessee womens basketball program and leading the fight against Alzheimers disease. Notes, balloons and even a couple of basketballs were placed alongside flowers at the foot of the statue.Its amazing when I came in, how many people were here honoring her at the statue, said Tennessee womens basketball coach Holly Warlick, who played for Summitt and worked as an assistant on her staff for 27 seasons before replacing her. Theyre not basketball players. Theyre just normal people wanting to pay their respects. ... What a great tribute for her.Sandy Sutton of Louisville, Tennessee, picked some Easter lilies from her yard and left them at the feet of Summitts statue. She noted the flowers were just like Pat -- homegrown, a nod to the coachs status as a Tennessee native.Im probably going to cry all day today, Sutton said. She was an outstanding Tennessean. Everything about her just brought inspiration to all of us.Tennessee Waaltz was played at campus landmark Ayres Hall at 8 p.ddddddddddddm. in honor of Summitts eight national titles.As fans gathered in the plaza, numerous school officials gave emotional press conferences while offering their memories of Summitt across the street at the campus studio. Warlick and athletic director Dave Hart choked up on multiple occasions as they discussed what Summitt had meant to them.No other coach has ever impacted a sport the way she impacted womens basketball, Hart said.People around campus said Summitts loss was evident as soon as the news came out that she had died.Shes a part of all of us, from the custodian (to) the teachers, the professors and the kids, said Samuel Henry, a Knoxville custodial worker who used to shine the floors of the Thompson-Boling Arena basketball court that bears Summitts name.Joan Cronan, Tennessee womens athletic director for much of Summitts tenure, got the news early Tuesday morning and immediately planned to leave her home and head to where the coach had been staying. Then she realized she hadnt made her bed yet.Pat always taught discipline, Cronan said. I remember at the first day of camp, she would ask all the campers, `Did you make your bed this morning? Guess who went back and made their bed this morning. I did.The mourning around town wasnt restricted to Tennessees campus.Knoxville mayor Madeline Rogero announced on Twitter that the lights on the Henley Bridge in downtown Knoxville would be switched to the Lady Vols colors of orange, white and blue in remembrance of coach Summitts deep devotion to Knoxville.Dana Hart, the president of the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, said the facility had about six times more visitors than they get on a typical summer Tuesday. Summitt played a major role in bringing the Hall of Fame to Knoxville.We always say without Pat Summitt, the Hall of Fame wouldnt be here and there may not even have been a Hall of Fame, Dana Hart said. ' ' '