Partial transcript of QB Mark Sanchez's news conference following today's midday OTA practice:
On being able to fully participate this week…
It's felt great. Like we said during this whole rehab process, the big thing is that next day after you try something new, after you really push it one day. How's it going to feel on Wednesday after Tuesday's full practice? It was awesome. I hopped out of bed, came in, got my treatment, and I feel great. Now, the mental side is catching up to the physical side and I feel a lot sharper out there, X's and O's, calling plays, feeling comfortable in the huddle and really going, so I thought we had a great day today.
On how big a step it is to fully participate in minicamp after being able to participate in a few OTAs…
It's huge. It's important to be able to get out there and feel it first, but that minicamp is important. That's as close to camp, as close to a game that we get during the summer. I think it's a big step, one, for the rehab process, personally, psychologically, physically, and for the training staff, John Mellody, Josh Koch and Dave Zuffelato. Those three guys getting me healthy, I mean, the best training staff in the world. They're doing such a great job in getting me right. Then for the team, to see that how hard I worked this offseason and let them know I wasn't going to miss this. I was going to do my very best to make it and now I will, so it's important.
On how his knee feels when he's rolling out…
It felt really good. It was one of those things where I got the play call from Schotty [Brian Schottenheimer] today and I didn't even think twice about it until after. The defense played it well, [Darrelle] Revis had our guy covered and I just threw it away on the boundary, but I had to extend that rollout as far as possible right to the sideline and I was tapping on my way out and threw it out of bounds. As soon as I came back, "Oh, all right." It didn't even cross my mind. It was just a rollout, we got the call and I ran it. It felt great.
On USC…
I don't know if it is official yet and it's just really too bad, but I wasn't there for those years that they are looking at.
On if he will be a full participant at minicamp…
I should be good judging by today and seeing how I feel tomorrow. I should be good. I feel great, ready to go.
On if he is nervous about fully participating with the team at minicamp…
I don't think so. I feel good, ready to go.
On if he feels part of the team after previously saying it was hard to not be a part of 11-on-11s…
It's hard because you can't interact with the linemen when you're going 7-on-7. You get some good chemistry with the receivers which I need, but you don't get the full huddle call. You don't get everybody in there. You can't make as many checks and go through the mechanics of changing plays, so it was great. I thought we had a good run today for really one of my first days back. That was great to see us really come together.
On the anticipation of this minicamp versus last year's minicamps…
I just feel so much more comfortable. That's the best way to say it is that my comfort level is so high. I feel good and ready to go mentally for this minicamp, where last year my head was spinning just trying to remember stuff. Then getting my leg down, it feels better than it ever has. This is what they promised. They said, "It's going to feel better than it has ever felt." They were right on.
On if there was a game Sunday, would he be ready to play on his knee…
I'm playing. I'm in. Let's go. No, nothing. I'm good.
On meeting up with the receivers in California…
It's done. It's all good to go.
On when he will be meeting up with the receivers in California…
Sometime in July. We want to keep it as private as possible. It's just our guys. We're doing our own thing. We're getting some good work in on the field, but then at the same time we want to make sure these guys have some fun and build that trust off the field, build that camaraderie. When those AFC Championship Games come and it's loud, you trust those guys next you. We've hung out together. We've gone to eat. We've played with each other's kids. Some guys are bringing their kids out. We've babysat for each other. Stuff like that and then we get into a game [and it's] second nature. These are my teammates. We're brothers really.
On if he has promised to buy all In-N-Out burgers for the receivers…
I'm sure we'll hit that. I had my In-N-Out shirt on yesterday. We'll go to all my spots there.
