Will Sanchez Make His Mark Against Saints? Donkey or Thoroughbred?

They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway. They say there's always magic in the air.

"We're going to win Sunday. I guarantee you."

It ain't braggin' if you can back it up.

By late Sunday afternoon on Jan. 12th, 1969, Joe Namath's bold prediction became reality as the sun set on South Beach. The charismatic kid from Alabama with nimble feet and a laser arm, nicknamed "Broadway Joe," had backed up his boast.

The New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts to win Super Bowl III. Forty years later, it is still considered the greatest upset in football history.

Guess those media smartasses won't be laughing at us anymore! 55-0 my ass!

Fast forward to 2009 and Jets fans are saying rookie Mark Sanchez is Joe Namath reincarnate. The USC rookie has New York off to a surprising 3-0 start in grand style and has Jets partisans dreaming about that magical afternoon in Florida so many years ago.

As I spent last week in Washington, D.C. witnessing the local media excoriate Redskins coach Jim Zorn, an old man sitting on the bank of the Potomac River explained to me that the NFL can be divided into two groups-thoroughbreds and donkeys.

He concluded that only a jackass gets mad at a donkey. I pondered the comment while finishing a beer. He uttered the words with much conviction and I, myself, believe this to be so.

The old man said it explains why Zorn never seems overly upset with his team. He has come to accept that these Redskins are donkeys and, like Zorn or not, he is no jackass in my view.

I take a last swallow of beer and notice that the Washington Post sports page, as good as sports pages get these days, has the New Orleans Saints ranked No. 1 in their NFL power rankings.

Seems the D.C. media is taking notice. Admiring these Saints from far and away.

Have no doubt that Rex Ryan is transforming the New York Jets into thoroughbreds this season. Most observers regarded Eric Mangini and the 2008 Jets as donkeys and it would be difficult to argue with that opinion.

The last time Sean Payton matched wits with Ryan came in 2006 at the Superdome and unfortunately Payton came out looking like the donkey and Ryan the thoroughbred. At the time, Ryan was Baltimore's defensive coordinator. The Ravens drubbed the Saints 35-22 on Halloween weekend.

Drew Brees had his worst game in a Saints uniform, throwing three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and never looked comfortable against Ryan's attacking defense.

The Saints managed only 35 yards net rushing. Prized rookie Reggie Bush had 16 yards on 5 carries before leaving with a sprained ankle.

"Welcome to the NFL, rookie! We mean business, baby!

Said Payton that afternoon three years ago: "We have to evaluate what we did, because it wasn't good. That one is on me. I have got to do a better job getting these guys to play."

"You just look at the stats. The most telling stat of a game every time around is turnovers and takeaway ratio," said Brees. "Obviously, we had five turnovers. I could tell you already, your chances are not very good."

Yeah, Rex Ryan and his vicious, take-no-prisoners Ravens defense made life miserable for the Saints that fall day in '06.

Nevertheless, times have changed.

The Saints parted ways with some of the donkeys on that team (Josh Bullocks comes to mind), and, this off-season, replaced a donkey defensive coordinator with a thoroughbred, Gregg Williams.

As a result, "Broadway Joe" Sanchez is likely to face a lot more heat than he has the previous three weeks, and I have yet to see a quarterback look good when he is getting knocked on his arse every other play.

Remember Brady against the Giants two years ago. Brady. Poor bastard.

If Will Smith and Charles Grant repeat their performances of a week ago in Buffalo, bringing the heat from every conceivable angle, those lights on Broadway may dim a bit by Sunday night. You can bet Williams will show the rookie rockstar QB looks he's never ever seen.

The stink eye! Welcome to the NFL, rook! How do you do!

The old man on the Potomac was right. At the end of the day in this league, you are either a thoroughbred or a donkey.

If Sanchez loses his first game as an NFL starter Sunday in the Superdome, my guess is Rex Ryan won't be too upset with his first-year QB "Broadway Joe" Sanchez.

After all, he wouldn't be the first rookie signal caller that defensive coordinator Williams made to look like a donkey.

Remember, only jackasses get mad at donkeys, and whoever accused the revered Ryan family of being jackasses?