New York Jets Head to Oakland for First Time Since Hot Dog Incident Two Years Ago
As the New York Jets get ready to play the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, the Raiders are using a pretty unique motivational tool to get ready to face the 2-0 Jets.
It will be the Jets’ first time in Oakland since a 38-0 beatdown of the Raiders in 2009, a game that was thoroughly dominated by the Jets from start to finish.
It was the first shutout victory of head coach Rex Ryan’s coaching career, and one of then-rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez’s easiest victories to date.
Late in the 4th quarter of that game, with the Raiders way out of reach of changing the inevitable outcome, Sanchez was among the Jets starters who were pulled from the game and got some rest on the sidelines.
In a moment that could only happen here in this day and age with the technology we have, a camera crew caught the young quarterback discreetly eating a hot dog on the field while he sat on the bench.
It caused an outrage in Oakland and around the league, as it was seen as an act of disrespect towards the Raiders after they were already humiliated on the field of play.
“I didn’t mean it as a form of disrespect,” Sanchez said at the time. ”I wasn’t trying to take away from anything the team had going on.”
“People have gotten some laughs out of it and we all kind of joked about it, but it’s one of those things that I definitely need to learn from and it was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
To his credit, Sanchez turned the incident into a positive, as he then donated 500 hot dogs and 500 hamburgers to a soup kitchen in New Jersey once the team returned home.
Yet, even with a new head coach in Hue Jackson, the Raiders have not forgotten the embarrassment they endured at the hands of the Jets two years ago. And yes, that includes the hot dog incident.
“Coach showed that to us,” said defensive tackle Tommy Kelly. “It was just a reminder. We’re going to remind him of that during the game.”
A couple of Jets players laughed off the threat, including tight end Dustin Keller, one of Sanchez’s favorite targets.
“That’s dumb,” Keller said. “I guess if that’s bulletin-board material, use what you can. He ate a hot dog. So what? I don’t think it’s upsetting.”
“I could see it from the opponents’ perspective. If you’re losing and the quarterback is so relaxed he’s having a hot dog on the sideline, it could kind of anger you. But I don’t see it as bulletin-board material.”
“You have to do whatever you need to do to get your team riled up,” said linebacker Bart Scott. “We understand that. We’ll be up for the challenge.”
“I hope we can make it more interesting for him so he doesn’t have to eat hot dogs,” said Raiders coach Hue Jackson. “Hopefully, we can take the mustard, the relish, and the onions—all that—and put it away and play a little football.”
I’m sure Rex Ryan would not want it any other way. The Jets (2-0) and Raiders (1-1) will kick off on Sunday at 4:05 pm EST.
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