Rex Ryan doesn’t usually laugh when Joe Namath opens his mouth to discuss his former team. (US Presswire)

One could argue -- and one most likely would be correct -- that former Jets star quarterback Joe Namath talks too much when it comes to the current status of his former team. He complains about the gameday preparation of the squad or he makes a fat joke about Rex Ryan or he talks about why Peyton Manning should NOT choose the Jets in his free agency bonanza.

Basically, Namath talks -- and it’s usually critical -- and the media (including, um, us) write up what he says. Not because it’s especially relevant, but because it’s Namath and because it’s fun to analyze his ramblings.

Over the years, Namath hasn’t been especially kind to Mark Sanchez, though Sanchez has handled the criticism well. Now, however, Namath is building up the Jets starter, especially when Namath compares him to (his eventual replacement, right?) the newly acquired Tim Tebow.

Not that Namath’s opinion matters in the slightest, but we feel compelled to let you know what he said anyway, calling Sanchez “sensational” and “much better “than Tebow.

“There’s no doubt about it, there’s no doubt about it at all,” Namath said Tuesday night, according to the Newark Star Ledger. “At this point, certainly. And Mark’s going to get better. He’s going into his fourth year. Golly, I remember a team that won a championship with a quarterback in his fourth year. I hope it happens again.”

Namath, of course, is referring to himself when he helped lead New York to an upset victory in Super Bowl III.

Namath originally went on record saying he didn’t like the trade for Tebow, specifically because of the Wildcat offense the Jets will deploy more often in an attempt to get Tebow some game action. But lately, he’s been more positive about the development.

“I’m a big Mark Sanchez fan. I’ve also been a Tebow fan since his freshman year at Florida,” Namath said. “When draft day came up, I said, ‘Somebody’s got to draft this kid,’ because he’s only positive for the team, for anybody, whatever work he does. He’s going to bring a lot of positive vibes and effort, and it’s a plus. … How it works out, I don’t know. That remains to be seen.”

Namath knows the Jets don’t appreciate it when he speaks his mind. Probably because, 90 percent of the time, the words that come out of his mouth are of the negative variety. But at least Sanchez can take solace in the fact that a quarterbacking legend thinks he’s better than his backup.

For now, at least.

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