First, it was the color-coded scheme to stop rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez from throwing interceptions. Then, it was a visit Tuesday from Yankees manager Joe Girardi to teach Sanchez how to slide.

What’s next, an eating etiquette class taught by Martha Stewart?

Sanchez, who has experienced more than a few growing pains this season, was tutored by Girardi on the art of sliding with his left knee extended during a 10-minute session on the indoor turf at their Florham Park complex on a mat.

The Jets had been tying to get Sanchez to slide at the end of runs but he has been reluctant, in part, because it is unnatural for a right-hander to slide off his right knee.

Sanchez, who wears a brace on his left knee, tweaked the knee in Sunday’s 17-6 victory over the Panthers when he was tackled by Panthers cornerback Richard Marshall. He suffered a bone bruise and had the knee dislocated in college.

‘‘(Sanchez) is too valuable and he needs to understand that we need him out there and people are going to take shots at him if he doesn’t start sliding,’’ coach Rex Ryan said. ‘‘I really did want to make an emphasis to Mark and get the best guy that we can in the area.’’

Ryan, who came up with the idea on Monday night, called Yankees president Randy Levine Tuesday morning and asked if he could send a sliding coach to practice. Ryan said he was surprised to learn Girardi was in town and would stop by. Girardi also spoke to the team.

‘‘I’ve never really been a slider,’’ Sanchez said. ‘‘In baseball, I slid head first. It’s something that you need to learn at this level. Because I wear that brace on my left leg, you don’t want to hook that leg into the ground. It might get stuck.

‘‘(Girardi) showed me how to do it with the opposite leg and hook (the left) leg under. He showed me how to protect the ball and try not to fall on one side or the other or my shoulder, just absorb the blow with my butt and my legs. I really appreciated it.’’

Ryan called Girardi a ‘‘natural’’ and said he did a ‘‘great job.’’

• Jets S Kerry Rhodes said yesterday that Ryan told him he’ll play in more packages tomorrow against the Bills and his benching was a ‘‘learning thing.’’ He played mainly in nickel and dime packages last week.

Rhodes also sounded like he’s planning his exit strategy. He’s due a $2 million roster bonus in March and a $2.7 million base salary in 2010.

‘‘We got five games left,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m going to play hard. When you’re in a situation like this, you can’t go into the tank because other teams look at that.’’

• Bills WR Terrell Owens finally knows Jets CB Darrelle Revis’ name. Two seasons ago, Owens famously said he’d never heard of Revis before the Jets played Dallas in a Thanksgiving Day game.

‘‘(Revis) is pretty solid,’’ Owens told Buffalo reporters. ‘‘Very competitive. He’s one of those guys that can play on an island by himself and well deserving because of his skills. Definitely, it gives me the luxury and the opportunity to go up against a guy like that. We’ll see how it goes.’’

Owens was held to three catches for 13 yards in the first meeting.

• Ryan said he spoke to WR Braylon Edwards in no uncertain terms about carrying the football in one hand as he did vs. the Panthers on a screen pass. The coach also talked to TE Dustin Keller, who fumbled at the 1-yard line.

• CBs Dwight Lowery (ankle) and Donald Strickland (concussion) and T Rob Turner (knee) didn't practice. Lowery and Strickland are out.