Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Mark Sanchez was once deemed the New York Jets‘ franchise quarterback, coming out of a USC program that was producing first-round draft picks on a football factory assembly line. His first two seasons with the Jets, his mediocrity went largely unnoticed or ignored because of the overall team success, going to two straight AFC Championship games.
Then, as the team began to slowly dissolve, Sanchez became more and more exposed, and with that, criticized and ridiculed.
By the end of his fourth season in 2012, the only thing that Sanchez had become synonymous with was the infamous “Butt Fumble” play. Folks, I’m here to tell you…if your career is ever defined at any point by the words “butt” or “fumble”, it’s time for a Sunday jaunt through the classified ads.
Even bringing in the electrifying (Hahahahahah!) Tim Tebow didn’t even help to get Sanchez off the schneid, and that was a tactic that even jolted Kyle Orton. Well, it sent Orton into shock…but that’s another story.
So coming into 2013, new Jets GM John Idzik has laid down the law, stating that there will be an open quarterback competition, and that nobody is favored as the starter right now.
So now Sanchez has to be a bit nervous, right?
Wrong. Sanchez told reporters, “I know Mr. Idzik and [coach] Rex [Ryan] are big on competition, and that was really the theme heading into this year — and I completely understand that.”
“I think it’ll bring out the best in everyone on the team,” he continued. “Everyone has to compete for their spot and I totally respect that. As far as I’m concerned, I’m preparing to play well for this team and do everything in my control to be the best quarterback on the roster.”
Is it just me, or is this a fairly Southern California-type attitude? At least he wasn’t scarfing down a hot dog during the interview.
Basically this means that Sanchez isn’t going to compete. He doesn’t look hungry, he doesn’t act hungry nor does he show any sense of urgency about the situation. Pretty odd for a guy who’s NFL life (and that of his head coach) pretty much hang in the balance with this season.
What the Jets should take away from this is that they now, more than ever, have to go out and find themselves a quarterback in this year’s draft. And if that means trading away Darrelle Revis, Tim Tebow, and Rex Ryan‘s tattoo artist, then they need to do it.
Sanchez has obviously given up, not that it hadn’t already been apparent in his play, but now his words pretty much echo his actions on the field.
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Michael Collins is a Rant Sports Senior Writer, and Atlanta sports columnist. Follow him @GaSportsCraze on Twitter and here on Facebook
