The New York Jets are by far the best soap opera in the NFL.
On April 25, 2009, Gang Green took a leap of faith with a franchise-changing decision, moving up 12 spots to select USC QB Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
In his rookie year, he completed 196 of 364 passes (53.8 completion percentage) for 2,444 yards with 12 touchdowns to 20 interceptions in 15 games (all starts). In his second season, Sanchez started every game and completed 54.8 percent of his passes (278 of 507) for 3,291 yards with 17 touchdowns to 13 interceptions.
The numbers for the 6-2, 225-pound quarterback were slightly better in 2011, when he connected on 308 of his 543 throws (56.7 completion percentage) for 3,474 yards and 26 touchdowns to 18 interceptions.
However, after leading the Jets to back-to-back appearances in the AFC Championship, Sanchez and company managed to fall short of expectations last season and ended the year on a three-game losing skid.
At the end of a calamitous 8-8 campaign, the locker room was an udder disaster, riddled with selfishness and eroding confidence in starting signal-caller Mark Sanchez. Then the team picked up Tim Tebow.
Photo Via Gang Green Nation Facebook Page
The move didn’t prove to help the starting signal-caller. In 2012, through 14 games (all starts), Sanchez completed 229 of 418 passes (54.8 pct.) for 2,678 yards with 13 TDs to 17 INTs — which was the exact opposite of his 2010 TD-to-INT ratio.
One day after head coach Rex Ryan benched Mark Sanchez for third-string QB Greg McElroy for Sunday’s contest against the San Diego Chargers, the New York Daily News learned that the team will trade its former 2009 first round draft pick.
According to a report from Manish Mehta, Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick would be “amenable”to joining the Jets if Sanchez is out of the equation. Coach Rex Ryan is said to have an “affinity” for Vick and Mehta spoke to a team source who was all in favor of the dual-threat QB taking his talents to New York.
“Bring it on,” the source said. “He was hit too many times (behind a subpar offensive line) the last two years.”
Photo Via Philadelphia Eagles Official Facebook Page
Over the past two seasons, Vick has turned the ball over a total of 32 times. That’s a lot, but it’s still a lot less than the 50 giveaways that have come from Sanchez over the same span. Operating behind Gang Green’s O-Line could cut down on those turnovers for Vick, who will most likely part ways with him this offseason.
Though the Jets’ protection hasn’t been that great for much of the last two seasons, the 6-0, 215-pound quarterback would fit the profile of a dynamic quarterback who can create plays on his feet and draw a plethora of media coverage.
Michael Gartman is a College Football and NFL Senior Writer, the AFC South and NFC West Lead Writer and the Founder, CEO of GridironGrit.com. He’s also about to start reporting on topics across all sides of the political spectrum and analyze important issues in the liberty movement for a political website. Follow him @_MichaelGartman on Twitter.
Be sure to ‘like’ Gridiron Grit on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GridironGrit to keep up with the latest coverage on college football, the NFL and more!
Pingback: Cincinnati Bengals Sign Aaron Maybin | GridironGrit.com