Mark Sanchez, NY Jets met at Combine
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) on the sidelines during the game agains the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez recently resumed throwing again, and he’s on pace to be healthy by the time training camp starts. In fact, he’s made so much progress that he could be ready for OTAs. But between now and then (the 25th of March, rather), the Jets have a decision to make when it comes to keeping or releasing their backup QB, who would be owed a $2 million roster bonus on the 25th. If the Jets and Sanchez can’t agree to a new deal, then he will be released before that roster bonus is triggered.
ESPN New York’s Rich Cimini reports that Sanchez’s representatives and the Jets met at the Combine in order to discuss his future with the team. Cimini writes that the talks are considered “preliminary”, so there were obviously no serious conclusions made. However, both sides will continue talking about a deal, and it’s clear that Sanchez would have to take a massive paycut. He’s simply not good enough to keep as a veteran backup and “insurance” policy to hopeful franchise QB Geno Smith when he’s making $9 million next season and even more each year until his contract runs out in 2017.
Barring a new deal, Sanchez’s time in New York will be over, and it will be interesting to see if some team does actually view him as a capable starting quarterback in this league. If Sanchez is indeed released, then the Jets are expected to sign Michael Vick as a stopgap option to Smith, and Vick is a better option than Sanchez despite his injury issues.
Cimini finishes the piece by writing that the Jets are expected to cut Sanchez and that there’s “growing speculation in league circles” that Vick could be the veteran replacement.