NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez is currently a free agent after being released on Friday by the New York Jets, but it appears that he won’t be one for long. On Tuesday, ESPN reported that Sanchez may join the Philadelphia Eagles if he gets the thumbs up after the Eagles’ medical evaluation.
The Eagles is not the only team to show interest in Sanchez. According to the Daily News, the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and St. Louis Rams have also expressed their interest in the 27-year-old quarterback.
Coach Jeff Fisher of the Rams confirmed this on Sunday, saying that their team is in need of a “backup with experience.” The team’s current roster includes Austin Davis, who lacks experience, and Sam Bradford, who was injured in October with a torn ACL.
The Eagles might’ve reportedly found a replacement for Michael Vick. It’s Mark Sanchez. http://t.co/wDcLzBRlRo pic.twitter.com/M2gmaf2Zgq
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 24, 2014
Being a backup seems to be Sanchez’s best position at the moment. The player struggled with performance consistency in the 2011 and 2012 seasons before a preseason shoulder injury landed him on the injured list last season.
Sanchez, who played college football at the University of Southern California, was the Jets’ fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL Draft in 2009. He was immediately placed in the starting lineup and he proved to be a great player, due in part to his team’s strong defense.
In the first two seasons that Sanchez was with the Jets, they were able to make it to the American Football Conference championships. However, when the running game faltered and their defense slipped, Sanchez’s performance also went down hill. On April 2013, the Jets drafted quarterback Geno Smith. Just this month the team signed Michael Vick.
Geno Smith is all about Michael Vick joining the Jets. Smith called the move “awesome.” http://t.co/CKI1eSbIFW pic.twitter.com/pnAyM5nM5Y
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 23, 2014
The probability that Sanchez may sign up with the Rams increases with the fact that he has worked with the Rams’ offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer before, when Schottenheimer had that position with the Jets during Sanchez’s first two seasons in New York.
Sanchez gave his thanks to fans and the Jets via WhoSay, which was linked to his Twitter account. In his post, he said that playing quarterback for the Jets had been a thrill for him. “I want to thank the guys in the locker room…I’ll miss you guys and I’ll miss the good times we shared.”
The infamous “Butt Fumble” by Mark Sanchez
Other less than flattering plays by Sanchez
Image via Mark Sanchez, Twitter