Pending a physical and a medical evaluation on his surgically repaired throwing shoulder, Mark Sanchez will be reportedly joining the Philadelphia Eagles. The 27 year old underwent a miserable ending to a 4-year stint that began with the utmost potential.
After the Jets used their first round pick on Sanchez in 2009, making him the 5th overall player selected in the draft, he quickly found himself in the role of the team’s starting quarterback. As a rookie he went on to lead his team to the AFC championship and win the Pepsi Rookie of the Year award. The following season, he was able to get his team back to the playoffs and once again fell one game short of the Super Bowl. In the following off-season he was named a team captain and looked to have handled the bright lights of Broadway better than most ever have.
Two dismal years later, the team had already drafted his replacement and sent Sanchez on his way. Posting some of the worst numbers in franchise history from the QB position and suffering a serious injury to his throwing shoulder was enough for the Jets to give up on the once infamous Mark ‘Sanchise.’
The coincidental part about the whole situation is that the Jets and Eagles subconsciously swapped backup quarterbacks from the previous season in less than a week without making any trades. The big news going out of Philly late last week was Michael Vick would be the latest addition to the New York Jets and the big news coming out of New York early this week will be Sanchez to the birds.
Another interesting thing to take into consideration is the background of second year coach Chip Kelly. Being a coach at Oregon for five years he has direct knowledge and experience with the Pacific 12 (former Pacific 10) conference. In his first full off-season with the Philadelphia Eagles the entire depth chart at the Quarterback position will be made up of Pac-12 alum. Kelly faced newly acquired Sanchez in 07-08 at USC, second year QB Matt Barkley in 09-12 at USC and the All Pro starting QB Nick Foles in 09-11 at Arizona. He must have really like what he saw in his competition because he cleared house in Philadelphia pretty quickly. He also knows a thing or two about offense so Coach Kelly and a fresh start in a new city may be just what Sanchez needs to rejuvenate his fading career.
The next big question out of Philadelphia may also involve the Jets. All Pro receiver Desean Jackson (who is coincidentally also a Pac-12 grad) has been in the news lately about possibly being on his way out of Philadelphia after coaches and management reportedly have become ‘fed up’ with the outspoken playmaker. Eagles nation would certainly be looking for an in depth explanation if Jackson is moved, being that he is on a short list as one of the most explosive players in the game today. Despite Howie Roseman not commenting on the matter in a press conference earlier today, being close friends with the newest Jet Mike Vick has many believing that the two will be traveling together this off-season.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
