Results tagged “startingquarterback”

Clearly sick of wasting press conference time disguising the inevitable, Jets' Head Coach Rex Ryan has reportedly given the starting quarterback job to rookie Mark Sanchez. FoxSports broke the news that Ryan told Sanchez and Kellen Clemens this morning before making the decision official at his next press conference this afternoon. Ryan had said early on in camp that he was hoping to avoid any dragged-out controversy by naming his starter for September 13th's season opener before the third preseason game and apparently stuck with that, despite Sanchez looking like a deer in headlights when he stepped onto the field against the tough Ravens' defense Monday night. The Jets' new coach said he would not hesitate in going into the season with a rookie running the huddle after seeing the success Joe Flacco had last year while Ryan was coaching in Baltimore. Other than Sanchez's flashy first pass, neither he nor Clemens have made a clear case for the job in the two exhibitions. But if there's been any general consensus from local media on the SoCal youngster, it's that it must be difficult to say no to this Sex in Spikes.

Despite the team's 23-20 loss to the Rams last night, Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez stepped onto the field for his first taste of NFL action and showed off an arm that was as red hot as the abs he put on display in GQ a few months ago. In Sanchez's first play from the Jets' 7-yard-line, he coolly tossed a 48-yard completion down the field to David Clowney. Sanchez went 3-for-4 on his only drive, passing for 88 yards and capping it off with a 2-yard touchdown pass. New Head Coach Rex Ryan told reporters after the game that he doesn't think "we're there yet" as far as deciding who will start at QB come opening day. But fans at Giants Stadium sounded like their mind was made up when a sea of newly bought Sanchez jerseys roared for the rookie out of USC when he replaced Kellen Clemens at the end of the first quarter. Clemens didn't help himself out in winning over the Gang Green faithful after a fumble on his third play of the game. Most of the coverage seemed to agree that Sanchez may have assured himself the job with the performance, even if the Daily News worries that the Jets had "a very vanilla game plan" with their rookie due to his unfamiliarity with the offense.

Ever since the Jets got a whiff of former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez at the NFL Scouting Combine, they have certainly been aggressive in doing everything they can to put him in place as the team's next starting QB. After trading up to draft Sanchez fifth in April (and supporting his shirts-off time photo shoot in May), the team wasted little time in getting him signed to a five-year deal that looks to be worth around $50 million ($60M if Sanchez begins building a Jets dynasty with big results). Sanchez is only the second first-rounder to sign and it appears the quick contract paves the way to make the starting job his to lose. The $28 million in guaranteed money is lower than other recent first-round QBs (who have been signing for six years), but it still makes the deal the richest in Jets history.