It's official. Quarterback Mark Sanchez is coming to the Denver Broncos. Some football fans might not know much about him, so 9NEWS decided to rectify that.
Here are nine things to know about Mark Sanchez:
1. He's a Cali boy
Denver won't be the first time Sanchez has lived west of the Mississippi. Sanchez was born in Long Beach, Calif., grew up in Mission Viejo and attended the University of Southern California.
2. His family is all about football
His father consulted coaches Bill Cunerty, who formerly coached at Saddleback College, and Bob Johnson, the head coach at Mission Viejo High School. His father trained him during backyard sessions or at the park growing up.
3. Instant success in high school
Sanchez's first pass attempt for Mission Viejo High School was a 55-yard touchdown. He was a sophomore. Sanchez led the Diablos to a 27–1 record culminating with the California Interscholastic Federation Division II championship in 2004.
4. He had some big shoes to fill instantly
When Sanchez arrived at USC in 2005, fans had instant expectations, since his reputation proceeded him. However, he sat out a year to preserve eligibility. While on the bench, future NFL quarterback Matt Leinart and quarterback John David Booty played. Sanchez started playing in 2006 once Booty started having health issues with his back.
5. Discipline issues in college
Sanchez was not without controversy in college. In April 2006, Sanchez was arrested after a female USC student accused him of sexual assault. He was released from jail the following day and suspended. On June 3, 2006, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office announced no charges would be filed, and Sanchez was reinstated, though he was disciplined by the football team for underage drinking and using false identification on the night he was arrested.
6. First-round draft pick aka: 'Sanchize'
The New York Jets drafted Sanchez using the fifth overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, making him the first quarterback selected by the Jets in the first round since Chad Pennington. To select Sanchez, the Jets traded their first and second round selections and three players, Kenyon Coleman, Abram Elam and Brett Ratliff, to the Cleveland Browns. At the time, the selection was lauded as good value for the team and for Sanchez. Sanchez reached an agreement with the team on June 10, 2009, signing a five-year, $50 million contract, with $28 million guaranteed. It is the largest contract the Jets signed a player to in franchise history, leading to his everlasting nickname: "Mark Sanchize."
7. Inconsistent NFL career, injuries
Sanchez started in 2009 for the Jets and led them to their first playoff berth since 2006. They went to the AFC Championship but lost to the Indianapolis Colts -- and Peyton Manning coincidentally. In 2010, Sanchez struggled with his throwing accuracy, but the Jets eked into the playoffs and went to the AFC Championship for a second consecutive season. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Jets in the championship game. Before the 2011 season, Sanchez was named team captain by Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan. However, that season, Sanchez was plagued by lots of interceptions and discontent in the locker room. Sanchez threw three interceptions in the Jets' loss to the Miami Dolphins that eliminated the team from playoff contention. And here's another Broncos connection, it was after that season that the Jets acquired former Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. Late in the 2012 season, Sanchez flip flopped the starting job with Greg McElroy and suffered a concussion. In 2013, the Jets drafted quarterback Geno Smith, calling into question Sanchez's starting job. In the third game, Sanchez injured his shoulder and didn't play the rest of the season. The Jets released Sanchez after that season. In 2014, he was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles the same season they acquired quarterback Michael Vick. He was the backup for Nick Foles until Foles was injured. Sanchez rebounded with a 88.4 passer rating. Despite this better performance, he didn't play for the Eagles until Week 10 after then-starting quarterback Sam Bradford was injured during the game. However, his play was plagued by interceptions again, leading to the Eagles trading him to the Broncos.
8. The infamous "butt fumble"
How could we make this list without mentioning the "butt fumble?" If you don't follow the NFL too closely, or you refuse to crack up Monday morning over sports-related GIFs, you might have missed this hilarious blooper. In front of a New York home crowd of 79,000 at MetLife Stadium and a primetime television audience of 20 million, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez collided with the backside of his teammate Brandon Moore and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the New England Patriots' Steve Gregory and returned for a touchdown. The play was the centerpiece of a disastrous sequence in the second quarter, as the Jets lost three fumbles and the Patriots scored three touchdowns—one each on offense, defense, and special teams—all in the span of 52 seconds of game time. The game and the so-called "butt fumble" in particular are remembered as the low point of the Jets' 2012 season. The butt fumble was ranked as the most embarrassing moment in Jets history by ESPN.
9. He loves musical theatre
Sanchez is an avid fan of musical theatre. He was a presenter at the 2010 Tony Awards, where he introduced a number from the Broadway musical Memphis. His trade away from the Jets obviously greatly limited his ability to see Broadway musicals whenever he liked, but he still remains a passionate follower of the theatre.
