Jets sign Sanchez for reported $28M guaranteed

[MIAdragon]

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) - The New York Jets and quarterback Mark Sanchez reached an agreement on a multiyear contract Wednesday.

Sanchez was the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft in April after leading Southern California to a Rose Bowl victory over Penn State with a record-setting performance. The quarterback is competing with veteran Kellen Clemens for the Jets' starting job, up for grabs after the retirement of Brett Favre.

The deal is for five years and contains $28 million in guarantees, ESPN reported. Other terms of the contract were not immediately available, but it was expected to be for quite a bit less than the $41.7 million in guarantees Detroit gave top pick Matthew Stafford as part of a six-year deal worth up to $78 million.

New York's last two top picks, linebacker Vernon Gholston and cornerback Darrelle Revis, reported to training camp late while trying to negotiate deals.

Sanchez has impressed at times during organized team activities and minicamp practices, showing lots of poise, confidence and good decision-making skills. He and Clemens have been about even in their competition.

"You gain confidence as you go," Sanchez said earlier Wednesday. "Now I am starting to really feel the defense and see what is going on. As difficult as our defense can be I am starting to get an idea."

The Jets made a bold draft-day move to get Sanchez, acquiring the fifth overall pick from Cleveland and former coach Eric Mangini for their first-round pick, their second-rounder (No. 52), and defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and quarterback Brett Ratliff.

Sanchez went 14-2 as a starter with the Trojans, including the Rose Bowl win in January. His lack of experience — he had only one full season as a starter — had some questioning whether he was truly ready for the NFL, but the Jets loved what they saw of him in private workouts and a classroom session in a hotel room at the owners' meetings in California in March.

After drafting Sanchez, coach Rex Ryan said there would be an open competition for the quarterback job.

"We've got two really good quarterbacks, and the competition is going to be fierce," Ryan said on the first day of minicamp Tuesday. "At training camp, it's going to be a great battle."

Sanchez already is becoming a fan favorite, with several fans in the crowd at minicamp wearing his No. 6 jersey. He also has gotten lots of attention, befitting that of a budding star in New York, with a swimsuit spread in GQ magazine, throwing out the first pitch at a Mets game and tabloids wondering about his love life.

But Sanchez says he's concentrating on his game on the field.

"I think that more than anything, the next couple of days are vital," he said. "I have to show that I'm really coming along from rookie camp. Then next week, we have rookie OTAs for first- and second-year guys and rookies. With all of the veterans gone, that is my chance to really take charge and assume command of the offense."

[SBK]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Wow, he made a huge mistake not returning to school. He likely would have gone #1 next year. With Stafford getting 41 mil guaranteed this year, Sanchez probably could have walked off with 45 million instead of 28.

He's on a decent team, with what seems to be a good coach, and he's one of the highest paid players in the league.

SUCKS TO BE HIM!

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by milkman

Oh No!!!

How's he going to feed his family with a piddling 28 mil?

It's a tragedy, I tells ya.

Exactly.

Hell, he could have played hardball and gotten more THIS year. I was fully expecting him to get Matt Ryan's deal from last year.

Instead, he's signed early.

Pretty clear that football is his priority, not money.

[cdcox]

Hell we're paying half that for one season.

[Jethopper]

LOL at anyone thinking he is good.

[Mecca]

Signed early, smart guy.

Little things like that are what will make him a top player.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Jethopper

LOL at anyone thinking he is good.

LOL at anyone who thinks you're not the ghey.

NTTATWWT

[KCChiefsMan]

I have a feeling that guy is going to be pretty good. despite the lack of experience. he seems like he has that "it" factor, and whatever "it" is, he's got it

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by milkman

LOL at anyone who thinks you're not the ghey.

NTTATWWT

He's probably one of the guys who thinks Colt McCoy is a great prospect.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Mecca

He's probably one of the guys who thinks Colt McCoy is a great prospect.

I think that McCoy has a lot of work on mechanics and reads when he gets to the NFL, and he'll take time to develop, but I also think that if he can learn, he has some intangibles that could eventually rasie him to Drew Brees level.

[EyePod]

Originally Posted by orange

Mecca *hearts* Sanchez

almost

[EyePod]

Originally Posted by Mr. Krab's

Mecca loves Sanchez's balls.

You win.

[Deberg_1990]

Stay off the beach and get your a$$ on the practice field!

Signed,
Rodney Harrison

[EyePod]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Signed early, smart guy.

Little things like that are what will make him a top player.

There's just that whole him not having enough experience though. He shouldn't be good in NY.

[EyePod]

Originally Posted by Mecca

He's probably one of the guys who thinks Colt McCoy is a great prospect.

Just you wait. He's gonna be really great. Harrell had 70.6% last year, and he's the product of the spread, but with the CONSENSUS BEST RECEIVER IN THE COUNTRY (i.e. just having him on the field opened up everything for everyone else). McCoy was able to put a much better percentage (76.7%) while also RUNNING THE BALL A SHIT TON, plus he had no one on his ****ing team. So don't give me that crap about him being a product of the spread. Harrell is a product of the spread. McCoy worked for his numbers, and he will be the best QB out of next years draft regardless of where he's picked.

[Mecca]

1 year in pro style>4 years in the spread