The Mark Sanchez rumors will not stop. The quarterback cannot catch a break. However, some Jets fans will say he does not deserve a break after the way he played in 2012. After the New York Jets drafted Geno Smith in the second round, the thought that Sanchez will not be in a Jets' uniform come 2013 does not seem that far off. Yes, the team has come out in support of the quarterback that is currently signed to a large contract, but if Smith continues to look the part, the team will not hesitate to break ties with the former first-round pick.
Peter King of SI.com reports the Jets will likely cut or trade Sanchez prior to Week One if Smith looks impressive over the summer. The talks of these rumors have only increased after Smith participated in rookie minicamp. If backup David Garrard stays healthy, the Jets will move on with those two on top of the depth chart and Sanchez nowhere to be seen.
Throughout the first weekend Smith was in a New York uniform, the 22-year old acted every part of the starting quarterback. He held player-only meetings with fellow rookies in the team hotel so everyone could work together learning plays. He handled the media like a veteran. On the field, media reports that he threw a great deep ball, looked comfortable with the offense and made great decisions with plays.
Now, two days of practices is not enough to judge whether or not Smith can handle an NFL game, it does continue to put heat on Sanchez. Head coach Rex Ryan has said that when training camp begins, Sanchez will take snaps with the first-team like assumed. However, he has also said it is open competition for the starting job.
The issue with breaking ties with Sanchez is his current contract. He currently has a contract with $8.75 million in guaranteed money whether he is with the Jets or not. If the Jets can manage a trade for him, they could foreseeably eat about $6 million of dead money. If he is released, they eat even more. A team must be willing to work with New York and take on the large contract.
The fate of Sanchez could come down to Garrard. If the backup stays healthy through camp and the Jets think he will be reliable to the team, Sanchez could be packing his bags sooner rather than later.
