Could Mark Sanchez Start For The Eagles in 2014?

Aug. 18, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) throws a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Jets win 37-13. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez is one of the most talked about quarterbacks in all of football. The interesting thing about Sanchez, is that most of the time that Sanchez is in the news, it is not for a good reason. The Sanchez story started in 2009 at the NFL Draft, where Sanchez was drafted fifth overall by the New York Jets.

Sanchez won the starting job from incumbent quarterback, now San Diego Chargers quarterback, Kellen Clemens. After winning the job, Sanchez led the Jets to the playoffs, it was there that he won two games, one against the Bengals, and the other against the Chargers to go to the AFC Championship. The next year Sanchez went back to the playoffs despite an injury-filled, up and down season.

In 2011 the Jets made a slight decline finishing 8-8 and second in the AFC East, not making the playoffs. In 2012 the Jets made an even bigger decline and so did Sanchez, finishing 6-10. In both 2011 and 2012 Sanchez threw 18 interceptions. He also fumbled four times in 2011 and nine times in 2012. By the 2013 season the Jets were tired of Sanchez’s decline and brought in New York  Jets  quarterback Geno Smith to battle for the starting job. Since Sanchez was injured before the start of the season, Smith had the job, and the end of Sanchez’s starting tenure with the Jets became imminent.

This year, the offseason of 2014, the Jets signed ex-Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick who recently lost the starting job to Eagles quarterback Nick Foles. Vick was originally thought to be the easy choice for the starter, but the Jets claim that it is Geno Smith’s job to lose. Meanwhile, after the addition of Vick, Mark Sanchez became expendable and the Jets released him. The Eagles then signed Sanchez to be their backup quarterback. The question is, is that the ceiling for Mark Sanchez? Is there the chance that we could get the Sanchez from 2010? Sanchez clearly thinks so when he said the following:

"“I’m always going to want to start,” he said. ” … It doesn’t matter where you are. All those guys want to play, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having that drive. I’ll keep that fire going and try and help this team the best I can.” (Quote Courtesy of NFL.com)"

Mark Sanchez throws the majority of his interceptions on the deep pass, but on an offense where short and medium ranged passes are valued so much more, both of which Sanchez excels at, Sanchez could have a shot at making an impact. Eagles head coach Chip Kelly didn’t just sign Sanchez to be a backup, that isn’t his style. Kelly is the kind of guy that wants to use everyone he can, and he thinks that he could revitalize Sanchez’s career. I would watch out for Mark Sanchez, because he could surprise you.

I wanted to try a new segment in my article this week called “Sign him, Trade him, Cut him”. In this segment I will list three players, and then you can comment that if you were a random team, which would you sign, which would you trade for, and which would you cut. Leave your response in the comments, and feel free to comment on the article as well:

Dez Bryant (Wide Receiver), Dallas Cowboys

Josh Gordon (Wide Receiver), Cleveland Browns

Julio Jones (Wide Receiver), Atlanta Falcons