No Matter What Happens, Jets Fly High by Drafting Sanchez & Do NFL Owners Discriminate Against Hiring Veteran Coaches? posted by Colin Linneweber
No Matter What Happens, Jets Fly High by Drafting Sanchez
The New York Jets selected former University of Southern California star quarterback Mark Sanchez Saturday after making a trade with the Cleveland Browns to acquire the 5th overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Sanchez, 22, a third-generation Mexican American who was named the 2009 Rose Bowl MVP, wowed Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer during a workout at his old high school last month and Gang Green's brass were determined to land the Trojans onetime signal-caller.
"We saw the great feet, we saw the poise and how confident he was," said Ryan of the 2008 First Team All-Pac 10 nomination who played 16 games as a Trojan in Coach Pete Carroll's sophisticated, pro-style offense. "Brian put him through every route known to man and he passed every throw with flying colors. We knew right then this is the guy we wanted."
In order to attain the 5th pick, New York traded Cleveland their first and second round choices (17 and 52) and starting defensive end Kenyon Coleman, promising quarterback Brett Ratliffe and productive safety Abram Elam.
Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum admitted it was peculiar to forge a deal with Browns coach Eric Mangini only months after he handed the famous whistleblower his deserved pink slip.
"It is ironic, but we also looked at it as an opportunity," Tannenbaum remarked of brokering a deal with the coaching “genius” who faltered on the sidelines in Gotham.
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