Mark Sanchez And… The Bucs?
September 5th, 2013
Joe knows favorite topics among Bucs fans are whining about how other people won’t spend their money so said Bucs fans can watch a Bucs game free in their living rooms, and Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman.
Joe simply cannot remember a local athlete who had so many cheerleaders and detractors all at the same time. Both loyal to their causes to the point of near-civil unrest.
Joe just wonders if the same division among Bucs fans would exist if, three years ago, the Bucs drafted girlie-hairband-wearing Mark Sanchez?
It’s not as crazy as you may think. Consider what long-time Jets beat writer Rich Cimini, now working for BSPN, had to say about the goings-on in Jetsland in the spring of 2009.
First, a quick story about Freeman. The Jets’ scouts actually had him graded higher than Mark Sanchez before the ’09 draft, but they adjusted the grades after Sanchez’s personal workout and interviews. I wonder how things would’ve played out if the Jets had picked Freeman.
With Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik mandated to draft a franchise quarterback of the future, and Freeman off the board, would Dominik had pulled the trigger on Sanchez?
The Jets quarterback has his detractors. Many of them, in fact, hence why the Jets drafted Geno Smith, this Sunday’s starter. But Sanchez does have some major scoreboard over Freeman and that is Sanchez because led the Jets to two AFC championship games. Freeman has yet to lead the Bucs to one postseason appearance, and that is why many of his detractors have their panties all bunched up, and deservedly so.
Had Sanchez been with the Bucs, would he have guided the Bucs over the hump and into the playoffs in 2010, or led the Bucs down the stretch last season?
Only the zealots of the Mike Glennon Mob hate Freeman. Every Bucs partisan from Bryan and Joel Glazer on down to the loneliest Bucs fans living in China watching games online would love nothing more than for Freeman to rid himself of his non-playoff slump.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:13 pm
We got the right QB from that draft, or at least as good as there was.
As for anyone rooting against Freeman they simply aren’t a Bucs fan. Period.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:16 pm
Saying Sanchez guided the Jets to the post season is like saying the Dilfer led Ravens offense single handily won the Super Bowl. Ask those defenses how they feel about that.
Weak.
Team sport, people – team sport.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
I think in 5 years, every franchise not named the Seattle Seahawks will regret passing on Russell Wilson. We’d be Super Bowl favourites if Russell was our QB…
September 5th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Very well put bucfanjeff
September 5th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Yeah, Sanchez couldn’t lead a group of 10 year olds. It was the Jets D that lead the team. C’mon now. Imagine last season with J-Fro at the helm, but with the Jets D from those AFC championship years. It helps when the defense doesn’t allow the other team back in the game.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Joe: “Every Bucs partisan from Bryan and Joel Glazer on down to the loneliest Bucs fans living in China…”
lol.. unless he’s in Hong Kong. that place is the sh!t. where else can buy donkey balls in one spot, and go next door to a strip clup and pay the stripper to shoot said donkey balls out of – 3 days!!!
September 5th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
You see, this is what I hate. That Sanchez “led” the team to the AFC championship(s). I don’t understand this mentality of ignoring their dominant defense to say a QB “led” the team. It’s the same with Shaun King. If the QB led the team then that means the defense did not and that is just a steaming pile of BS. There is a big difference between “being there” and “leading”.
Based on this theory, Mark Sanchez is a way better quarterback than Freeman and that is simply not true. No reasonable person would make that argument.
Based on Super Bowl championships, Eli Manning is a better QB than his brother. What about the mighty Tim Tebow? If wins determine a QB’s success then why is he being bounced around the league?
Winning takes a team. An entire team. There is a reason Eli and Brees watched the playoffs from home this past year. Brees had the most opportunistic defense in the league the year the won it all. (And a great motivational tactic in place.) Eli Manning has had some really good defenses too. The one year Freeman had a not-terrible defense, we won ten games.
I will never understand this concept of ignoring the rest of the team when evaluating a QB’s win/loss record.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Can’t wait for the media’s reaction when one of those media darlings (RG3, Luck, Wilson, Kappernick) come back to earth!
September 5th, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Agree with the posters above. Cmon Joe, you’re smarter than this. You know as well as we do that Sanchez didn’t lead anyone anywhere. He’s a garbage QB.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Sanchez is a great backup, nothing more.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:31 pm
^^^ just like Cam Newton^^^
September 5th, 2013 at 1:32 pm
I agree with WCBF, you give any team a good D and a shady QB playoffs are in the picture. If Sanchez were drafted by the bucs we’d be in the same or worse situation as we are now. The jets feel apart completely when Holmes when down and other WR. Just goes to show that Sanchez cannot really make the team better.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:32 pm
Joe knows what he’s doing. you guys are playing right into his hands. again, some people are just incapable of seeing the big picture… handle your Business, Joe!
September 5th, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Which one of these Joe’s is the super critical one? Read each article and see if you can tell? Sometimes it’s really obvious that they both don’t think exactly alike. Even though on the radio they sound likes brothers…. lol
September 5th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Being a starting QB, you are a leader on all 32 teams. It doesn’t matter if you suck, you are still a leader. The position demands it. So Joe is correct is saying he led that team… In the same way Shaun King led the Bucs, that you all seem to have such a big problem with. Joe didn’t say Sanchez was the primary reason why they won. Sheesh.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Joe –
“Only the zealots of the Mike Glennon Mob hate Freeman.”
Not true at all.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
I don’t buy it. I didn’t view Sanchez as the leader of the Jets, just as I didn’t view Trent Dilfer as the leader of the Ravens when they won their first Super Bowl.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:49 pm
@Couch Fan
I disagree.
All QBs are expected to lead, that doesn’t mean that is how it really goes down. You can only “lead” from the front and by saying the likes of Sanchez and King “led” their respective teams anywhere is misleading at best.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Being a leader as a QB is too vague of a statement. It should not be called that. Just because Sanchez is the leader doesn’t mean he led.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:53 pm
@Couch Fan
Lead: 1 a : to guide on a way especially by going in advance b : to direct on a course or in a direction
Sanchez didn’t lead the Jets anywhere, he was just lucky to play with such a strong team like the Jets at that time. The Jets were LEAD by a dominant defense, and a top rushing attack. Sanchez has always been a game-manager at best, and a crappy one as of late.
September 5th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
In that photo, Mark Sanchez looks like the bad guy from “GHOST.”
September 5th, 2013 at 1:58 pm
We got the better of the two Quarterbacks in 09′ and we definitely got the better of the two Quarterbacks in 13′. And the Jets will play second fiddle to us again this Sunday!!! Go Bucs
September 5th, 2013 at 1:58 pm
So they just gave him an extension for nothing? Clearly at one point in time he was viewed as a leader.
according to your logic, the only leaders on the team are the very best players since they are the only ones who can lead from the front.
So that is your defination of a leader?
September 5th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
@Couch Fan
Yes, the best players lead the team!!! What, are you saying Sanchez’s words meant more than the actions of the defense and running game? Those sacks, interceptions, tackles, rushing yards and touchdowns meant more to the Jets success than anything Sanchez ever said OR did, so yes, the best players are the real LEADERS of the team. Sanchez is the leader in butt fumbling though, so at least he has that going for him.
As for his extension, they are regretting the hell out of that dumb move right now. In fact, that extension he got, added to his horrendous play, is probably a key reason why Freeman isn’t resigned right now. The Bucs don’t want to get burned like the Jets did, signing over a huge lump of cash to a bad QB.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
I thought Walter defined it pretty well actually.
And;
Yes. The best players on the team lead. Garcia, Simms, Griese, etc. They did NOT lead this Bucs team for years. Brooks, Sapp and company did. This is not some state secret.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Never understood JBF’s mocking and condescending attitude to everyday Buc fans- whether it was mocking this so-called mob demanding Glennon be the starting QB, and now this kind of stuff.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
And as far as Sanchez getting an extension? So did Romo and the guy is a notorious and well documented choker. Undeserving players get extended some times in an attempt to boost their confidence and get them over the proverbial “hump”. It didn’t work for Sanchez. (Didn’t work for Michael Clayton either.)
Some players respond better to being put on the spot in a contract year. The best example in all the land is Joe Flacco playing out his final year and helping the Ravens to a championship season.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
I believe we’d have drafted him, but I doubt he could have “led” the Bucs to the playoffs.
However, my opinion of Sanchez is different from some. While the Jets had a better supporting staff than the Bucs have had (until recently), I think the way the Jets are run hampered the production of Sanchez over time.
I suspect that if he could somehow get out of there and sign with another team that has talent he would perform better.
However, I still think in the long term Freeman is going to be better than both Sanchez and Stafford.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
I think all of you are missing the point of the story. It is the same reason that has held the bucs back from having success. The reason that the Bucs have become perrenial bottom dewelers, Is because the pop-star will always draft for need, In 2009 the Bucs were drafting a QB, whether it was JFro-6pak or The Sanchize.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:23 pm
And Sanchez DID lead the Jets to those games. Why? Because you have to give him credit. If the team had done poorly, people would not hesitate to put the blame on Sanchez.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Lol @ couch fan the best players of the team ARE called leaders. Did they extend sanchez? If so THEN YES EVERYONE HERE CAN AGREE THE JETS EXTENDED HIM FOR NOTHING. THE QB THEY DRAFTED POINTS OUT THE OBVIOUS. i dont think sanchez will see the field unless smith collapses
September 5th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
They did NOT lead this Bucs team for years. Brooks, Sapp and company did.
—————————————————————
Yes they did lead. Are they the only leaders? No. Brad Jonson was also a leader. We do not win a super bowl without Brad jonson, who statisically broke Bucs records that year also… Look it up.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
No the best players on the team are called the best players on the team. You dont have to be a great player to be a leader. That is asinine.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
Please point out one bonafide leader in the entire league that is not a good-to-great player. Just one.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
The_Buc_Realist Says
“I think all of you are missing the point of the story. It is the same reason that has held the bucs back from having success. The reason that the Bucs have become perrenial bottom dewelers, Is because the pop-star will always draft for need, In 2009 the Bucs were drafting a QB, whether it was JFro-6pak or The Sanchize.”
Except that in the Freeman pick, Dominick was ordered to pick a QB in the first round by the Glazers. At the time of the pick, Freeman was the best on the board. That kind of renders your effort to bash Dominick for that as meaningless.
As it turned out, Freeman was the better choice anyway.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Me pointing anybody out is meaningless considering we think complete opposites.
Answer me this. TO was a GREAT player… was he also a leader?
I dam sure dont think so. Being a leader and a good/great player are 2 different things.
I’m not pointing anyone out to you because clearly our idea of “leaders” are vastly different. So we can agree to disagree. I have no problem calling Shaun King a leader on our teams.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
That is exactly what he did when he drafted a running back in the first round with a proven 1000 yard back on the roster.
Has Dom done a single thing right “realist”? Even one thing?
I am curious.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
@Couch Fan
Lol puh-lease!!! Seriously, name ONE PLAYER in the entire NFL that isn’t one of the better players on the team that is a leader. Just one, and I’ll admit you’re right.
Hahaha you can’t just anoint someone as a leader because they play QB, it’s not that simple.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
If u arent the best u better be a proven vet.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
@Couch Fan
I agree that you CAN be a great player WITHOUT being a leader BUT you CANNOT be leader without being a good/great player.
I would venture to guess that you cannot name a person labeled by most as a leader of their team that is not good/great.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
@Couch Fan
So basically, words mean more than actions to you?
September 5th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Because if I was a player, I’m going to respect and listen to the wide receiver that catches for over 1,000 yards and 10tds a year before I start listening to Average Joe-Schmoe who might not even make the team. Just saying.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Actions on the field or off of it? To me a leader is someone knowledgeable and does things the right way, and gives it all they have. Thats a leader. That doesn’t always equate to good or great players on the field. You can also be knowledgeable without being great… or even good. We can just agree to disagree.
September 5th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Bottom line is Sanches was a leader on that team. Whether you want to agree or disagree. That is fact. Lol… its silly to even take it so seriously as to argue the validity of it.
Joe really does have you all baited properly.
September 5th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
The Jet’s offense would’ve been better and maybe better to the point of winning one of those conference championship games they lost a couple years ago. Freeman is the better QB. Teams have won the SB with average at best QBs. Get the defense dialed, Freeman can very easily be the QB that gets the job done.
September 5th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
@Couch Fan
Sounds to me like your version of being a leader is just being a consummate professional, in which case, I would hope every player is your version of a leader.
Doing things the right way is one thing, but in the NFL, it takes a certain level of production to become a leader. I’d bet there are a ton of guys on every roster in the NFL that go to work, do things the right way, and give it their all. That’s not enough. If you’re going to command the respect of an NFL locker room, you’d better be a better player than the guys you are commanding. Sanchez is not a leader, if he was, his own teammates wouldn’t be mouthing off about how he “sucks”, or that Geno Smith is the better player, or how they would prefer that Smith was the starter. Does that say “leader of the team” to you?
Anyways, I wasn’t even arguing about him being a vocal leader in the locker room, I was talking specifically about his play, and how it wasn’t the driving force behind those AFC Championship teams he was on. His play was a part of their success, but not even close to being the biggest piece on that team. He RODE that team to two AFC Championships, he didn’t LEAD them their, with his mouth, work ethic, OR production.
September 5th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
There* ugh
September 5th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
The QB is a leader on the team, all teams, because he is the leader of the offense. The QB is the field general, he runs the offense on the field. That does not mean they are the only leaders or the most effective leaders, but if you have ever played any level of organized football you know that the QB is one of the leaders, regardless of how good he is. Brad Johnson was not a great QB, but he was clearly the leader of our Super Bowl Bucs. Now, so was Sapp, Brooks, Lynch, so on and so forth. Our road to the championship was paved by defense, just like the Jets and Sanchez play off births.
That being said, it is a team sport. Sanchez more than likely would not have done any better than Freeman, but you never really know. Sometimes the right fit brings out greatness, look at Brees.
September 5th, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Uh…. Jets had #1 Defense. funny how Freeman went 10-6 in 2010 with an average D at best. We should have been in the playoff’s, most years we would have. But Tebow goes 8-8 with the Bronco’s (completing as few as 2 pass’s in a game) and gets in the playoffs (because of there D and run game) and people thought so high of him. LOL .We would have been in the playoff’s last year if we had Tebow’s 2011 Bronco’s playoff D or Sanchez’s #1 Jets D when they went to the playoff’s. Freeman’s played good enough to get us to the playoffs twice out of 3 full season’s (2009 Freeman didn’t start till week 9) if he had a good D like Sanchez and Tebow had. Plus Freeman had 3 OC – 2 HC -3 QC. Freeman will be great in his 2nd season in Sullivan’s system. GO BUCS!!!
September 5th, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Sanchez was a leader…?
Leader of what?
the immortal buttfumble army I guess
September 5th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
I wouldn’t trade one Josh Freeman for hundred Sanchez’s. You can even throw in a couple Gino Smith’s and a Tebow. I want our guy to succeed!
3 more days!!!!!
September 5th, 2013 at 4:24 pm
By this logic, Rex Grossman led the Bears to the Super Bowl while quarterbacks like Matt Ryan haven’t accomplished the same.
This is an absurd, absolutely ridiculous comparison. Completely discredits a Jets defense that was absolutely stellar.
September 5th, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Freeman know’s a really bad year could mean the end of his career. Once your on the outside looking in. With every day the chances of getting another “shot” get slimmer and slimmer. That’s a totally different mindset than a year ago. Freeman was just coming off a bad season (2011) but still had that great 2010 to fall back on. The team quit on him and he is still young. We all should hope Freeman light’s it up. Everybody is down on him in the national media. “It depend’s on Freeman” well when most everybody has us at 8-8 or lower. I guess they think he can’t do it. We know what we have with Free. It comes down to timeing. We need him to be accurate in close games. Then inaccurate when we have a big lead. We now have the 5th preseason game coming up and all the starter’s will play.
September 5th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
I’m actually with coach fan on this one. I was the captain of my basketball team and I wasn’t the best player on the team. I led by my knowledge of the playbook and will to win. Laying it out on the court. The player with the biggest heart is usually the leader of the team. Not the qb not the best player. Caddy was a leader in 2010 for us and at the time he was not a great player
September 5th, 2013 at 4:46 pm
But I will say that the leader of the jets was their defense
September 5th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
New year, new expectations.
Freeman is expected to win Sunday, and ultimately lead this team to the playoffs.
No playoffs= rebuilding still, 5 years= too damn long of a time frame to rebuild, Freeman = paid for playoffs, No playoffs= Goodbye Freeman.
September 5th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Sanchez made a play or two in the playoffs.
Our QB can do the same, but he just needs to be consistently better.
Freeman has too much physical talent to not play better.
September 5th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Rabble rabble rabble…I’m so glad I missed out on this BS today. I had to skim through it a bit. Then I got tired of the same old rabble rabble rabble that’s been being said by the same people for 2 months. Does it not bore you people? Constantly repeating your points back and forth. I mean they call me the thread Nazi. Maybe you people should just take page out of my book and copy and paste some of your own tired comments and when Joe plunks down another article about Freeman. You can just copy and paste your points instead of having to bother re-typing them every time Joe plunks a new one down. Better yet just go through the archives find the points you made in July and August about Freeman and paste them in here, because it’s the same crap anyways. Rabble rabble rabble.