This was supposed to be an angry, bitter rant about how USC’s Mark Sanchez jumped the gun by leaving early and should be rewarded for his stupidity by taking his millions and warming the bench for a few seasons while watching former Trojan Matt Leinart, who surprised everyone by staying for his senior year even though he had more reasons than Sanchez to go, finally start to be successful in the pros. Meanwhile, back at SC, the Trojans, including Taylor Mays (another one would’ve been more justified skipping his senior season than Sanchez) would win the BCS Championship. In other words, good riddance. Don’t let Traveler plant a hoof print on your rear end as you go.
Ok, maybe that’s a little harsh. While I’d obviously rather him stay – Who do we have at quarterback now? Aaron Corp or MopTop Mustain? They looked like JV prep school benchwarmers standing on the sidelines. Can a girl get Matt Barkley in the game? – turning pro now is actually a smart decision for Sanchez.
If he stayed one more year, even with the offensive coaching changes, Sanchez would probably be a better football player, and he’d be much more prepared to be a quarterback in the NFL. One season as a starting college quarterback, even at USC, isn’t quite sufficient (Ok, except for New England’s Matt Cassel, who wasn’t a starter at all until he stepped in for Tom Brady this season but come on, how often does that happen??)
Leaving now isn’t the best idea for Sanchez from a football perspective but from a draft perspective and, therefore, a financial perspective, it’s not going to get any better than this. Yes, Sanchez’s play was inconsistent during the year, but he’s coming off a stellar Rose Bowl performance that the scouts are going to remember. Had he not thrown for 413 yards and 4 TDs in that game, he wouldn’t have a shot in the draft, but he did, and now he’s projected as a top pick.
If Sanchez stayed for his senior year, he could have a stronger season from start to finish, maybe a Heisman, maybe a national championship. But he’d also have more competition in the draft. The top-three Heisman finalists from ’08 – Bradford, Tebow, and McCoy – are all returning for one more year, making for one crowded quarterback pool in next year’s NFL Draft. Sanchez might be a better player a year from now, but chances are he won’t go any higher in the draft than he will if he goes now.
Ever since Mark’s name started getting thrown around for the draft several months ago, it’s been pretty clear that he’d be in it for the money. Early on, he mentioned it might be better to go soon because of a potential rookie salary cap in the near future. Leaving when he knows he’ll be either the first or second QB taken, and therefore in a better position to bargain for more bucks, is a pretty savvy move. Not that the NFL’s in dire financial straits right now or anything, but in this economy, you never know. Tying up that multimillion dollar contract now might not be ideal for Sanchez in the short term – he’ll never be a bigger Big Man On Campus than he would be next season – but leaving now could be the best thing he could do to secure his future.
The Trojans, and Trojan fans, will probably miss him at first, until the next star steps up. But when it comes to the NFL, you’ve gotta go when the going’s good, and for Mark Sanchez, this is as good as it’s going to get.
Tatiana Golovin
Jarah Mariano
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Financially he had to do it but I see your point.
I think Mustain will be your guy next season. He should carry on the tradition of good QB's at USC.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN
Brooklyn, NY
Total Comments (18063)
I get why he did it....but I think he showed throughout the season that he has a lot to learn....1 season as a starting QB???? but...the money always talks.......& getting paid millions to warm a bench & not get hurt isnt a bad gig!!
to go off tangent for a sec..........am I the only one that thinks that if you are given a scholarship to a university for sports.....shouldnt you have to sign a contract saying that you will stay until you graduate???????? Just a thought.......I mean these university's spend millions in scholarships for the opportunity that you get an education...while playing sports!!! Too often athletes seem to never even think that they will stay until they actually get a degree...you know what a university is all about!! I mean how hard can it be....they all have smart hot girls doing their work anyways!!!
Sorry for the rant...........
..........as for our new QB........I'm not that worried I have complete confidence in coach Carroll & his staff....even with the changes happening there too!!
USC-GIRL
Kalaheo, HI
Total Comments (69)
Financially it was a great choice. However, as an overall player, I would agree with you, it's a pretty poor choice by Sanchez. He's a good player, but if there were a stronger overall class of qb's entering the draft I seriously doubt Sanchez would be a 1st rounder.
Good luck with Mitch Mustain next year.
badgerfan07 back in…
Whitewater , WI
Total Comments (1543)
Dear USC-GIRL -- Please note that Sanchez HAS stayed through graduation -- He graduates this spring. AND, MARK'S ENTHUSIASM AND LEADERSHIP HAS HELPED MAKE THE MILLIONS THAT THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM EARNS. MARK DESERVES HIS SHOT AT THE BIG TIME, AFTER BEING STRAPPED DOWN ("His" two losses were: 1) the Oregon game, with Sark calling so conservatively, and then calling a PUNT amound our 40, with 4th and seven, with only 7+ minutes left in the game, and two TD's down, and, 2) The Oregon State Game, when the unknown "Squirt" ("little" 'Quiz Rogers the PAC-10 MVP Freshman and MVP Offensive Player) gained a lot of yards in the 1st half, when the SC defense wasn't properly prepared.
MARK WILL BE A GREAT NFL QUARTERBACK !!! FIGHT ON !!!
jerry4usc
Sun City , CA
Total Comments (30)
PS -- The way they've been playing in practice, both Garrett Green and Aaron Corp (while Matt Barkley learns the ropes) deserve a good shot at starting QB, with a First-In-The-Nation OFFENCE to work with. FIGHT ON !!!!!
jerry4usc
Sun City , CA
Total Comments (30)
I guess Jerry 4 USC knows something Carroll dosen't. I mean Jerry has seen more of Mark than Carroll his facial expressions said it all the guy is headed to the path Leaf took, the only two things different are Leaf went first round, and Leaf started. Two feats Mark wont achieve. USC can have their 5 star athletes because Texas 5 stars are diffrent breeds, was Mark a 5 star because Stafford was and Harrell wasnt both will be selected before Mark.
weatherford blue
Austin, TX
Total Comments (154)
sorry if i stepped on some peoples toes
Sanchez just wasnt my favorite.......thats not to say he's not a great QB!!
its just my own personal opinion that all should stay during their eligable years......not a big deal...you believe differently!!
USC-GIRL
Kalaheo, HI
Total Comments (69)
Hey Weatherford Blue: 1) Carroll admitted that it was his mistake to allow JD Booty to stay in the Stanford game, to throw 4 interceptions in the 2nd half; 2) Joe Theismann told Sanchez after USC beat Notre Dame 38-0 in '07, "You were a great Quarterback" (Maybe Theismann knows something that you don't); 3) Where did Leaf come into this? -- Sanchez will stand and run on, as well as throw from, his own two feet -- NOT Leaf's; 4) Sanchez will go top-5 (if not FIRST in the NFL draft), and be a STARTING Quarterback for Detroit or KC; 5) You're "diffrent" (sic) too -- Please learn to spell and form complete logical sentences before posting a knock on this great Quarterback !!! FIGHT ON !!!
jerry4usc
Sun City , CA
Total Comments (30)
i was in a hurry but thats no excuse, ""fan"" and your not that stupid to think he goes to Detriot are you? Really! And wow Joe Theismann said so...WOW big game Joe! Well if he says it, it must be true. What an idiot, tell you what I feel bad enough your team lost to a unranked team so good luck with Mark, USC, and playing in yet another Rose Bowl! I forgot what happen last time your team played a worthy team in the Rose Bowl? Oh yea "the best team in NCAA football" lost in their own backyard! Hook'em forever.
weatherford blue
Austin, TX
Total Comments (154)
Sanchez being a good NFL quarterback will matter on one thing.
Where he gets drafted.
He is not going to be some Peyton Manning savior of a franchise, which are the ones in the first round that will probably end up picking him.
Although I understand the concept of getting the money, it just seems next year, he would of been in a better position.
All those other big time quarterbacks, are also big time system quarterbacks while Mark would of been in a pro style system for 5 years.
I do wish him luck, but getting stuck behind the o-lines of Detroit or Kansas City won't sound very good, coming from the 5-8 seconds behind the USC o-line
Reflections
South Portland , ME
Total Comments (34)
Who cares, USC is a joke College football team and can only beat up the small weak pac ten teams, then usually loose to one of them not make it in to the title game, then beat a slow big ten team and finally cry about not being a national champion.
NATIONAL TITLES
Florida 2
LSU 2
USC 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Truth hurts SEC SEC SEC SEC
Dallas4eva
Total Comments (20)
To correct you USC and LSU split the National title. Secondly I would put USC against any SEC team anywhere and the odds would be in USC favor.
Now that I got that out of my system, Sanchez did the right thing for him financially, but I would be willing to bet if any of the top QB's in the country had decided to come out Sanchez wouldve stayed at school. The fact is he see's his chance to possibly the number 1 pick in the draft and he's gonna take it.
In the 2 games that he lost both were his fault. His four picks in the Oregon game really hurt despite the sark's play calling and in the Oregon ST game he should stayed in the locker room.
USC's#1Fan
Travis Afb, CA
Total Comments (752)
i thought this thread was suppossed to be about opinions of Sanchez going into the draft.......not a debate about which conference is better
USC-GIRL
Kalaheo, HI
Total Comments (69)
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