Former USC and current New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was caught eating a hot dog on the sidelines during Sunday's blowout victory over the Oakland Raiders.
Sanchez later apologized saying he was feeling nauseated and needed to eat something to settle his stomach.
-- Houston Mitchell
Mark Sanchez's performance against the Baltimore Ravens on "Monday Night Football" was apparently good enough to earn the former USC quarterback a starting job with the New York Jets.
Sanchez got hit hard by linebacker Ray Lewis, had his first pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown and barely missed having another pass picked off.
But he finished with a touchdown pass, impressing USC Coach Pete Carroll.
"He got banged around a little bit by big Ray -- what a great introduction to what the league can be like," Carroll said, chuckling.
Carroll, a former head coach of the Jets and New England Patriots, spoke to Sanchez late Monday night.
"He was grateful he made it out and made a little progress," Carroll said. "He was disappointed he didn't get off to a good start but it was a reality check. ... He got indoctrinated a little bit in a hurry there. He was real upbeat about it and all that, so it was fun to watch him in that setting.
"The cool thing is he realized by his performance that how you start isn't necessarily how you are. And he hung with it. He knew he had to get focused and stay in there and he did a good job and finished very strongly and accomplished something special in that regard."
-- Gary Klein
Photo: USC head coach Pete Caroll in Charlottesville, Va. last August. Photo credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times.
Carroll would not specify the issues and said there was "no timeline" or deadline for Mustain to resolve them. The Trojans report for training camp Aug. 7 and open their season Sept. 5 against San Jose State. Asked if Mustain would be eligible if USC played tomorrow, Carroll said, "We don't have a game tomorrow." Mustain could not be reached for comment. Mustain, a fourth-year junior who transferred to USC from Arkansas in 2007, finished spring practice third on the depth chart behind sophomore Aaron Corp and freshman Matt Barkley. Mustain has said he would not consider transferring and that he's close to graduating from USC. If Mustain were ineligible, senior Garrett Green would become the No. 3 quarterback. Mustain left Arkansas after a tumultuous 2006 season during which he went 8-0 as a freshman starter. He had hoped to challenge Mark Sanchez to become the Trojans starter in 2008, but he spent most of the season as a back-up and was third on the depth chart behind Sanchez and Corp for the Rose Bowl last January. Sanchez's departure for the NFL created a spring practice competition to become his successor. Corp played nearly error free, and Barkley showed uncommon arm strength and poise for a first-year player, leaving Mustain third. -- Gary Klein Photo: Quarterback Mitch Mustain goes through the paces during spring practice at USC. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire USC quarterback Mitch Mustain is attempting to resolve academic issues that could affect his eligibility for the coming season, Coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday.
As you might recall, USC Coach Pete Carroll wasn't exactly pleased when quarterback Mark Sanchez announced he was leaving the Trojans to turn pro.
Sanchez went on to become the No. 5 pick overall by the New York Jets.
It remains to be seen how Sanchez's NFL career will play out, but it already has been an enriching experience. The New York Daily News is reporting that Sanchez has agreed to a five-year contract that includes $28 million in guarantees.
-- Gary Klein
Photo: Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez takes part in drills during minicamp. Credit: Bill Kostroun / Associated Press
Earlier this month, NFL rookies descended on the L.A. Coliseum for the greatest collection of football talent since whenever USC last played a home game.
The event, essentially a giant photo shoot, allowed the NFL newbies to show off their best touchdown dance ... or invent one. Apparently Mark Sanchez got creative with new teammate Shonn Greene, though the recently released video (above) only features a traditional goal post dunk from the former Trojan.
In case you missed it, Brian Kamenetzky interviewed Sanchez that afternoon for the Forum.
-- Adam Rose
There are some things NFL players can do during the offseason that they probably don't have time for starting around August. If you're Terrell Owens, you start practicing your broadcasting career:
And if you're Mark Sanchez, you show off your abs to a supermodel. Than again, that's nothing special once you reach Tom Brady status.
-- Adam Rose
Saturday afternoon, I had a chance to stop by the Coliseum for the annual NFL Players Rookie Premiere, an event in which many of the top newbies from the most recent draft get to do all the fun stuff (put on the full uniform, get bubble gum card photos taken, get scanned to appear in video games -- Did I mention the event is sponsored by EA Sports? -- among other things. All that, plus some less-fun duties, like signing endless amounts of gear.
It's a busy day for all the rookies involved, but I managed to get a few minutes with former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, drafted fifth overall by the New York Jets.
Q: I know you did a mini-camp in New York, but this is the first time you've put on the full uniform, right?
Sanchez: Yeah. I've looked forward to playing in the NFL, and now I'm finally here. It's cool. Coming out of the locker room -- and not just any locker room, because this is where I played, and walking down the tunnel in my Jets uniform, it's a special feeling. I'm excited to be part of the event, and what NFL Players is doing is great.
Q: Were you checking yourself out in the mirror just a little bit longer? Just to take it in?
I've gotten a lot of feedback today on my story about former New York Jets quarterbacks offering advice and/or insights to USC's Mark Sanchez. Because of space limitations, I could only include so much in the article. But those players had a lot to say, so here's a bit more from them:
Ray Lucas
On Jets fans: "They don’t tolerate anything. I remember when Santa Claus was dropping in with a parachute and he missed the target and he got booed. That’s what he’s coming into. The New Yorkers, the Jersey guys, they don’t tolerate much. They spend their good money to watch you play, and they want to see good football.
"Raiders fans can’t touch Jets fans. I don’t care if it’s rain, sleet, snow, that stadium is packed always. And the insult comes always -- I’ve heard things I’ve never heard in my life. And coming from where I come from in Jersey, which is the slums, I was even shocked."
NFL coaches and scouts turned out en masse for USC's pro day to watch quarterback Mark Sanchez, linebackers Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Clay Matthews and the rest of the draft-eligible Trojans.
But the scene paled in comparison to USC's 2006 event, regarded throughout the college and pro football worlds as the pro day to end all pro days.
Back then, pro day was open to the public. So a huge crowd showed up to catch a glimpse of Heisman Trophy winners Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, running back LenDale White and others. The crowd grew so large, in fact, the fire marshal threatened to shut down the event.
Coach Pete Carroll, capitalizing on the interest, had tied pro day to junior day, when high school prospects come to campus. It made for an interesting mix of college players, high school players, agents, coaches, scouts, media and fans.
USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley is looking forward to Tuesday and a chance to build on the impression he made in his spring practice debut.
Barkley said after Saturday's workout that he was working on getting his timing down with individual receivers and the way they run their routes.
The speed of the college game did not seem to phase this player, who was a four-year starter at Santa Ana Mater Dei High.
"Everyone comments on the speed of the defense, which is true, but at the same time the receivers are so fast and quick it equals out so it's not that bad," said Barkley, who is trying to jump ahead of Aaron Corp, Mitch Mustain and Garrett Green to become Mark Sanchez's successor.
Coach Pete Carroll is eager to see Barkley progress.
"You can see he's really competing to understand what's going on, trying to get the calls just right," Carroll said. "It's a unique opportunity for us to see a guy, a freshman, in spring football like this."
-- Gary Klein
Photo: Matt Barkley. Credit: Kirby Lee / US PRESSWIRE
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