Andrew Brandt Believes in Mark Sanchez, Perhaps You Should Too
By Brad James
Andrew Brandt, a former NFL GM turned analyst believes in Mark Sanchez. Why you might join him and believe in Sanchez too…
NEW YORK CITY–Perhaps many Predominantly Orange users think I’m a Mark Sanchez apologist and while that isn’t ultimately true, it’s reasonable to presume that is the case, especially with what I’m about to write here.
Tuesday on Sports Illustrated’s daily podcast (which airs 11:00-11:30 roughly MDT Monday-Friday on the sports publication’s Web Site), host Maggie Gray was joined by Andrew Brandt, who is one of the smartest sports media pros in our business.
The discussion was fascinating and primarily focused on the NFL, particularly the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, and the Broncos’ QB situation was one of the topics Gray wanted to explore with Brandt.
Brandt, who is officially an ESPN business analyst and a weekly columnist for SI’s popular Monday morning column, The MMQB, had some interesting observations as to how things should go for Denver if he were calling the shots as he did as vice president of the Green Bay Packers from 1999-2008.
He likened Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway to a Roman emperor at a gladiator event, giving the “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to prospective deals for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Obviously, the “thumbs down” having occurred and former New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller Sanchez was brought in. Brandt stated quite clearly he was in favor of the move as he adamantly confirmed to Gray that Sanchez will be a great stop gap in 2016 until rookie Paxton Lynch is ready to start. This, presumably, would happen in 2017.
So, as a Christian myself, I confess that I adhere to the Biblical maxim of “in the mouths of two or three witnesses shall every word be established,” and both Brandt and NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock believe this is the best-case scenario for the Broncos.
In any event, Sanchez, as I have stated in previous articles, is doing the best he can, considering the circumstances, to win this job and he wants to be the best he can. I must confess that being on Twitter all day and even in my conventional work environment, I am calloused by the perpetual pessimism I encounter.
More from Predominantly Orange
- Broncos chances of landing Sean Payton dwindling, but not gone
- Denver Broncos dream coaching staff for DeMeco Ryans
- Denver Broncos: “Sleeper” David Shaw checks every box
- The Broncos’ coaching search likely has not gone to plan
- Special Chiefs Suck Offer: Bet $5, Win $150 if Joe Burrow Passes for ONE YARD vs KC
Therefore, it’s a refreshing breath of fresh air to see someone like Sanchez emerge on the scene. I will tell you right away that Brandt and Mayock know more football than I ever could, so I trust their words and I have a hunch that Elway believes comparably as they do.
Lynch is the future, but with him not necessarily understanding conventional NFL schemes as well as a pro quarterback should in the league as of yet, Sanchez can serve as an adept bridge to the future if all goes well.
If nothing else, the will is there, he simply has to match it up with sufficiently solid play and head coach Gary Kubiak is a quarterback guru to the core so things should go smoothly at 5,280 feet.