Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Peyton Manning Not Coming to New York as Jets Give Mark Sanchez a New Deal

By Michael P. Ventura | March 10, 2012 12:53pm

MANHATTAN — Peyton Manning, the legendary former Indianapolis Colts quarterback and brother of Giants QB Eli Manning, won't be a New York Jet as Gang Green agreed to a contract extension with Mark Sanchez.

The new five-year deal would pay Sanchez $68.5 million, the New York Times reported.

“I’m excited that the Jets believed in me and I’m a guy they want to move forward with in the future,” Sanchez told reporters on a conference call, according to the Times.

Sanchez's first two seasons with the Jets ended with trips to the AFC Championship game, but the most recent third season, which ended with the Giants winning the Super Bowl, saw the Jets finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs.

By the end of the season, where Sanchez threw for 3,474 yards, 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, the Jets were a team in turmoil beset by unmet expectations and disgruntled players.

Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum said the team had to turn itself around, and that Sanchez would be a big part of it. 

“It’s not a projection, it’s not a hope, it’s not an incremental leap of faith, it’s, ‘Here’s a three-year body of work,’ ” Tannenbaum told the Times. “That said, we don’t have blinders on. It has to get better, and we think it will get better.”

Meanwhile, Peyton Manning, a four-time league most valuable player, is expected to meet with officials from the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals in the coming weeks.