Mark Sanchez Is a Starting QB & John David Booty Is a Third String Backup?

Either the New York Jets are absolutely desperate for a starting quarterback (with the departure of Brett Favre) or they know the potential that Mark Sanchez has in becoming exactly like Matt Leinart! 

Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez, and John David Booty all were quarterbacks at University of Southern California (USC).  But, how accurate is this decision by the New York Jets or will they be searching for a veteran quarterback in the 2010 season, like the Arizona Cardinals had to with Leinart; hence, Kurt Warner and a Super Bowl contender.

Matt Leinart was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2006 NFL Draft in Round One, pick 10 and was made the starting quarterback with a six-year multi-million dollar contract with $6.75 average per year and includes $14 million guaranteed.  But, let’s look at his amazing (sarcastic) stats.

College Career Stats

Yards                   7,137

Touchdowns        61

NFL Career Stats

Yards                   264

Touchdowns        1

Interceptions        1

Rating                  80.2

YEAR	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	YPA	LNG	TD	INT	SACK	RAT
2004	269	412	3322	65.3	8.06	69	33	6	23	156.54
2005	283	431	3815	65.7	8.85	67	28	8	17	157.74

Matt Sanchez was drafted by the New York Jets in the 2009 NFL Draft in Round One, pick five and was made the starting quarterback with a substantial million-dollar contract.  Let’s look at his stats.

College Career Stats

Yards                   3,965

Touchdowns        41

YEAR	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	YPA	LNG	TD	INT	SACK	RAT
2006	3	7	63	42.9	9.00	22	0	1	2	89.89
2007	69	114	695	60.5	6.10	48	7	5	4	123.22
2008	241	366	3207	65.8	8.76	63	34	10	17	164.64

John David Booty was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2008 NFL Draft in Round Five, Pick 137 was made the third string quarterback (which he had to win and earn against veteran Brooks Bollinger) with a four-year, $1.911 million dollar contract with a $206,000 signing bonus.

Contract Breakdown

2012: Free Agent

College - Career Stats

Yards                   6,035

Touchdowns        55

YEAR	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	YPA	LNG	TD	INT	SACK	RAT
2005	27	42	327	64.3	7.79	31	3	2	1	143.74
2006	269	436	3347	61.7	7.68	62	29	9	14	144.01
2007	215	340	2361	63.2	6.94	63	23	10	12	138.01

In conclusion, are the Minnesota Vikings sitting on a gem for a quarterback?  Or, is it the USC curse that continues throughout the NFL?  You decide!