Jets' Mark Sanchez Opts For Surgery

An Associated Press report confirmed today that New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will elect to go under the knife in the coming days in order to stabilize a ligament in his left knee.

The injury to his left knee was sustained at USC only weeks before the start of his junior season. The patellar ligament had shifted, a cause of great pain and discomfort but an injury he fought through nonetheless. 

He has since worn a brace on his left knee throughout his final year at USC and during his rookie season in the NFL. 

The surgery will be performed by team doctor Ken Montgomery. 

Due to an injury to his right knee against the Buffalo Bills on December 3rd, a re-agitation of a knee-banging during the Jets game against the Carolina Panthers on November 29th, Sanchez was asked by General Manager Mike Tannenbaum to have both knees examined. 

It would seem that Sanchez' right knee has undergone more wear and tear at the professional level, but it is the quirk in his left knee that has his team concerned. Also, a re-evaluation of the knee concluded that additional damage could cause permanent consequences. 

Sanchez is coming off a rookie season in which all expectation were met with a grin and exceeded with a pump of his fist. He began the year with a strong performance before falling to common rookie mistakes and rogue interceptions. 

Due to a lackluster performance by Indianapolis and Cincinnati in the regular season, the Jets squeaked into the playoffs where Sanchez found his rhythm and performed far better than he had in the first sixteen games.

The Gang Green found themselves in the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, up 17-3 at half, and Mark Sanchez was only thirty minutes away from becoming the first rookie to start in the Super Bowl.

Of course, that didn't happen. Peyton Manning and his Colts woke up and scored an unanswered 27 points, propelling themselves to the big game against the to-be NFC champion New Orleans Saints. 

Suffice to say, Sanchez' performance late in the season elevated his status as a potentially elite quarterback in the NFL and this surgery, as promised by team doctors and general manager alike, will not prohibit Sanchez from participating in Training Camp this summer. 

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