The Bears are finalizing a contract with free agent quarterback Mark Sanchez, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’ll be a one-year deal, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team has confirmed the signing via press release.
Sanchez will be the second signal-caller to join the Bears since free agency opened earlier this month, though he’ll come at a much lower cost than expected starter Mike Glennon, who inked a three-year, $45MM deal with $19MM in guarantees. Chicago is the only team that publicly pursued Sanchez, who visited the club Thursday.
At 30 years old, Sanchez has achieved journeyman status since the Jets chose him fifth overall in the 2009 draft. The Bears will be the fifth NFL team for the ex-USC star. He spent the 2016 campaign in Dallas, where he backed up Dak Prescott and completed 10 of 18 passes for 93 yards and two interceptions.
Last season easily represented a career low in playing time for Sanchez, whose on-field action has declined significantly since his Jets tenure. As a member of Gang Green, Sanchez started in all 62 of his appearances in the first four years of his career. With the Eagles and Cowboys over the past three seasons, he picked up just 15 appearances and 10 starts. Sanchez also had a brief stint last year with the Broncos, but they cut him prior to the season.
While Sanchez was part of Jets teams that went to back-to-back AFC championship games in his first two years, their success came as a result of an elite defense and a top-notch running game. Sanchez has been mediocre to below average since entering the league, having thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions (86), completed just 56.7 percent of passes and posted a 73.9 quarterback rating. He did draw praise for his behind-the-scenes work with Prescott last year, though, and should give Chicago a passable backup behind Glennon. Of course, it’s not clear if the largely untested Glennon even has the chops to serve as a satisfactory starter.
Woaaaaaaah elite caliber player right there son
Didn’t you read the article? This is his 5th team. The only thing I remember about his pro career is his fumble while running into his offensive line mans butt.
Someone doesn’t get sarcasm
Sure sign of a low IQ.
Jay cutler 2.0
Jay Cutler (-)2.0
Is this insurance if Glennon stinks the place up? Or does this mean they won’t draft a QB? (Cause they won’t carry 4) Or is this just the Bears continuing to aspire to mediocrity?
Yes.
Glennon, Sanchez and draft rookie. Any one else should start looking for a job
Disgusting, vile, deplorable, inhumane… Chicago Bears football
Da Sanchize meets Da Bears!!!
I’m so excited to see Sanchez in a Bears uniform, from Cutler and Hoyer to Glennon and Sanchez yup the Bears are going on the right direction.
Great idea. If Glennon is garbage, as expected, they can replace him with another garbage QB.
I can’t make fun though, but the Bears QB history is 2nd worst next to ours.
As expected? Glennon was a solid starter, the team had a bad season and if you have Winston available to pick you dont pass up on him
They both are backups. There not gonna win more than 5 games
Wonder if SF will sign Connor Shaw after Bears release him, now that Butt-Fumble Sanchez will b available to hold the clipboard during the games.
No draft QB unless they can get Cal Webb in the 4th. or 5th. rd. NO to Trubisky>>IT.
As a Packers fan this might be my favorite signing of the offseason. Don’t have to worry about the Bears being competitive for at least another 5 years.
Yeah, a backup QB. Why would you worry about anything the Bears would do…lol
Because that malcontent, Martellius Bennett, is such a major upgrade for you? Cook was a much better player.
haha, no
When is Ryan Leaf up for parole? I wonder if he has anything left in the tank.
I was a Bears fan my whole life. Bad deals like this have made it easy for me to give them up and just root for my fantasy players without conflict of interest (like having Aaron Rodgers as my QB)
A likely one year deal like this isnt a bad one at all! Low risk potential good reward move. Hes not much worse than Cutler so
Bears fans always do this. They respond to every bad roster move with optimism instead of being honest with themselves. If Sanchez ever gets on the field, you can forget about winning the game. Not that Glennon is a gem either, but Sanchez is an awful QB.
Championship.
I remember his high school class he was rated as the number 2 QB that year behind only Matt Stafford.
Matthew Stafford, now there’s a quarterback.
Sincerely,
Mark Sanchez, Mike Glennon, Matt Hoyer
Really are we that dumb? Dallas had him last year to help with the rookie and he did a great job at that!
“Of course, it’s not clear if the largely untested Glennon even has the chops to serve as a satisfactory starter.”
I really hope Glennon lights it up for the Bears. This caveat or something similar is written in every article that his name is mentioned.
He’s a serviceable backup with game experience. Not a bad one year deal.
He didn’t look very serviceable in the one game he played last season. Even he was laughing at how bad he was
Lovie Smith tanked Glennon’s progress in Tampa. He named McCown starter immediately upon getting hired as head coach. Though McCown would light up the league like he did the last 8 or so games for the Bears the year prior. I think Glennon has a chance to be very good.
I’m not saying the Bears will be going to the playoffs but I think he will be able to help the Bears win like 6ish games
LOL.
I wanted to be optimistic about Pace but this signing is gross, Deonte Thompson & Mark Sanchez did it for me unless they start Sanchez & tell the Defense to be real bad so we can get #1 overall pick next year, i will never understand why Pace took the lighter fluid & matches to $2 million dollars
Mark Sanchez is by far one of the best football players of all time.
When Foxy elected to kick a FG from 2-3 yard line to tie Packers game & give Rodgers nearly 2 minutes to go get game-winning FG instead of going for the TD/Win & keeping Packers from making playoffs. Foxy should have got canned immediately after game. After this signing Pace should get the boot. Whenever i saw a game in which Sanchize was in the game or holding a clipboard i said well at least the Bears don’t have that guy.
Is Rashied Davis available to be our #1 WR?
Hey McCaskey, Fire everyone except Fangio. Call Bill Polian and hire everyone Bill tells you too