Mark Sanchez signs with Cowboys after being cut by Broncos
Quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 of the Denver Broncos watches from the sidelines during the preseaon NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 1, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. Credit: Getty Images / Christian Petersen
Mark Sanchez got cut by the Broncos Saturday, but it didn’t take long for the former Jets quarterback to find a job.
A person with knowledge of the deal said the Cowboys agreed on a one-year contract with Sanchez, who will back up rookie Dak Prescott while Tony Romo recovers from a back injury.
Sanchez, who is entering his seventh year in the league, was Denver’s biggest offseason acquisition. But after Sanchez lost out to Trevor Siemian for the starting job, Denver cut him. The team saved $3.5 million and a seventh-round draft pick.
The Broncos brought in Austin Davis on a one-year deal to mentor starter Trevor Siemian and rookie Paxton Lynch, neither of whom have ever thrown a pass in the NFL regular season. Davis was recently released by the Cleveland Browns. General manager John Elway insisted that Siemian needn’t worry about losing his starting job, however. “He’s not going to be looking over his shoulder,” Elway said.
The Broncos open the season Thursday night against Carolina Panthers, the team they beat in Super Bowl 50. Denver is the first team since the 2001 Baltimore Ravens to try to go back-to-back after losing its top two quarterbacks. Peyton Manning retired a month after the Super Bowl and longtime backup Brock Osweiler bolted to Houston 48 hours later when free agency opened.
“I had a long talk with Mark today and he handled it with great class,” Elway said. “... It was a tough situation to walk into.”
The Cowboys placed running back Darren McFadden on the non-football injury list, sidelining their leading rusher from last season for at least the first six games. He broke his right elbow during the offseason. Dallas has to decide whether to place Romo on the injured reserve-return list after he broke a bone in his back in a preseason game at Seattle. Romo would miss the first seven games if he’s on that list.
