As the Broncos continue to look for a new starting quarterback, one man thinks they’ve already found him.
That man is Mark Sanchez. Added as what seemed to be a break-glass-in-event-of-emergency move after Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler bolted only two days apart, Sanchez hasn’t gotten the memo that he’s destined to be the backup to whoever the Broncos find to start.
“Coming to the Denver Broncos, this is a gift-wrapped opportunity,” Sanchez told Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. “I believe in fate and destiny. There’s no excuse. I need to take full advantage. There’s nothing more important in my life than this.”
Sanchez already has proven how important it is, studying film at team headquarters, working out on with his receivers, getting to know his teammates. It sounds like he’ll keep doing that, regardless of who is added in the coming days and weeks.
“I don’t care who’s there,” Sanchez said. “They are going to give me a fair shake. And if it’s a fair shot, I will bet on myself. I will compete my butt off and be friendly and professional with whoever’s there. But I want this so bad. Since I was a little kid, I have been dreaming about a chance to win a Super Bowl.”
Sanchez has twice gotten close to the Super Bowl, with 2009 and 2010 Jets teams not as good as the Denver team he has joined. Before he can finish the job, he needs to win the starting job.
Regardless of whether anyone else believes he can, Sanchez does. While plenty of guys destined to remain backups have that same degree of confidence, Sanchez currently is the best option the Broncos have. In the next few weeks, much more will be known about whether they manage to upgrade.