Jets move 12 spots to get Sanchez

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Mark Sanchez made no guarantees. The New York Jets' newest quarterback knew better.

No bold declarations for a franchise that's been hungry for a Super Bowl trip since the days of Joe Namath.

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The Jets make an aggressive trade with the Browns to draft USC QB Mark Sanchez.

"I can't promise we're going to win the division," Sanchez said Saturday after the Jets made the former Southern California star the No. 5 overall pick following a trade with Cleveland. "I can't promise we're going to win the Super Bowl and I'm going to be the MVP of the league.

"All I can promise is that I'm going to work hard."

And that works just fine for the Jets, who solved their quarterback question with one giant leap up the draft board from the 17th overall pick.

"When Mark was available at No. 5, we did what was in the best interest of the New York Jets," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said.

The Jets acquired the pick from Cleveland and former coach Eric Mangini for their first-round pick, their second-round (No. 52), and defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and quarterback Brett Ratliff. It turned out to be the Jets' only pick of day, but it was a biggie.

Owner Woody Johnson announced the news on his Twitter page, saying: "We have selected Mark Sanchez. Go Jets." Kicker Jay Feely also tweeted: "Great trade for the Jets!! To only give up our first and second this year to get the fifth pick."

Sanchez, scheduled to be introduced at a news conference at the Jets' facility Sunday, also greeted fans on Twitter late Saturday night: "J-E-T-S ... Jets! Jets! Jets!!!" Sanchez wrote. "Hello NYC!"

Many Jets fans at the draft site at Radio City Music Hall cheered wildly, while some bemoaned giving up what in effect will be five players for one.

"Well, I think if Mr. Tannenbaum and Mr. Johnson think I'm worth it, that's great," Sanchez said. "I'm excited about the faith they have in me. Of course, you need to prove them right, and that comes with being the first guy on the practice field and being the last guy to leave."

Sanchez, with his powerful and accurate arm and excellent field vision, will immediately compete for the starting job with Kellen Clemens. The Southern California native arrives a season after Brett Favre came out of retirement, but struggled down the stretch as the Jets went 9-7 and missed the playoffs.

"The only thing I can say to that is I've never grown up dreaming of being a backup," Sanchez said. "That's what it's all about, and I'm sure Kellen Clemens feels the same way and that's what this position is all about is competing for your job and that's all I know how to do. It'll be a great matchup for us."

The pick was the first for new coach Rex Ryan, who repeatedly declared his confidence in Clemens and Brett Ratliff this offseason but believed Sanchez was too good a talent to pass up. The Jets' fondness for him only grew after seeing him at a private workout at Mission Viejo High School in California in March.

"We saw the great feet, the poise and how confident he was," Ryan said. "Brian [Schottenheimer] put him through every workout known to man and he passed every one of them with flying colors. We knew, I think, right then that this was the guy we really wanted."

Sanchez was considered by some to be an even greater talent than Georgia's Matthew Stafford, who went No. 1 overall to the Detroit Lions, but some teams were wary of his lack of experience. Not the Jets, who saw enough in his 16 starts with the Trojans to make them believe he could be the leader of the franchise.

"We wouldn't have traded up for Mark if we didn't think he had the ability to compete for the starting position," Ryan said, adding that Sanchez practiced daily against several outstanding defensive players, including first-rounders Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews.

Sanchez said he was pleasantly surprised when he studied the Jets' playbook during his workout with them and noticed strong similarities to USC's offense. That could bode well for New York after Sanchez threw for 3,965 yards and 41 touchdowns and excelled in the Trojans' system despite having just one year as a starter after sitting at USC behind John David Booty.

He won the job last season and led the Trojans to a victory over Penn State in the Rose Bowl, passing for 413 yards and earning offensive MVP honors. Sanchez opted to forgo his final year of college eligibility, and became the first quarterback the Jets selected in the first round since Chad Pennington went 18th overall in 2000.

Sanchez also believes he's prepared for the scrutiny of playing in New York, and for a franchise that hasn't played in a Super Bowl since Namath led the Jets to the title in 1969.

"The kind of pressure, you expect that," he said. "As a quarterback, that's what you signed up for. I learned how to compete and deal with pressure at 'SC and in a large media market in Los Angeles, and things are only going to be bigger and better."

Corp named starting QB

Garry Paskwietz WeAreSC.com

Aaron Corp has been named the starting QB coming out of USC spring ball sessions with Matt Barkley as the back-up and Mitch Mustain in the #3 role. The competition will continue into fall camp.

Pete Carroll had been clear that he wanted to name a starting quarterback by the end of spring and lately it had become pretty apparent that Corp would get that nod. The freshman Barkley certainly put some pressure on but the fact that Corp did a great job of keeping on-field mistakes to a minimum (he didn't have any interceptions through today) was a key factor in giving Corp the nod

The important thing to note is the emphasis Carroll placed on the fact that the competition will continue into fall camp.

"We have to name a starter for the spring game and Corp is in the lead at this point," Carroll said on his official website. "We're going to carry the competition on through Fall Camp,"

The reason that choice of words is so important is because Carroll has always chosen a starter at the end of spring for every quarterback battle we've seen during his tenure at coach but, once a decision is made, Carroll has also never made a change in the starter role. During a recent post-practice interview he even referenced the subject,

"I always says the competition is ongoing but you guys just never believe me," said Carroll to the media.

This year, there is reason to believe him as Barkley showed enough on-field promise that it would be a mistake to rule him out at this point.

"Matt had a great spring and was right there pushing for the job, but he just hasn't had enough time to learn everything," Carroll said today on his site. "But on the field, he played like a starter."

Mustain falls to third for now and it will be interesting to see how he responds. There is no doubt the talent is within him but the reality is that the pecking order at the quarterback spot right now is accurate based on what we've seen this spring and now Mitch will have to fight his way past two guys if he hopes to be the starting quarterback for the Trojans.

No matter what happens, Corp will have his hands full to hold off the competition but he definitely has the skills to do it. Aaron has a strong enough arm even if he won't remind you of Carson Palmer with his arm strength. He makes good decisions. He can run when needed, something he does better than any other QB in the Carroll era, He is also a winner, he led his HS team to a state title and was named the California State Player of the Year. You don't accomplish those things without being a good quarterback.

The heat will increase this summer and fall for Corp, however, because this is one competition that will be watched closely and every move by the players will be scrutinized. Today was a good day for Corp, and we congratulate Aaron on the honor, but it was only step one. Let the competition continue.