Former Jets RB LaDainian Tomlinson sees no future for Mark Sanchez as a starting QB

Frank Schwab
·NFL writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – LaDainian Tomlinson has looked into the crystal ball and he sees no future for his former teammate Mark Sanchez as a starting quarterback.

Tomlinson and Sanchez were teammates on the New York Jets for the final two years of the running back’s career before Tomlinson retired following the 2011 season. After hanging up his cleats, he openly lashed out at his teammates in New York, perhaps as part of buyer’s remorse for getting a Jets tattoo.

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But despite being two years and three time zones removed from the Jets mess, Tomlinson continues to lash out at his old team, as he did on Tuesday when he basically called an end to Sanchez’s career.

On his Sirius XM show, Adam Schein asked Tomlinson if he thinks Sanchez will start again.

“No, I don’t think Mark will be a starter again in the NFL. I think there’s certainly potential for him to be a backup and then get a starting job for half the year or what have you that way,” Tomlinson said. “But I think his days as a full time starter are pretty much over. Because you’ve got to realize in football, for a quarterback, you’re going to get three to five years in an organization to prove that you’re the franchise guy. I mean that’s just what it is. And if you don’t do it in that time frame then they’re going to move on to somebody else and then you’re position now will become a backup.”

Tell us how you really feel there, L.T.

Sanchez is currently “day-to-day” with a shoulder injury he suffered when head coach Rex Ryan inserted him into the fourth quarter of the Jets third preseason game. Sanchez was summarily tossed to the ground by New York Giants defensive lineman Marvin Austin (a player who was later cut by the Giants, no less) and suffered a right shoulder injury.

Sanchez still hasn’t practiced this week and appears doubtful for the game, which likely means that Geno Smith will get the start on Week 1.

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Kristian R. Dyer contributes to Yahoo! Sports and covers the Jets for Metro New York and is on Twitter @KristianRDyer

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