Mark Sanchez tells a great story from his rookie year

On Monday, the Broncos began phase two of their offseason training program. After the workout concluded quarterback Mark Sanchez met with the media, the main focus, of course, was the Broncos addition of another quarterback Paxton Lynch in the first round of last weekend’s draft.

Sanchez handled the whole situation like a pro, reflecting back to when he was in the same position that Lynch is coming into.

“I mean it’s a lot, there’s a lot on your plate, it’s going to be a blur I’m sure,” Sanchez said. “Going from college to New York was a monster jump, you know? I think coming here will be the perfect situation for him, meaning he’s going to a great team, he’ll have a veteran guy in the room, there are a lot of things that will help him along the way. In any situation, as the first pick for a team, just keep your head down and work. That’s kind of what I tried to do, watch the other guys, find a couple veterans that have lasted in this league and have been successful in this league and just kind of follow them around until they shoo you away.”

In reminiscing on that rookie year in New York, the now seven-year veteran shared a pretty great story of one of those vets that he latched onto.

“I think I could have won an Oscar that rookie year,” he said with a laugh, talking about how he made it look like he knew what he was doing. “There were plays even in the playoffs where I was just like, ‘Aw man, I think this is right, I’m pretty sure this is it.’ And I’m talking to[Jets center] [Nick] Mangold on the sideline or during the play, I remember specific plays where we were running right or left and I’m going through the cadence and I’m just kind of like, ‘Alright, Nick, what do you like, buddy?’ Right in the middle of the game. You can see Nick on the film [pointing] and calling everything out and boom, I make the check. I remember against the Raiders, we scored and I’m running off the field and everyone’s like, ‘Great check! Great check!’ And Nick’s just kind of looking at me. You have those moments as a rookie and it’s fun, you learn a lot.”

Sanchez may have deserved that Oscar, leading the Jets all the way to the AFC Championship game where they eventually fell to Peyton Manning and the Colts. After listening to Sanchez talk on Monday, it seems safe to say he has no problem being Lynch’s Nick Mangold if that’s what’s going to help the team.