Former NFL star Mark Sanchez ‘focused on recovery’ after jail appearance over stabbing incident | NFL
Former NFL star Mark Sanchez says he is “focused on my recovery” after being sentenced and released from prison last weekend for an incident in which he was stabbed and another man was seriously injured.
Sanchez was processed into the Marion County Jail on Sunday after being released from the hospital. The judge ruled that Sanchez must undergo processing before being allowed to leave Indiana.
“I’m just focused on my recovery and I want to thank the first responders,” Sanchez said. He told CBS/Fox Indianapolis correspondent Max Lewis: outside the Marion County Jail. The 38-year-old man later got emotional, saying to the surgeon who operated on him, “he saved my life… I’m grateful for that.” The former quarterback of the New York Jets, when asked about the injuries to his body during the incident, said, “I’m slowly recovering, it’s a long process.”
Sanchez faces a felony charge for the incident last weekend. Sanchez, who was in Indianapolis to watch the Colts game against the Raiders for Fox Sports, got into a fight with 69-year-old truck driver Perry Tole early Saturday morning. Tole, who was left with a deep scratch on his face, said that he was afraid for his life during the incident and that he pepper-sprayed Sanchez and stabbed him. Police said the incident occurred after a dispute over parking space.
Sanchez could face up to six years in prison if convicted of the battery charge. He will attend the hearing on November 5. Tole also filed a lawsuit against Sanchez, and his attorneys said their client suffered “severe permanent disfigurement, loss of function” and emotional distress.
Sanchez pleaded not guilty to charges such as assault, assault, public drunkenness and illegal entry into a vehicle.
Fox Sports has yet to address Sanchez’s long-term future with the broadcaster. The Jets selected Sanchez, who had a successful college career in his native California, with the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. He led the Jets to two AFC Championship games before having spells with several teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. He announced his retirement from the NFL in 2019 and began working on ESPN’s college football coverage before moving to Fox soon after.
