Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez will have to wait a little longer to face the music. The criminal trial for the ex-New York Jets signal-caller has been postponed yet again, marking the fourth delay in the proceedings.
According to WRTV, the trial is now set for July 13, with a pretrial conference scheduled five days earlier. Judge Osborn has repeatedly granted continuances at the request of Sanchez's attorneys, moving the trial from December to March, then to April, and then to May before landing on the current July date.
The Incident That Started It All
Sanchez was arrested last October following an altercation in downtown Indianapolis. The former quarterback was in town to call a game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts for Fox Sports. Reports indicate that Sanchez allegedly attacked and injured a truck driver, but he also ended up in the hospital after being stabbed in the chest.
After the dust settled, Sanchez was hit with a felony count of battery and three misdemeanor charges. He faces a maximum of six years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines if convicted on the Level 5 felony battery charge.
Fallout from the Arrest
The legal troubles cost Sanchez his broadcasting gig. Fox Sports moved on from the former quarterback shortly after the arrest. Sanchez had been part of a broadcast crew alongside play-by-play announcer Adam Amin and sideline reporter Kristina Pink.
Sanchez's brother Nick issued a statement at the time, saying, “While the recent news — and its timing — is understandably disappointing, our priority remains his continued healing and recovery. Mark deeply values his time at FOX and the exceptional colleagues he’s had the privilege to work with. Those relationships are meaningful and will endure.”
Sanchez, who was the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, had a career that included stints with the Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Washington Football Team. He led the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010. In a league where some quarterbacks retire young, Sanchez managed to carve out a nine-year career before transitioning to the broadcast booth.
For now, fans and observers will have to wait until summer to learn more about Sanchez's fate. The trial is scheduled to begin on July 13, and with the multiple delays already on the record, it remains to be seen if this date will stick.
In the meantime, the NFL world continues to deal with other off-field stories. For example, former NFL defensive end Josh Mauro passed away at 35, and former Vikings sack leader Doug Martin died at 68. But Sanchez's legal saga remains a significant storyline as the former quarterback fights to clear his name.
