Mike Wilbon: Mark Sanchez's Dad Should Have Punched Pete Carroll

This new format sucks

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i agree, now i mostly go to yahoo sports... i guess you get what you pay for

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THOUGH I HAVE NO INSIDE INFO I WONDER IF MAYBE SNCHEZ, FAMILY OR AGENT SAID SOMETHING SO OFFENSIVE TO PETE THAT IT CAUSED HIM TO ACT THAT FAR OUT OF CHARACTER. WITH 4 QBs' ready to go in the wings with lots of talent i believe something very offensive was said to cause this unusal behavior by pete.

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I thought Coach Carroll made some valid points. I wish Sanchez well but thought he could have used another year.

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I don't think Pete Carroll has confidence in the people that might step into start at the quarterback position. He needs to relax, he wasn't going to beat Florida next year even with Sanchez at quarterback. Carroll doesn't have the clear-cut best program in the country anymore. His defense gave up more point to PSU than Florida did to the Sooners. He came in third in the AP and CP. He doesn't seem to thrilled about taking a backseat to anyone. Now his starter is leaving for the NFL. So much for taking back the number one spot next year.

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I think coach Carrol has every right to express his feelings. The school invests a lot in these kids they owe something to the school & there team mates

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I think coach Carroll was right. Mark Sanchez is a good quarterback, but he is not ready for the NFL. And Mike Wilbon makes me ill.

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PC is a classless act. Recruits beware!!!!!!!!

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Who cares what this guy thinks? USC is no more than a football factory anyway. College sports have all gone to hell!

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Pete was right, Sanchez could use another year in the program to sharpen his skills. Pete had the right and the obligation to speak in a forthright manner to the press and the Sanchez family. Sanchez was right, he could lose million$ waiting til next year and every player is only one knee injury away from never playing again. Both had their say and now it's done. Mark gets to chase his dream in the NFL and 3 other outstanding qb's will fight to see who starts next season. Always Compete! Fight On! Win Forever!

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Hold up, homeboys. I am not a USC alum. But I am a fan of Pete Carroll's. Having attended a few USC practices, it is an incredible opportunity for a kid to learn about football, life and to have fun doing it. Completely unlike the programs I knew growing up in Texas. Football is fun with uncle Pete. And those kids are exposed to politics, helping less fortunate people and a lot of other educational pieces that are found in few NCAA programs.
So it is with some amusement and a lot of disgust that I read and listen to Wilbon, Plaschke and the rest of the so called media experts. These are some of the same guys who said all year that what was holding USC back was the inconsistency of the offense, particularly the quarterback. It got so bad locally that it spread nationally. Unlike all the other top quarterbacks, Mark played one year. And sections of that year, he very much seemed like he had lots to learn, particularly with decision making. And while, yes, he looked perhaps like the best quarterback around in the Rose Bowl, it was one game. Peter is right. Mark's decision reminds one a little of Mike Williams, the USC receiver who left early and was a top 10 pick and is now out of the league. He didn't listen to Pete. His dream got pretty snuffed.
I believe Pete believed Mark, had he stayed in school, could have upped his ante so high as to be above all the other quarterbacks out there, the one exception being Bradford. If the NFL doesn't think Sanchez is ready, they will brush him aside like an old coat. And if his stock really rose next year, even if he got hurt, they would still be ready to give him a big shot and lots of money. There are just not that many quarterbacks in college that have a solid idea about running a pro set and Sanchez, who has a lot of physical tools, was on his way to mastering it. And speaking of "Masters", Sanchez, who will complete his graduation requirements this spring, says the career he really wants is pro football. It seems to me he still had a little post-graduate work to complete. He is a great kid, though, and I wish him great success. As for Plaschke and Wilbon and the like, well, they are just a couple of examples of the bombastic, loud reporters who seem to rule the day.

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Mr. Sanchez has a great deal of growing to do. Carroll was absolutely correct in his assessment of his skills. As a season ticket holder I watched to much Sanchez’s rather nervous feet and to many of his rather rather dumb throws. He works behind a dominant offensive line against college level talent. At the next level the imbalance will not be there for him. During the next year he could have worked more on pro-football approaches to the game. He does not have that yet, and will learn it most probably like Lienart.

Regarding USC’s commitment to Sanchez, he had to do a great deal of growing up and still has a long way to go. Somehow his legal troubles were made to go away. When a school is the big noise in town and can influence a great many people things can happen that may not happen for the average guy.

Too many like to take pot shots at Carroll for being an enthusiastic winner at a great university. As he said, he would tell his own son the same things he told Sanchez in the same exact manner. Can he be pissed off when folks make choices that could be stacked against them. Yes. Three years ago it was a shame when Fred Matua opted for the NFL and left USC. He was not drafted and not picked up. He was warned, but did not listen. Sure Sanchez will go high in the draft because greed will blind some team. Will he be successful? Only if a Sark or a Carroll like coach can keep the faith like Bundini Brown did for Muhammad Ali.

Too bad all around.

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No one is debating whether what Pete Carrol said is correct or incorrect. The matter here is that he should not have had said those things publicly. Obviously a player is going to get better if they stay in college another year, especially one who only started for one season. Everyone knows that and doesn't need that information reiterated in some rant. By doing so, he acted in a childish and bitter manner.

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