New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has taken a lot of criticism this week after a couple of video clips hit the internet of him dancing around with two attractive young ladies and hanging his butt out. Some have argued that the 26-year-old was simply having some harmless fun, but most people feel that it wasn’t a good look for Sanchez.
One of Sanchez’s former teammates, quarterback Erik Ainge, told Metro New York on Thursday that “goofy” behavior is nothing new for the former USC star. In fact, he said he once had to smash a girl’s cell phone after she took a video or picture of Sanchez streaking at a party in 2009.
Ainge said the Jets had just won a big home game four years ago when Sanchez, whose girlfriend was at the party, decided to go streaking in his own condo after several drinks. A female party goer allegedly whipped out her cell phone to capture the moment, and Ainge destroyed the phone. Sanchez later paid for the damages.
“There were numerous times when things would happen, when things would go down, articles of clothing would be removed,” Ainge told Metro. “Mark is goofy. He played truth or dare. He was kind of awkward around girls, so he needed other people around him to help him out. I was good at that — there were other guys who were good with that. So we’d help him out and talk him through his awkwardness. It happened to him with the 17-year old who said she wasn’t 17. Now the butt video and there’s been several other issues just like that, but he’s always had wingmen.”
Ah yes, the 17-year-old who said she wasn’t 17 — we remember that. In addition to bragging about how great of a wingman he was, Ainge added that the fun Sanchez has is harmless. He said he just needs to be smarter about it.
“He’s never breaking the law,” Ainge said. “Look at Aaron Hernandez, Mark Sanchez is child’s play in the NFL, as far as off-the-field stuff. I’d know as good as anybody — what Mark does off the field is child’s play. He’s dumb about it. He’s stupid while being stupid. You have to be smart while being stupid, and he’s dumb while being dumb.”
In an era where everyone has a cell phone camera and the ability to instantly upload things to Facebook and Twitter, high-profile athletes really do need to watch their step. Ainge, who is an admitted drug addict that once knew he needed help, sounds like he did what he could to keep Sanchez’s ass off the internet. Thank goodness for that.
We know one guy who would be damn proud of Mark, and he ain’t a New York Jet:
H/T Deadspin
