Fox Sports activities has dropped analyst Mark Sanchez roughly a month after his arrest on a felony battery cost linked to a stabbing incident in Indianapolis.
“We can confirm that Mark Sanchez is no longer with the network,” a rep for Fox Sports activities stated on Friday. “There will be no further comment at this time.”
The 38-year-old former Jets quarterback, who began working for Fox as a soccer analyst in 2021, was charged following an alleged altercation with a 69-year-old truck driver within the early hours of Oct. 4.
Whereas visiting Indianapolis to cowl the Colts vs. Raiders recreation that weekend, Sanchez was allegedly concerned in a battle with Perry Tole in an alley between the Westin lodge and the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
Video of the incident exhibits Sanchez stumbling across the space for practically 20 minutes earlier than the violent encounter. In keeping with a police affidavit, Sanchez, who allegedly reeked of alcohol on the time, confronted Tole after he backed into Westin’s loading docks round midnight.
Tole — who works for a corporation that exchanges industrial frying oil — has alleged that Sanchez began harassing him about parking within the alley and tried to climb into the cab of his truck a number of occasions. He claimed that Sanchez shoved him and knocked him down as he tried to succeed in for his cellphone.
Involved for his security, Tole stated he then grabbed pepper spray and used that in bid to scare off Sanchez. It “appeared to have an effect” however solely momentarily, in line with the affidavit, so Tole grabbed a knife to guard himself.
In keeping with courtroom paperwork, the truck driver stated he thought Sanchez was “trying to kill [him],” so he stabbed the ex-Jet in self-defense.
Sanchez, left bloodied in wake of the assault, might be seen within the video racing out of the alley earlier than it turns into flooded with first responders.
Tole was hospitalized with severe head and neck accidents, together with a deep laceration to his face. Sanchez was handled for stab wounds to his higher torso and remained hospitalized for greater than every week. He was launched on Oct. 12 and booked straight into jail.
The previous NFL star was initially charged with three misdemeanors however now additionally faces a felony battery cost that carries a potential sentence of as much as six years in jail if he’s convicted.
Though Sanchez has not publicly spoken concerning the incident or his firing, his household addressed Fox’s determination on Friday.
Fox Sports activities has since employed Tremendous Bowl-winning quarterback Drew Brees to interchange Sanchez as an analyst on the No. 4 NFL crew starting in Week 11 on Nov. 16.
“I appreciate the opportunity FOX has given me in the booth and with their team,” Brees stated in a press release. “I hope my passion for this game is reflected in the knowledge and insights I provide to the fans each Sunday.”
Sanchez, who stays free on bond, is at present set to face trial on Dec. 11, although prosecutors have stated that date could change.
