Mark Sanchez spoke publicly for the first time Sunday morning since his arrest and hospitalization following a violent incident in Indianapolis on Oct. 4.
Sanchez, a Fox Sports analyst and former NFL quarterback, was released from Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital on Sunday morning and immediately taken to Marion County Community Justice Center to be booked and processed for his felony charge.
After leaving the justice center, Sanchez was approached by the Indianapolis-based TV news station FOX59.
“Right now, I’m just focused on my recovery, and I just want to thank the first responders, Eskenazi Hospital, Marion County Sheriff, and the Indianapolis Police Department, metro PD,” Sanchez said. “But I’m focused on my recovery, and I just want to see my wife, I want to see my son, my two baby girls. There’ll be a day to answer all these questions, and unfortunately, today is not that day.”
Sanchez added, “I guess the real thing here is I just want to thank Dr. [Lindsey] Mossler, the surgeon. She saved my life. So I’m grateful for that. Sorry, I can’t answer all of your questions.”
When asked if he was feeling any better, Sanchez, who was stabbed during the fight, said, “I’m recovering slowly. Long process.”
Court Case to Follow
A pretrial conference for Sanchez’s court case is scheduled for Nov. 5. He is allowed to leave Indiana.
Sanchez faces up to six years in prison for his felony charge. The high-profile incident originally only prompted misdemeanor charges of battery resulting in injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle.
Beyond the felony charge, Sanchez and Fox have been sued by Perry Tole, the other man injured in the Oct. 4 incident, who says Sanchez instigated the encounter. The lawsuit makes claims of assault and battery against Sanchez, and of negligent hiring, retention, and supervision against Fox. It seeks an unspecified amount of damages to be determined at trial, plus attorney’s fees and other relief as deemed just by the court.
Fox Status Unknown
Fox NFL analyst Mark Schlereth filled in for Sanchez on the network’s telecast of Seahawks-Jaguars on Sunday, alongside play-by-play announcer Chris Myers and sideline reporter Sarah Kustok.
Last week, Brady Quinn subbed in at the last minute for Sanchez, who was originally in Indianapolis to call the Raiders-Colts game alongside Myers and Kustok.
Fox released a short statement on Oct. 4 and has had on-air broadcasters acknowledge Sanchez’s absence, but has not addressed his employment status in-depth.
