We’ve got a shake-up in the broadcast booth ahead of Sunday’s Seahawks-Jaguars matchup at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium.
Fox Sports originally had former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez slated to join Chris Myers in the booth as the color commentator for the Week 6 contest. But those plans have changed. Sanchez is no longer part of the assignment and will be replaced by former NFL offensive lineman and three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth.
Here’s what we know: Sanchez, 38, was involved in an incident last weekend in Indianapolis, where he had been scheduled to call the Colts-Raiders game. That broadcast ultimately went ahead without him, with Brady Quinn stepping in after the news broke.
The incident in question reportedly involved an altercation outside a hotel loading dock. According to police reports and legal filings, Sanchez allegedly confronted a 69-year-old truck driver, Perry Tole, over a parking dispute.
The situation escalated, and both men ended up hospitalized. Sanchez sustained stab wounds, while Tole is said to have suffered significant injuries, including damage to his head, jaw, and neck-injuries described in a lawsuit as leading to “severe permanent disfigurement.”
Sanchez was released from the hospital and arrested shortly thereafter. He now faces several misdemeanor charges, including battery resulting in injury and public intoxication. More seriously, he’s been charged with felony battery resulting in serious bodily injury-a charge that could carry a prison sentence of up to six years if convicted.
For now, Fox has turned to a seasoned and steady voice in Schlereth, who brings a different kind of perspective to the broadcast with his background in the trenches as an offensive lineman. He’s a familiar face for NFL fans and has plenty of experience breaking down blocking schemes, pass protection, and line dynamics-expect a front-row education in those areas come Sunday.
As for Sanchez, his future in the broadcast booth is now uncertain, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. He had been carving out a post-playing career as an analyst, bouncing between studio work and game broadcasts with his usual energetic style. But this incident marks a serious and highly public setback.
NFL broadcast teams don’t usually make headlines the way quarterbacks or game-winning receivers do-but this weekend, all eyes are on a high-profile substitution that’s happening well before kickoff.