NEW YORK (AP) - Jets owner Woody Johnson says his team "passed on" Peyton Manning and instead chose to sign quarterback Mark Sanchez to a three-year contract extension.
Johnson tells Fox Business Network on Tuesday night that the Jets discussed trying to sign Manning, a free agent after the Indianapolis Colts released the four-time NFL MVP last week. But, Johnson says they instead "looked at the body of work of Mark Sanchez and wanted to put our faith in him."
New York signed Sanchez, who had two years remaining on his deal, to a three-year extension worth $40.5 million last Friday. The Jets, meanwhile, were never really in the Manning sweepstakes.
"We passed on him," Johnson said. "Sanchez is not leaving. We've got a pretty good tether. We've got five years. We like Mark."
