5 most overrated players in Jets history ft. Mark Sanchez

The New York Jets have been a "poverty franchise" for the past 12 seasons, but it was not always like this.

Back in the 1960s, they were a good team, best exemplified when they upset the then-dominant Baltimore Colts at Super Bowl III, legitimizing the AFL-NFL merger. But after that, it has been decades of disappointment, with historic squads either just coming up short of the ultimate prize or completely failing to live up to expectations.

The current era of Jets football "boasts" many players whose skills fans have long overestimated, but there are more examples that go way back...

5 most overrated players in New York Jets history

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#5. Ryan Fitzpatrick

New York Jets vs. Arizona Cardinals

Ryan Fitzpatrick is one of the most enigmatic players in NFL history. In some games he would be almost dominant on the field, throwing scores everywhere. In others, opponents would feast on him as though he were a candy bag.

Nowhere was this more apparent than in his two seasons with the Jets (2015 and 2016). In the first, he was shockingly good, setting career-highs in passing yards (3,905) and passing touchdowns (31, the single-season franchise record) as the team finished 10-6 and just missed the playoffs via tiebreak.

And then came the second: Fitzpatrick threw more interceptions than touchdowns, and the Jets went back to the bottom of the AFC East.

#4. Brandon Marshall

Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets

Speaking of Ryan Fitzpatrick and his 2015-16 stint, Brandon Marshall was his primary target during that span.

And initially, he appeared to be playing the part of a potent weapon, catching a league-high 14 touchdowns and almost matching his career-best in receiving yards. He then regressed in 2016 to just under 800 yards and a paltry three touchdowns.

While Marshall was indeed a top-tier wideout whose teams failed to catch breaks, his time with the Jets left much to be desired.

#3. Santonio Holmes

Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets

Santonio Holmes is a hotly debated name among Pittsburgh Steelers fans. On one hand, his game-winning touchdown at Super Bowl XLIII stands among the greatest moments in the game's history.

On the other, his legal troubles were something of a stain on the organization, which prompted a trade to Gang Green after the best season of his career. As a Jet, he was decent, but nowhere near the game-changer he was promised to be.

#2. Chad Pennington

New York Jets vs. Minnesota Vikings

Chad Pennington is one of the better Jets quarterbacks in the 21st century, leading the league in completion percentage once, winning Comeback Player of the Year, and making the postseason thrice.

But despite such accolades, was he really "the man"? Even with some of the best rosters in franchise history, he could not return the team to the conference title game.

#1. Mark Sanchez

New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles

"The Sanchise".

That was what people thought Mark Sanchez was going to be when he gave Gang Green its first conference title game appearance since 1998. That happened for two seasons even, before it all fell apart.

Looking back, it is easy to see why he succeeded at first: a monstrous ground game that featured Thomas Jones, Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson; and a dominating defense that starred future Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis. When those two elements vanished and he was forced to lead, he crumbled.