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Ex-professional football player the sports analyst has been accused of battery with injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of a vehicle after a Saturday altercation in the city that left him hospitalized with knife injuries.

Details of the Confrontation

According to court documents, Sanchez confronted a senior delivery man at a hotel delivery area. The driver stated he believed “this guy is trying to kill me” and used pepper spray to protect himself. After it failed to halt Sanchez from moving toward him, the man said he stabbed Sanchez “two or three times”. He then allegedly threw the driver against a dumpster before an expression of surprise came across his face and he “ran away”.

Investigators have reviewed video footage of the event. Bystanders reported that both individuals filmed each other with their cellphones during the incident.

Police wrote in the legal document, “Mr Sanchez is seen running after [the man] and the video shows him grabbing and throwing [the man] towards the wall of the Westin hotel.”

How It Started

The confrontation allegedly started after Sanchez and the driver argued over a parking spot.

Consequences and Harm

The incident resulted in knife injuries to his upper body, while the other man sustained lacerations to his face. Sanchez was treated in hospital for his wounds, which were non-fatal, before he was taken into custody on that day. He is scheduled to appear at a court session on Tuesday morning.

Based on the affidavit, Sanchez informed officers “the only thing he recalled was grabbing for a window.” He could not recall who stabbed him or where the incident occurred.

Official Response

“What happened should never have happened,” a prosecutor commented. “What began as a dispute between a 38-year-old former professional athlete and a senior citizen should not have escalated into violence or left anyone seriously injured. In line with standard procedure, we will follow the facts and the law wherever they lead.”

Career Repercussions

Sanchez was in Indianapolis to cover the football match with the opposing team on the weekend as part of his Fox Sports responsibilities. Another former NFL quarterback stepped in for him in the broadcast booth for the event. Fox acknowledged the incident in passing on their sports program, with a host remarking: “it’s a confusing situation … we wish the best for him, his family and everyone affected”.

Sanchez joined Fox in 2021 and also works on sports studio shows.

Previous Career

Prior to becoming an analyst, Sanchez competed for 10 seasons in the NFL with multiple franchises, including the New York Jets, who took him with the fifth overall pick in the annual selection. He later played for the another team and a third franchise. He ended his playing career in mid-2019 and shortly thereafter started at a sports network before transitioning to Fox.

In his personal life, Sanchez married his wife, his spouse, in last year. The pair has a family of five.