For New York Jets fans wishing for a quarterback change in 2013, don’t hold your breath. Early signs are pointing to Mark Sanchez being the starting quarterback in New York for the fifth consecutive year.

According to Sanchez’s contract, he is guaranteed $8.25 million in salary from the Jets in 2013 with no offset language or buyouts. Sanchez also has an offseason workout bonus of $500,000. Essentially, Sanchez can make just under $9 million from the Jets next year even if he doesn’t play a single snap.

This kind of guaranteed money makes Sanchez virtually impossible to trade or release in the offseason. The only other option for the Jets would be to bench Sanchez in favor of another quarterback, such as Tim Tebow. But the Jets would have nearly $9 million sitting on the bench. That wouldn’t make much business sense.

These are the repercussions of New York’s five-year, $58.25 million extension with Sanchez last March. The move freed up immediate cap room but also placed Sanchez as the starting quarterback for 2012 and 2013. It was a risky investment, especially now that Sanchez is struggling in his fourth season.

Following the extension, I wrote it was clear New York general manager Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Rex Ryan were going “all in” with Sanchez. If Tannenbaum and Ryan survive this season, this trio all will be simultaneously fighting for their jobs in 2013.