Mark Sanchez's former backup, Erik Ainge, claims to have saved him from numerous gaffes that would have become Internet and tabloid fodder.

"There were numerous times when things would happen, when things would go down, articles of clothing would be removed," Ainge said. "Mark is goofy. He played truth or dare. He was kind of awkward around girls, so he needed other people around him to help him out. I was good at that -- there were other guys who were good with that. So we'd help him out and talk him through his awkwardness. It happened to him with the 17-year-old who said she wasn't 17. Now the butt video and there's been several other issues just like that, but he's always had wingmen."

Ainge believes people often take advantage of Sanchez.

"He's been a target in college and now he's a target in the NFL," said Ainge, who now hosts a radio show in Tennessee. "Now it's become a thing to try and catch Mark doing something stupid. He's never breaking the law. Look at Aaron Hernandez. Mark Sanchez is child's play in the NFL, as far as off-the-field stuff. I'd know as good as anybody -- what Mark does off the field is child's play. He'€™s dumb about it. He's stupid while being stupid. You have to be smart while being stupid, and he's dumb while being dumb. Look at the butt video. He needs someone he trusts there when Mark wants to go streaking through his own condo."

Ainge has battled drug addiction and mental illness in his own life.