Ultra-religious young quarterback/meme generator/metaphor Tim Tebow was supposed to have been traded from the Denver Broncos to the Jets yesterday around noon—but the lord giveth and the lord taketh, and due to "contract language," the trade was in jeopardy for much of the day. Repentant New Yorkers who initially balked the trade were left in limbo, forced to consider whether they really want Tebow—an undoubtedly polarizing figure who would change the entire makeup of the Jets offense, and possibly, culture—to come or not. All that's in the past now, because a deal was hammered out last night: Tebow is coming to NYC. But we're not sure if the Jets really are ready for Tebowmania: “We understand the popularity of any backup QB and this one is more unique than others,” GM Mike Tannenbaum said very understatedly.
In the end, the Jets received Tebow and a seventh round pick for a fourth-round and a sixth-round pick; the Jets also agreed to pay $2.53 million of a salary advance due Tebow. At a press conference, Tannenbaum explained that Tebow will be the team’s backup quarterback, and will also be utilized in the Wildcat formation. Tannenbaum explained why the Jets felt getting Tebow was a no-brainer:
He’s a competitor. He’s a winner. When you can add a player and a person like him, from our standpoint from working it over internally with our staff, with [owner Woody] Johnson, we felt there was a certain value we’d put on it. It was an unexpected opportunity and, again as you guys know, when there are opportunities we’ll evaluate them thoroughly and to add a dynamic playmaker we’re really excited about it.
One other general manager put it into a different perspective for the Daily News: “I think it’s a good move. He brings a spark to the offense. Look at it like this: Tebow is a relief pitcher, a closer. There is nothing wrong with that.” The Jets new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano favors using the Wildcat formation—in which both Sanchez and Tebow would be on the field—as he did when he was head coach of the Miami Dolphins a few years ago. “The Jets have an offensive coordinator who had a lot of success with that package. That’s how you have to look at it," the general manager said. But he tempered his statement: "But even the most illiterate fan recognizes he’s not a legitimate quarterback.”
Tannenbaum told reporters at his press conference that he called Mark Sanchez—who recently signed a three-year, $40 million extension—to tell him he still is the starter. “Mark Sanchez is, has been and will be our starting quarterback,” Tannenbaum said. “We’re adding Tim to be our backup quarterback and to play in other roles and packages.” But some are dubious about that: "It means the only commandment in the Sanchise’s football Bible now is Thou Shalt Not Stink. Or else. It is further evidence the Jets don’t believe they have their Sanchise quarterback," wrote the Post. "The Jets go out and get themselves a rock-star backup who happens to be one of the most famous athletes on the planet, and tell their fans he’s going to pitch middle relief. We’ll see about that, if both these guys are still Jets by the end of their current contracts," the News wrote.
As for Tebow, he's thankful [the Jets] stuck with me through this whole crazy process," he told ESPN via phone. He repeated several times that he was "excited" to be part of the Jets, despite some reports that he wanted nothing to do with the team—he also acknowledged that he didn't have any choice in where he was going to land, "because the Broncos had all that power."
Tebow added that he had spoken to Sanchez already and had a "great conversation:" "My goal is to push him to get better and to push myself to get better every day. But I think we'll have a great working relationship. We'll have a great relationship off the field, and we've had that the last few years. He's such a classy guy and handles himself so well, and I'll be very honored to call him my teammate."
