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Tim Tebow To The New York Jets

Max Meyer |
March 21, 2012 | 10:20 a.m. PDT

Staff Writer

Will the former Bronco compete for the starting job in New York? (Wikimedia Commons)
Will the former Bronco compete for the starting job in New York? (Wikimedia Commons)
In a shocking NFL news day (additionally, there was the news of Saints' head coach Sean Payton's suspension), Tim Tebow was traded to the New York Jets along with the Broncos' seventh-round draft pick for the Jets' fourth- and sixth-round draft picks. 

Tebow was last year's most polarizing athlete, yet he completely turned around the Denver Broncos' season with an 8-3 record as the Broncos starting quarterback, after the team went 1-4 with QB Kyle Orton as the starter. Tebow led the Broncos to a playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite not being able to complete 50% of his passes on the year.

He is an incredible person and role model, and the entire city of Denver had Tebowmania. However, once Peyton Manning signed with the Broncos, it was clear there was no room for both Manning and Tebow. 

However, as a Jets fan, I think this is a disastrous trade for both the Jets and Tebow.

The Jets recently gave their "franchise" QB Mark Sanchez a three-year contract extension over the offseason despite a very disappointing end to the Jets 2011-2012 season. After being picked No. 5 overall by the Jets in the 2009 NFL Draft, Sanchez quarterbacked New York to two straight AFC Championship appearances in his rookie and sophomore campaigns. On the other hand, this is the same Sanchez whose confidence is now down in the dumps. With the high expectations of New York sports fans, one bad game or throw by Sanchez could soon lead to the bellowing of Tebow chants from the Meadowlands stands. When Sanchez needed support from the Jets after their failed attempt to sign Peyton Manning, the Jets killed Sanchez's confidence even more by trading for Tebow.

And does Tebow really want to be a backup quarterback?

Sanchez got a three-year contract extension just weeks ago. (Wikimedia Commons)
Sanchez got a three-year contract extension just weeks ago. (Wikimedia Commons)
This is the same quarterback who led a disheveled franchise to the playoffs and a stunning playoff win. After finally getting his opportunity, and proving that he can win in the NFL, Tebow gets bumped back to standing on the sidelines. Granted, the Jets probably have bigger plans for Tebow than for him to be their backup QB.

Newly hired Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, former Dolphins Head Coach and innovator of the Wildcat offense, said that Tebow was a "perfect fit" for the Wildcat. But did the Jets really need Tebow when they had two young speedsters who handled the Wildcat snaps well last year, in Joe McKnight and Jeremy Kerley?

The Jets are the wrong team for Tebow to go to. He would have been a much better fit as a Jacksonville Jaguar or Miami Dolphin.

And now in New York, there is going to be a huge media circus. Forget Tebowmania by itself, there will be year-long quarterback controversy arguments between Tebow and Sanchez. These two former first round draft picks have a lot to prove, but did the Jets really need to have them compete against each other for success? Also, there's the fact that Tebow now joins New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin as two of the biggest cultural icons in sports, and they are both playing in New York (well, technically New Jersey for Tebow)! 

However, there can be positives about this move.

The Jets' locker room was absolutely toxic last year, and a huge reason why the Jets collapsed in the stretch. Tebow is a great leader and may be able to smooth the former rifts among Jets players. Also, there were many around the NFL who believed that the Jets needed to acquire a competent backup quarterback (the prehistoric Mark Brunell does not count) to challenge Sanchez into thinking that the starting job isn't a lock. 

All I know is, this is the most interesting time to be a New York sports fan with Tebow coming to the Big Apple. If you would have told me that no New Yorkers would be talking about the New York Yankees despite the start of baseball season being a week away, there's no way I would have believed you.

Now, all football fans will be begging for HBO's "Hard Knocks" to choose the Jets to film again, so they can watch the Sanchez-Tebow battle as soon as possible. When Rex Ryan was hired as the head coach of the New York Jets three years ago, he wanted the Jets to be the most relevant team in New York. Well Rex, you have officially transformed the Jets into an all-out media circus with Tebow coming to town.

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