RoanokeFan
03-26-2012, 01:40 PM
TEBOW THE JET: CELEBRITY BACKUP MEETS THE MEDIA (http://http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/football/Tebow_the_Jet_Celebrity_backup_meets_media.html)
"Tim Tebow got his first New York close-up Monday.
<div id="storybody">
Speaking at news conference in the Jets field house, because the media crush
was so great the session couldn't be held in the team's normal press room, the
headline-grabbing New York backup QB went out of his way to play down any
conflict between himself and starter Mark Sanchez.</p>
"Me and Mark have a great relationship," Tebow said. "We've been friends past
three years and have already texted back and forth. We are going to have a great
working relationship and I think we'll have a lot of fun together."</p>
Acquired last Wednesday from Denver, the exciting but flawed quarterback is
coming off a season of incredible comebacks with the Broncos. The Jets are
hoping he has more surprises left in him.</p>
Tebow's new club threw him a quick challenge on Monday, sending him out alone
to take questions at what was probably the biggest news conference ever for a
second-string NFL player. Tebow stayed composed, speaking in an upbeat tone for
more than half an hour.</p>
Coach Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson were
not in the building. They were down at the NFL meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., far
away from the wild scene at the team's headquarters.</p>
While Ryan and Tannenbaum insist Sanchez is entrenched as the first-string
quarterback, Tebow will also see plenty of time on the field and certainly much
more of the spotlight.</p>
Ryan suggested on Sunday that Tebow could be used at a position other than
quarterback. He kept referring to Tebow as a "football player," his ability not
limited to quarterback.</p>
"I don't see Tim just holding a clipboard," Ryan told a group of reporters
while in Florida for a meeting of NFL team owners. "He's going to be playing for
us. There is no doubt."</p>
Ryan added: "There won't be a better wildcat quarterback in the game. Is that
his only role? I don't believe that. We'll see."</p>
Tebow said first and foremost he's a quarterback, and that's his hope and
dream, but "however I can help the team, I am open to it."</p>
The newest Jet has already helped his team get some attention. While the club
claims the trade for Tebow was a football-related move, it was also marketing
gold as the polarizing QB has occupied the back — and, in some cases, the front
— pages of the New York-area tabloids. And that's just weeks after the Giants
won their second Super Bowl in four years.</p>
Legions of fans have been snatching up Tebow's green and white No. 15 jersey.
The famed Carnegie Deli in Manhattan already has a sandwich named after him, and
Jockey has a digital billboard ad outside the Lincoln Tunnel — on the New Jersey
side — with the underwear company saying it supports "Tebow & New York."</p>
It's been a whirlwind of a few weeks for Tebow, who just last month was
declared Denver's starting quarterback going into this summer by John Elway. Not
long after that, Peyton Manning was suddenly in town and Tebow was told he could
get traded.</p>
So much for "Timsanity" in Denver. Well, it has hit Broadway in full force,
making "Linsanity" and the New York Knicks' sensational Jeremy Lin seem like a
distant memory.</p>
Manning was introduced as the Broncos' newest quarterback last Tuesday, and
just over 24 hours later, Tebow was on the move, surprisingly headed to New
York.</p>
And then, he wasn't.</p>
A snag in the deal held things up between the Jets and Broncos, the delay
centered on a salary advance due Tebow. Jacksonville, once considered one of the
favorites to land their hometown star, jumped back in the hunt. But eight hours
later, the Jets finally completed the trade, agreeing to pay half of the $5
million Denver owed Tebow. There was yet one more delay before the trade became
official, as a technicality required Tebow to sign a rewritten contract which
kept him on the Broncos' salary cap until Saturday afternoon.</p>
But now Tebow is here, a member of the Jets. And they intend to make things
work with him and Sanchez, who was given a contract extension that included
$20.5 million guaranteed less than two weeks ago. He hasn't commented publicly
on the deal yet, but training camp up in quaint Cortland, N.Y., might be a
pretty hot spot — especially if Sanchez struggles and restless fans push for
more Tebow, creating a quarterback controversy that could last all season.</p>
Jets fans have been decidedly mixed on the trade, with many wondering why the
team would add a monster distraction to a locker room that had serious issues
last season and was partly to blame for an 8-8 finish. Sanchez's leadership and
confidence were questioned by some players, speaking anonymously in newspapers
reports, and the addition of Tebow could cut into the starting quarterback's
ability to regain the room.</p>
Joe Namath ripped the trade, calling it "a publicity stunt," and cornerback
Antonio Cromartie wondered on Twitter why the Jets would even need a guy like
Tebow. He later reversed course, saying he supported Tebow and the team, but
there have been plenty of other critics who have made it clear that they think
the Jets made the wrong move.</p>
While Tebow took Denver from 1-4 to AFC West champions last season, the 2007
Heisman Trophy winner hit fewer than 50 percent of his passes and often seemed
more comfortable running than passing. Throw in Tebow's public displays of faith
— he is a devout Christian — and he quickly has become a player who triggers a
strong reaction from fans.</p>
But whether anyone likes it or not, Tebow is part the New York sports scene.
Now the Jets must figure out how to make it a winning addition."</p></div>
"Tim Tebow got his first New York close-up Monday.
<div id="storybody">
Speaking at news conference in the Jets field house, because the media crush
was so great the session couldn't be held in the team's normal press room, the
headline-grabbing New York backup QB went out of his way to play down any
conflict between himself and starter Mark Sanchez.</p>
"Me and Mark have a great relationship," Tebow said. "We've been friends past
three years and have already texted back and forth. We are going to have a great
working relationship and I think we'll have a lot of fun together."</p>
Acquired last Wednesday from Denver, the exciting but flawed quarterback is
coming off a season of incredible comebacks with the Broncos. The Jets are
hoping he has more surprises left in him.</p>
Tebow's new club threw him a quick challenge on Monday, sending him out alone
to take questions at what was probably the biggest news conference ever for a
second-string NFL player. Tebow stayed composed, speaking in an upbeat tone for
more than half an hour.</p>
Coach Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson were
not in the building. They were down at the NFL meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., far
away from the wild scene at the team's headquarters.</p>
While Ryan and Tannenbaum insist Sanchez is entrenched as the first-string
quarterback, Tebow will also see plenty of time on the field and certainly much
more of the spotlight.</p>
Ryan suggested on Sunday that Tebow could be used at a position other than
quarterback. He kept referring to Tebow as a "football player," his ability not
limited to quarterback.</p>
"I don't see Tim just holding a clipboard," Ryan told a group of reporters
while in Florida for a meeting of NFL team owners. "He's going to be playing for
us. There is no doubt."</p>
Ryan added: "There won't be a better wildcat quarterback in the game. Is that
his only role? I don't believe that. We'll see."</p>
Tebow said first and foremost he's a quarterback, and that's his hope and
dream, but "however I can help the team, I am open to it."</p>
The newest Jet has already helped his team get some attention. While the club
claims the trade for Tebow was a football-related move, it was also marketing
gold as the polarizing QB has occupied the back — and, in some cases, the front
— pages of the New York-area tabloids. And that's just weeks after the Giants
won their second Super Bowl in four years.</p>
Legions of fans have been snatching up Tebow's green and white No. 15 jersey.
The famed Carnegie Deli in Manhattan already has a sandwich named after him, and
Jockey has a digital billboard ad outside the Lincoln Tunnel — on the New Jersey
side — with the underwear company saying it supports "Tebow & New York."</p>
It's been a whirlwind of a few weeks for Tebow, who just last month was
declared Denver's starting quarterback going into this summer by John Elway. Not
long after that, Peyton Manning was suddenly in town and Tebow was told he could
get traded.</p>
So much for "Timsanity" in Denver. Well, it has hit Broadway in full force,
making "Linsanity" and the New York Knicks' sensational Jeremy Lin seem like a
distant memory.</p>
Manning was introduced as the Broncos' newest quarterback last Tuesday, and
just over 24 hours later, Tebow was on the move, surprisingly headed to New
York.</p>
And then, he wasn't.</p>
A snag in the deal held things up between the Jets and Broncos, the delay
centered on a salary advance due Tebow. Jacksonville, once considered one of the
favorites to land their hometown star, jumped back in the hunt. But eight hours
later, the Jets finally completed the trade, agreeing to pay half of the $5
million Denver owed Tebow. There was yet one more delay before the trade became
official, as a technicality required Tebow to sign a rewritten contract which
kept him on the Broncos' salary cap until Saturday afternoon.</p>
But now Tebow is here, a member of the Jets. And they intend to make things
work with him and Sanchez, who was given a contract extension that included
$20.5 million guaranteed less than two weeks ago. He hasn't commented publicly
on the deal yet, but training camp up in quaint Cortland, N.Y., might be a
pretty hot spot — especially if Sanchez struggles and restless fans push for
more Tebow, creating a quarterback controversy that could last all season.</p>
Jets fans have been decidedly mixed on the trade, with many wondering why the
team would add a monster distraction to a locker room that had serious issues
last season and was partly to blame for an 8-8 finish. Sanchez's leadership and
confidence were questioned by some players, speaking anonymously in newspapers
reports, and the addition of Tebow could cut into the starting quarterback's
ability to regain the room.</p>
Joe Namath ripped the trade, calling it "a publicity stunt," and cornerback
Antonio Cromartie wondered on Twitter why the Jets would even need a guy like
Tebow. He later reversed course, saying he supported Tebow and the team, but
there have been plenty of other critics who have made it clear that they think
the Jets made the wrong move.</p>
While Tebow took Denver from 1-4 to AFC West champions last season, the 2007
Heisman Trophy winner hit fewer than 50 percent of his passes and often seemed
more comfortable running than passing. Throw in Tebow's public displays of faith
— he is a devout Christian — and he quickly has become a player who triggers a
strong reaction from fans.</p>
But whether anyone likes it or not, Tebow is part the New York sports scene.
Now the Jets must figure out how to make it a winning addition."</p></div>