The New York Jets are ready to begin a new drama-free era for the team, yet they cannot seem to stay out of the limelight. They cut Tim Tebow in an effort to eliminate some of the media craze around them, instead they only increased it. The retiring of David Garrard should have decreased some talked of the quarterback competition, instead it only increased it. While owner Woody Johnson said he is pleased of the direction the team is heading in, he might be the only one singing the praises of the Jets. Hall of Fame coach Mike Ditka simply laughed at the team, calling them a joke.
Ditka once praised quarterback Tim Tebow, believing the Jets should have given him a chance to show what he can do. Instead, the team cut them in a move that just has Ditka laughing at the team.
"What happened up there in New York last year, was a joke, but then again so is their team," Ditka said in a radio interview.
It is no secret that the Jets were one of the long running jokes of the NFL in 2012 and 2013 has yet to look like much of an improvement. The team is trying to start things off with a quarterback competition in an effort to have the best guy be in place for the job. After drafting Geno Smith in the second round, the talent chasing after Mark Sanchez has only gotten better.
After Garrard retired, Sanchez's spot as the starter just got a little bit better, but Ditka is not sold on the quarterback as the future of the team and he does not think the competition is helping.
"Right now, I think Sanchez's psyche is smashed. I mean, it's shattered. He has to get his confidence back before he can do anything," Ditka said.
Sanchez is certainly talking like he is the No. 1 guy for the Jets, whether he believes he is or not. The media-savvy quarterback is saying all of the right things in order to remain in the team's good graces.
"This is something I've dreamed about all of my life and I don't play on letting it go," Sanchez said.
Now with five quarterbacks on the roster, Sanchez has a better shot at remaining the team's starting quarterback for the 2013 season. While no one is ready to set a depth chart yet, the odds that he is back on top are certainly greater.
