The quarterback drama for the New York Jets never seems to end.
The newest wrinkle in saga of Tim Tebow is the perception and the suggestion that the quarterback asked out of all specialty and Wildcat packages during preparations for last week's game against the San Diego Chargers.
According to sources, Tebow said he was frustrated with being passed over for the starting job and told coaches he didn't want to be used in any Wildcat packages. The Jets instead uised Jeremy Kerley in the Wildcat and were fairly successful, completing a deep pass and some other plays. Tebow was active for the game but did not take a snap.
Tebow was extremely frustrated on Wednesday and said that the perception that he quit on the team was just wrong and that the media was trying to create a dramatic story.
"For people to not know the situation and to bash your character and say you're a phony, you're a fake and you're a hypocrite, I think that's what's disappointing and that's what's frustrating," he said. "It's a football game. That's one thing, if you're good or bad at football, but your character and integrity, that's who you are as a man," Tebow said to ESPNNewYork.com. "That's a lot more important. That's what's disappointing for me and frustrating because I take that way more serious than I'll ever take a football game."
The news first was reported by ESPNNewYork.com that Tebow was upset about being passed over in favor of Greg McElroy, which Tebow confirmed was true on Wednesday, but later said that what he told coaches was taken the wrong way. According to Tebow, he spoke to head coach Rex Ryan and expressed his displeasure and said he was unhappy with his role in the Wildcat, but said he never asked out of it.
"I never said, 'Hey, I don't want to do anything or I won't do anything,' " Tebow said. "That wasn't the talk at all. He knows that and everybody on this team knows I would never not do something if I was asked."
Following the game, Ryan's comments to reporters made it sound like Tebow wanted out of the Wildcat, but he offered no specifics on the situation.
"Like I said, Tim would've gone in the game if I would've chosen to have him in the game," said Ryan.
On Wednesday, Tebow said there was a chance that the coaches misunderstood what he said and he and Ryan had a "Man-to-man conversation" about the issues.
"I simply asked him to get an opportunity to play quarterback. That was my passion. I did tell him I was frustrated with the Wildcat and the success we were having and some of the stuff we were doing. (I was) definitely disappointed and frustrated and I let him know that. I just asked for an opportunity to play quarterback," Tebow said.
The choice of Greg McElroy to start didn't provide any offensive spark for the Jets, instead it resulted in 11 sacks from the Chargers and just 185 yards passing from the starter.
The entire season thus far has been a disappointment for both the Jets and for Tebow. When the team acquired him in the offseason they built it up that Tebow would provide a dynamic spark for the offense while playing out of the Wildcat. So far that has not happened.
Tebow has barely logged any time at quarterback and has rushed for 102 yards on 32 attempts and has completed just 6-of-8 passes for 39 yards. His best chance at getting time at quarterback came against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 2 when starter Mark Sanchez was benched after throwing three interceptions.
"It's been disappointing; obviously (the season) didn't go as we thought, as I had hoped," Tebow said to ESPN.com. "But sometimes in life you have that. Sometimes you have setbacks and you have to look at them as an opportunity to step back up and keep working and figure out what to do."
Unfortunately for Tebow, he was inactive that day with a rib injury, giving McElroy the opportunity. The former Heisman trophy winner has said that he believes he is a starting quarterback and deserves a chance to play, whether it is with the Jets or elsewhere.
"I believe in my God-given ability to play this game of football, and I think I can play it for a long time," Tebow said, "and I look forward to playing it some more."
Sanchez's struggles this year have only highlighted the ineffectiveness of Tebow as well. Sanchez has thrown for 2,678 yards and 13 touchdowns with 17 interceptions and 12 fumbles, yet the team still did not want to give the ball to Tebow. Even with a 54.8 completion percentage, the Jets felt better with Sanchez than with Tebow at any time.
Tebow's strange road to this point started last season when he took over the starting job in Denver for Kyle Orton in Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins. Tebow helped spark the team to a dramatic comeback victory after being down 15-0 in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter. enver became the first team in NFL history to win a game after being down by at least 15 points with three minutes to play in a game.
Denver went on to win the AFC West last season and had a home playoff game against the Steelers, who were 12-4 and in the Wild Card spot. Tebow amazed NFL fans everywhere with his 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime to earn the win, but things ended for the Broncos the following week against the New England Patriots.
During the offseason the Broncos jumped at the chance to get Peyton Manning and decided to ship Tebow to the Jets. Clearly that move has worked out for Denver, considering the team has won nine games in a row and is AFC West division champs (again).
When the Jets traded for Tebow they claimed that management was still fully behind Mark Sanchez, but sometimes perception can become reality. As a fourth year starter, Sanchez needed playmakers on offense. Instead the team brought in a backup quarterback that dominates the headlines and the back pages.
Whether Tebow asked out of the Wildcat on Sunday is almost irrelevant at this point. Clearly Ryan and the Jets offensive staff have no confidence in Tebow, or they would have turned to him after benching Sanchez in favor of McElroy. Tebow must have said enough to make Ryan replace him with Kerley in the Wildcat, but either way, the package was more productive on Sunday than most of the other games this season.
ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen has reported that Tebow is likely to play for the Jaguars next season, but it is unclear if the Jets will try to trade Tebow or release him. He still has two years left on his contract and team owner Woody Johnson has previously said that Tebow will remain with the team for all three years.
The Jets may or may not trade Tebow this offseason. One thing is for sure though, the Jets quarterback drama is not even close to being done with.
