The New York Jets are planning to put Tim Tebow on Special Teams to be the “Punt Protector”. What? Who pays a quarterback $6.2 million to only go on the field as a punt blocker a few times a game? Tim Tebow is 6’3″ 236 pounds; this is a big quarterback. As he showed in Denver last season, he can run and likes to do it often. This is not the same type of offensive scheme presented in the previous years in New York. Last Season in Denver, Tebow threw for 12 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions along with the total of 1,729 passing yards. He led them from the worst team in their division to one of the top teams in the AFC.
Tim Tebow not only help bring back a winning season to the Broncos, but he brought back fans, as well.
His excellent performance in Denver has given him many nicknames. One of these is “Tebow Time”. When it was pronounced that “Tebow Time” was headed to New York, many analyst and fans, including myself, were skeptical about the trade.
I, personally, don’t see how the fans will react to Tebow being only on the punt team. Also, Sanchez has not proven himself as a starter for New York the past two seasons. Many people thought that Sanchez would not stay in New York, because of the way head coach, Rex Ryan, spoke poorly about the Jets’ quarterback after losing at the end of the 2010 season.
Publicity isn’t everything; we know this for a fact. But in order to get wins you must have a quarterback, who can perform not only statistically, but perform in a leadership position on and off the field. Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan’s relationship is certainly not private. Sanchez’ leadership on the field was taken away last season when head coach, Rex Ryan, spoke poorly about his quarterback during a postgame press conference. Tim Tebow’s faith verifies that his leadership off the field is sound; his leadership on the field was publicized during his 14 games last season in Denver. Therefore, Tim Tebow is a better leader for the Jets than Mark Sanchez, although, Mark’s stats are more sound.
Everyone knows how the Jets are “Rex Ryan’s Team”. I’m not sure how the coach is going to react to Tim Tebow being in the main spotlight in New York. Tim Tebow is best known for his public profession of faith. I believe that New York will completely split Tebow and Ryan apart. Either Tebow or Ryan will be gone after this season, if this lasts a whole season. Was the “Punt Protector” position a way for Rex Ryan to take a stab at “Tebow Time”? How long before Rex Ryan pulls Sanchez as starting QB? Will Tebow stay in New York the entire 2011 season? And how will Tebow’s public profession of faith? These are all questions that I am excited to see how they will be answered this season.
- Cameron Black
(Follow me on Twitter): GBCam_Black
