Last year I was not aboard the Tim Tebow band wagon, especially after he beat my Jets.  His play was terrible as a QB, but his stats were so unique that I had to wonder about him.  He is definitely a winner that much I’ll give him.  Losers don’t take over a pathetic looking 1-4 team, take them into the playoffs, and beat the Steelers and their #1 defense.  In the end, he seemed to have more yards rushing then passing (that’s totally untrue, he passed for 1,729 yards and ran for 660 but it really did feel that way after many of his games).  Furthermore, I am not a religious person and quite frankly, I think religion should be left out of politics and football.  So this guy here doesn’t care for Tebowmania.  That being said, I am glad the Jets had the gumption to make this trade.

A Solid Back-up

A lot of people were saying that Mark Brunell didn’t have the skill set or youth to make Sanchez work.  They were correct.  This is one of the most important roles a back-up plays, no matter the position.  The #2 guy has to be good enough to push the #1 guy to be better.  This element was nonexistent at the QB position for the last 3 years.  I think that the reputation of Sanchez being lazy is a direct effect of this.  I don’t think he’s lazy, his coaches don’t think he’s lazy, and nor does Mr. Johnson.  However, players in the locker room who are being pushed to perform better by their respective back-ups perceived his lack of a viable #2 pushing him to perform better as laziness.  This is probably why all those comments were unanimous.  Sanchez needed his back up to push him to be better, period.  Now this can happen.  He may even learn a thing or two about leadership.

A Perfect Fit for our Wildcat Needs

By now you’ve seen the stats.  If not, I’ll repeat.  In 2010, before Brad Smith left for Buffalo, the Jets ran 43 Wildcat formations that gained 13 first downs and 2 TD’s.  Last year, they ran 12 Wildcat formations that gained, well, just about nothing.  The Jets lacked a back that knew how to run the Wildcat.  The reason Brad Smith was such a threat running the Wildcat was because he was a QB in college.  Last year, with Kerley and Greene running it, the 3^rd option of the Wildcat, passing, was not an option at all.  Opposing defenses would stuff the box and stuff the run because they knew Kerley or Greene wouldn’t be throwing it behind them.  With Tebow, who is fast enough to run to both the strong side and the weak side and big enough to run up the middle, the third option of passing comes back into play.   Opposing defenses will have to respect the fact that Tebow can throw the ball behind them.

A Positive Guy in a Fractured Locker Room

Last year our locker room was a mess.  I’m sure this kind of issue cannot fix itself.  We need some new blood for new chemistry.  I don’t know how much influence a young guy like Tebow can have, but Denver players did talk about how he was a good influence in the locker room and the Jets need that more so than a good back-up or Wildcat positional player.  I look forward to see what he’ll bring to the locker room.  (I can’t wait for Rex to yell, “Bunny ears Tebow!” before he gives his curse-word-laden pre game speeches.)  The whole Jesus thing could end up working out for a locker room that raised hell last year.

He was Cheap and Very Cap Friendly

Lets face it, we got the guy for a song and a dance.  Tebow came with a seventh rounder and we gave up some money, a fourth rounder and a seventh rounder to complete the trade.  Aside from the two and whatever million dollars, which is pocket change to NFL owners, we got a first round player for a fourth round draft pick if you acquiesce that a seven rounder and sixth rounder is relatively equivalent.  Anytime the Jets want to upgrade to a guy drafted in the first round by giving up a fourth round draft pick, I’m all for it.  Additionally, his cap hit is less than $6 million over three years.  That’s not astronomically higher than what we pay our punter, Nick “Folk it” Folk.

The Legions of Loyal Fans

I admit, back when I was a young, impressionable boy, I was a John Elway fan.  He got me into the NFL and I began life as a Broncos fan until my step dad brought me to my first Jets game.  I think there is an element of Tebow that could enlarge our fan base.  I’m all for enlarging the fan base!  Tebow has legions of loyal Jesus-lovin fans.  I think he has more Twitter followers than any other active NFL player.  If we can get half of these fans to stay Jet fans, we will have won countless people’s hearts and minds.  Once a fan hears Fireman Ed’s “J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets” chant, they’re hooked for life, even if Tebow leaves.

The Downside?

I know that once Sanchez has his inevitable bad 3 game stretch that Tebow mania will rise up and demand he be the starter.  Who cares?  Let fans say what they want.  The Jets can control fan reaction like Sanchez can control Santonio “Waaaa me me me” Holmes’s attitude.  Let the Tebow fans cry all they want.  As long as Rex and Woody don’t buy into it, which they aren’t stupid enough to, it shouldn’t matter.  Skip Bayless won’t change their mind either.  A distraction?  Sure, but the Jets are used to it and so is Sanchez.  The Jets are a media circus, and adding yet another act can only be a good thing. Now go ahead and argue with me!

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