ESPN

Soon after arriving last spring, Tim Tebow, in casual conversation with reporters, revealed he had changed the name of his dog, a Rhodesian ridgeback, to fit his new city. The dog, known as "Bronco" in Denver, became known as "Bronx."

Is there a new name in the dog's future?

Tebow, released Monday in a long-anticipated move by the Jets, is a free agent. Where will he end up? Will he find a job in the NFL? Just a hunch here, but I wouldn't be shocked if he landed with the Patriots. A few reasons:

His former Broncos coach, Josh McDaniels, is the offensive coordinator. The Patriots showed interest in Tebow before the 2010 draft; he and Bill Belichick went to dinner in Boston during a visit to the Patriots. If anyone can figure out how to deploy Tebow, it's Belichick, who loves guys like Tebow -- hard-working and passionate about football. And last, but not least, Belichick would love to stick it to the Jets, showing them -- and the world -- he can make it work. There wouldn't be a quarterback controversy, not with Tom Brady there.

Someone who knows Tebow told me recently the Jets were afraid to cut him because they were concerned he'd end up in New England. Frankly, I don't think that's why they waited so long -- they waited through the draft to see if they could trade him -- but it wouldn't surprise me if the Patriots scenario has entered the minds of some folks at One Jets Drive.

If Tebow lands with the Patriots, would he change the dog's name again? Three possibilities: "Belichick." "Brady." "Brockton."

The CFL has been floated as a possibility, mostly by media and CFL types. The Montreal Alouettes own his rights. GM Jim Popp told TSN.com Monday morning that he'd be open to acquiring Tebow, but he wouldn't come in as a starter.

"If he wants to come to Canada he would be in the same situation as the one he was in with New York," Popp said. "He can come here and compete to be the backup to Anthony Calvillo and learn the game, just like Jeff Garcia did (behind Doug Flutie). And one day he might be the guy; that's our vision. He can learn from the best."

A look back at the highlights (all three of them) and lowlights (too many to count) of Tim Tebow’s brief time in New York:

March 19 -- Coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum are sipping on Ben & Jerry’s milkshakes at Newark Airport, waiting for a flight to the North Carolina pro day, when Tannenbaum broaches the idea of trading for Tebow. Peyton Manning is on the verge of signing with the Denver Broncos, so Tannenbaum figures Tebow will be available.

March 21 -- The Jets complete one of the biggest and most controversial trades in team history, acquiring Tebow and a seventh-round pick for fourth- and sixth-round picks. They agree to pay $2.53 million to the Broncos to satisfy a clause in Tebow’s contract, the source of a disagreement between the two teams that nearly blows up the trade.

March 22 -- Tebow lands in Morristown, N.J., via private jet, to visit the Jets’ facility. News choppers fly overhead, following his car on the short drive to the facility -- an O.J.-like scene. No white Bronco, though.

March 24 -- One week after signing backup QB Drew Stanton as a free agent, the Jets trade him to the Indianapolis Colts for a sixth-round pick -- an embarrassing about-face for the organization. Stanton complained after the Tebow trade, forcing the Jets’ hand. It costs them $500,000, the amount of Stanton’s signing bonus.

March 26 -- In perhaps the first news conference in history for a backup quarterback, Tebow is introduced at a Super Bowl-sized gathering in the team’s fieldhouse. It attracts more than 200 credentialed media types, 36 TV cameras and at least 12 satellite trucks outside. Oddly, no one from the team’s hierarchy is present; they’re in Florida at the league meetings.

May 10 -- Tebow reveals he has changed the name of his dog, a Rhodesian ridgeback, to fit with his new address. Say hello to Bronx, formerly known as Bronco. Believe it or not, this makes headlines. Is another name change in the offing for the dog?

July 27 -- Tebow makes his training-camp debut in Cortland, N.Y., a closed practice in which he struggles mightily -- a harbinger.

July 28 -- The shirt hits the fan. Following a rain-soaked practice, Tebow makes national news by removing his jersey and running shirtless to the locker room, parting the rain drops. A video of his jaunt hits the Internet and goes viral. Poking fun at himself, he shows up for a quarterbacks meeting later in the day wearing no shirt.

Aug. 2 -- With ESPN cameras recording his every move, Tebow provides a made-for-TV moment, scoring on a routine goal-line drill -- the first glimpse of the highly anticipated Wildcat.

Aug. 10 -- Tebow makes his preseason debut with a predictable performance. He scrambled four times to lead the team in rushing, but he was shaky as a passer, throwing a terrible interception -- another harbinger.

Aug. 13 -- In a laughable display of paranoia, the Jets hold a closed practice devoted largely to the Wildcat. Reporters are permitted to watch, but they’re not allowed to report details. Coordinator Tony Sparano, not the trusting type, instructs players to form a wall on the sideline, blocking the view of reporters. ESPN reports live, but the crew is told to keep the camera far from the field.

Aug. 30 -- Owner Woody Johnson puts foot in mouth, telling a TV interviewer that "I think you can never have too much Tebow." The comment naturally becomes a headline, fueling the perception it was Johnson’s idea to acquire Tebow.

Sept. 9 -- In the grand unveiling, Tebow and the Wildcat are a flop in the season-opening win over the Buffalo Bills. Tebow rushed five times for 11 yards, resulting in a smattering of boos -- yet another harbinger.

Sept. 18 -- In a Q & A with ESPNNewYork.com, Tebow makes news by revealing post-football political aspirations. It provides monologue fodder for TV talk-show host Jimmy Fallon. If Tebow tries to pass a bill, Fallon cracks, it will get intercepted over the middle.

Sept. 20 -- An ominous sign: A testy Sparano, supposedly the godfather of the Wildcat, defends his use of Tebow (or lack thereof) by explaining that using a player with Tebow’s skill set is "uncharted territory." It’s the first indication that Sparano isn’t on board.

Sept. 23 -- Tebow appears in 12 offensive snaps against the Miami Dolphins. Why is this significant? It turns out to be a season high, far below the 20-snap max predicted by Ryan in the offseason.

Oct. 8 -- Tim throws! Tim throws! Before a Monday-night TV audience, the Jets actually let him throw a pass from under center. Tebow unleashes a beauty, a perfectly thrown deep pass -- and Jason Hill drops it.

Oct. 10 -- The boss strikes again. In another TV interview, Johnson says he expects Tebow to remain with the Jets for the duration of his contract -- through 2014.

Nov. 11 -- Tebow suffers a fractured rib in an ugly loss to the Seahawks -- except the team doesn’t disclose it until 11 days later. Tebow misses his first (and only) chance to score a touchdown, but his big moment is ruined by a penalty.

Nov. 22 -- The first of many questionable quarterback decisions by Ryan. Tebow dresses but doesn’t play in a Thanksgiving night loss to the New England Patriots. (Remember the Butt Fumble?) Afterward, Tebow reveals the rib injury.

Dec. 2 -- Ryan finally decides to pull the slumping Mark Sanchez, but it occurs on a day in which Tebow is inactive. Greg McElroy saves the day against the Arizona Cardinals.

Dec. 9 -- Another head scratcher by Ryan: Tebow still isn’t 100 percent, but he’s the No. 2 quarterback and McElroy is inactive against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s a homecoming game for Tebow, who doesn’t see the field.

Dec. 17 -- On a Monday-night stage, the quarterback situation changes dramatically, perhaps forever. With an outside chance to make the playoffs, Sanchez (five turnovers) plays the worst game of his career -- but Ryan refuses to play Tebow for more than six snaps.

Dec. 18 -- Ryan announces a quarterback change, naming McElroy -- not Tebow -- the new starter. The next day, a clearly miffed Tebow expresses his disappointment. ESPNNewYork.com is the first to report the Jets will part ways after the season.

Dec. 23 -- This is rock bottom for Tebow, who is removed from the Wildcat package in favor of WR Jeremy Kerley. The Jets are tight-lipped, but ESPNNewYork.com reports that Tebow, frustrated with his role, told Ryan he didn’t want to be used in the Wildcat package.

Dec. 30 -- In his final game as a Jet, Tebow plays only one snap in a loss to the Bills. Afterward, he dodges questions about his future. He also refuses to look back, saying, "I’m not going to worry about if I was treated fair."

Jan. 11 -- Retired special teams coach Mike Westhoff, in an interview with a Miami radio station, calls the Tebow situation "an absolute mess."

Jan. 23 -- How’s this for a twist? Johnson tells people that Tebow was "forced" on him by his football staff, according to an ESPNNewYork.com report.

Jan. 28 -- Tannenbaum, fired after the season, takes responsibility for the Tebow trade. He tells ESPNNewYork.com that "it didn’t go as planned."

April 15 -- Tebow reports for the start of the Jets' offseason program, showing up at 6:30 a.m. ET, 90 minutes before the team meeting.

April 29 -- End of the Tebow era. Wearing his workout clothes, Tebow is summoned to GM John Idzik’s office. Idzik and Ryan inform him of his release. Wasting little time, Tebow leaves the building.

Trading to get Tim Tebow was the worst personnel move in the history of the New York Jets.

That's right, the worst. Read the column here.

Discuss.

One year after bringing Tim Tebow to Broadway, creating a nationwide fascination that slowly evolved into a salacious controversy, the New York Jets made the long-anticipated move Monday of releasing one of the NFL's most popular players.

The Jets confirmed the release in a three-paragraph news release, a long way from his Super Bowl-sized news conference last March.

"We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow," coach Rex Ryan said. "Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we all had hoped. Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this offseason. We wish him the best moving forward."

Ryan and general manager John Idzik informed Tebow early Monday morning in a face-to-face meeting at the team's facility, before he worked out with teammates, a source said. Tebow left the building shortly thereafter.

Tebow was dressed in his workout clothes Monday when he was called to Idzik's office, according to league sources.

So ends one of the strangest chapters in team history -- maybe in league history.

Check out the complete news story.

On March 21, 2012, the Jets made one of the biggest trades in franchise history -- and, as it turned out, one of the worst.

In honor of the one-year anniversary (well, not really), we take a look back at a day for the ages.

For a plethora of reasons, Tebow never made the impact the Jets envisioned. Oh, it generated plenty of publicity -- nine months of back-page headlines -- but much of the attention was negative and embarrassing.

The trade cost them plenty:

* Two draft picks -- fourth- and sixth-round choices. They received a seventh-rounder from the Broncos.

* Salary -- The Jets paid him $1.572 million last season in salary and bonuses.

* Back salary -- As part of the trade, the Jets agreed to pay $2.5 million to the Broncos, reimbursing them for salary advances they already had paid Tebow. The Jets paid $1 million last year and still have to pay $1.5 million for the coming year, which counts against the salary cap.

Broncos VP John Elway, the man who traded Tim Tebow to the Jets, gave a lukewarm assessment Thursday of Tebow's chances of playing quarterback in the NFL.

"If that's what he wants to do, in the right situation, I think it's a possibility," Elway said during an appearance on WFAN radio.

That, of course, is based on the Jets parting ways with Tebow, which is expected to happen.

Elway also made it clear that Tebow chose the Jets, that the Broncos allowed him that opportunity. Tebow has stated on many occasions that it wasn't his call.

"We had two options: We had Jacksonville or the Jets," Elway said. "We laid it out to Tim and said, 'It's up to you.' I'm not going to tell you which deal I liked better, but I will tell you we did give him the option. He ended up picking the Jets, thinking that was the best opportunity for him."

Barring a stunning upset, Tim Tebow won't be back with the Jets. He's also not wanted by his hometown team, the Jaguars, who made their position clear last week when newly-hired GM Dave Caldwell declared Jacksonville a no-Tebow zone. Caldwell's candid comment fueled speculation that perhaps Tebow is done in the NFL.

Or perhaps not.

Tebow has a strong supporter in new Bears coach Marc Trestman, a quarterback guru who tutored him in preparation for the 2010 Senior Bowl.

"I believe in the right environment Tim Tebow will figure this out," Trestman said at the time to the Morning Journal of Northern Ohio, via ProFootballTalk.com. "He doesn’t have explosive arm strength, but he has more than adequate arm strength to throw the ball in the NFL and make all the throws. I saw him do something totally different in seven or eight days. I can only imagine what he’s going to do in one year or two years, because he’s going to outwork everybody else and find a way to figure it out.”

Trestman tried to recruit Tebow to North Carolina State in 2006, and they stayed in touch. Now he might have a chance to make him Jay Cutler's backup, which would be an odd-couple pairing. It's hard to imagine the moody Cutler buying into the whole Tebow thing.

“If you’re a coach and you love coaching quarterbacks, you’d love the opportunity to develop Tim Tebow," Trestman said then.

Let's see if he still means it.

So much for the possibility of Tim Tebow experiencing a soft landing in his hometown of Jacksonville.

New Jaguars general manager David Caldwell, in his introductory news conference Thursday, slammed the door shut on that possibility.

"I can't imagine a scenario where he'd be a Jacksonville Jaguar -- even if he's released," Caldwell said emphatically.

It's not hard to figure out what happened here: Jaguars owner Shahid Kahn is a huge Tebow fan and was telling people he wanted him, but he's obviously deferring to his new GM on this one. Caldwell probably made that clear to Kahn in his three interviews before getting the job.

Tebow won't be back with the Jets, as we reported last month. They gave up a fourth-round pick, paid him $1.5 million and used him for only 73 plays on offense. At some point before free agency in March, they will release him.

The only teams that expressed interest in Tebow when the Broncos put him on the trading blocks were the Jets, Jaguars and Rams. Needless to say, he might have a hard time catching on somewhere next season.

On a side note, you have to like Caldwell's direct, no-nonsense approach to the Tebow matter. It was refreshing to hear an honest answer; the Jets haven't given an honest answer on Tebow in, oh, about nine months.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- After 15 games, Tony Sparano finally admitted that integrating Tim Tebow into the offense has been a hard fit.

One of the reasons why the Jets acquired Tebow was because of Sparano's background with the Wildcat; he used it as the Dolphins' head coach. But as Sparano correctly noted, the Wildcat is different from what Tebow ran last season with the Broncos. In Denver, it was a zone-read offense.

Of course, the Jets knew this when they traded for Tebow, but they went and did it anyway. And they raised expectations by hyping Tebow's prowess in the Wildcat.

"The Wildcat and what Tim did are really two different things," Sparano said Thursday.

Sparano said their Wildcat plays have been productive, but the zone-read players have been hit or miss. The problem, he said, is that it's hard for the players to get comfortable with the zone-read if it's not done on a consistent basis.

"And you really can't do that all the time right now with a player that's a part-time player," he said. "You can't afford to be able to do that all the time, and I think that's where maybe the lack of big plays come from, because you're not able to do it all the time."

So, basically, Tebow got caught in a Catch-22.

Statistically, he has hurt the offense. In 70 plays with Tebow on the field, the Jets have averaged 3.8 yards per play, 3.5 per rush and 5.1 per pass attempt -- and no touchdowns, according to ESPN Stats & Information. In 888 plays with Tebow off the field, they've averaged 4.7, 3.9, 6.4, respectively -- and 26 TDs.

Regarding the latest QB change, Mark Sanchez for the injured Greg McElroy, Sparano said it won't be a tough transition because of Sanchez's familiarity with the offense. Asked to describe his reaction when he heard McElroy couldn't play because of a likely concussion, Sparano said, "I was pretty silent."

NO CONTRACT TALK: Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine declined to discuss recent reports that he turned down a contract extension early in the season. But he said he'd like to remain with the Jets.

"I do," he said. "It's a great organization. I've enjoyed my time here. It's a great group of players. (I've been) treated very well. So, again, that's something that will take care of itself when the season is over."

SPECIAL K: Injured TE Dustin Keller (ankle) spoke to the media for the first time in weeks. This has been a rough year for Keller, who has played in only eight games -- in a contract year, no less. The team rebuffed his attempts to sign an extension before the season, so he'll be an unrestricted free agent unless they use the franchise tag.

"I just kind of put (the contract) on the backburner," he said. "I haven't really paid attention to that. I looked at it like, I'm not getting a new deal this year, so that's that, just go out and play."

Keller said he wants to remain with the Jets, but he's opposed to the franchise tag.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Rex Ryan finally came clean Thursday on who he'd like as his quarterback in 2013.

Tom Brady.

"I'll be honest with you, if I had Tom Brady, I'd be happy with that," the Jets' coach said. "We don't, but there are only one or two other guys" at that level. He mentioned Drew Brees and Peyton Manning.

News flash: Brady, Brees and Manning aren't available, so the Jets will have to make due with what they have or find alternatives for 2013.

The futures of Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow are very much up in the air. The Jets are open to trading Sanchez, according to multiple reports, and they're planning to part ways with Tebow, ESPNNewYork.com reported Wednesday.

Ryan declined to comment on anything pertaining to 2013 -- Sanchez, Tebow or embattled offensive coordinator Tony Sparano.

"Anything dealing with the future past Buffalo (the final game) will be handled after that," Ryan said.

For the second straight day, Ryan, who benched Sanchez in favor of the unproven Greg McElroy, was non-committal on his former starter. Ryan said not to read into it.

"Whether it's not a ringing endorsement or whatever ... I have absolutely zero focus on that right now," he said. "Everybody knows I've been supportive of Mark Sanchez. I think he still has the skill set to be a good quarterback in this league and we've won a lot of games with him."

Ryan praised Sparano's work ethic and ability to deal with injuries, but he sidestepped a question about his coordinator's future.

"You know the policy of this organization is not to discuss those things until the appropriate time, which is after the season," he said.

The Jets are 30th in total offense and 28th in points per game, but they're up to 10th in rushing. Ryan praised Sparano for the improvement in the running game. As for the passing game, he stated the obvious, stating "we haven't been efficient."

He added, "It's not like we've ever been New England or somebody like that."

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Jets coach Rex Ryan has not decided who will back up Greg McElroy on Sunday, but the team could dress all three quarterbacks against the Chargers.

"We'll make that decision as the week goes on," Ryan said. "There is a possibility we'll have all three quarterbacks this week."

Mark Sanchez was demoted after Monday night's loss in Tennessee. Tim Tebow has been Sanchez's backup all season.

Ryan said he expects McElroy, a seventh-round pick in 2011, to get the majority, if not all, of the reps in practice this week. McElroy has been active for only one game this season, against Arizona, when he came in during the second half and led the Jets to victory. This will be his first career start.

Although the Jets have not dressed all three quarterbacks this season, Ryan said they had planned to do so until injuries got in the way. Dressing three quarterbacks is a rarity in the NFL, as most teams either have just one backup quarterback or don't want to use that roster spot on a player who likely won't get in the game.

In Monday's loss to Tennessee, the Jets used Tebow on a full series for the first time, giving the backup a chance to run the offense. Ryan said the team had plans to do that before, but after Tebow suffered two broken ribs, they couldn't do it. Tebow finally started looking healthy, so the team ran the set.

If the Jets choose to allow a backup to have a series Sunday, it makes sense for Tebow to be put in the game, since he brings a rushing element that Sanchez doesn't provide. Ryan did not rule out the possibility that Tebow could get a series, even though he could be the No. 3 quarterback.

"That's a possibility," Ryan said. "Can't give away that kind of information."

INJURY UPDATES: Wide receiver Stephen Hill will miss Sunday's game due to his knee injury. He didn't play last week. Dustin Keller (ankle) was not at practice, although Ryan hoped the tight end would be able to go today. Keller didn't play against the Titans.

Brandon Moore (hip) was at practice, but Ryan said the team would give him a day to rest due to the short week. Cornerback Aaron Berry (hamstring) was on the stationary bike, and Ryan said he isn't confident the corner will play this week. Wide receiver Chaz Schilens (knee/calf) practiced.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Rex Ryan defended Mark Sanchez's body of work and the Jets' decision to draft him fifth overall in 2009, but he was non-committal Wednesday on whether his former starter will be back in 2013. And Ryan said the same for Tim Tebow.

"Any long-term discussion will probably be better served (for after the season)," Ryan said, claiming he's focused on the final two games.

Ryan rocked the Jets' quarterback world Tuesday, benching the struggling Sanchez in favor of third-stringer Greg McElroy.

The move reflected the organization's lack of faith in Tebow, who almost certainly will be released or traded after the season. Tebow is signed through 2014. Even though owner Woody Johnson said earlier in the season that he expected Tebow to be a Jet for the duration of his contract, the organization will look to part ways with him.

Ryan was hit with a barrage of questions about why they traded for Tebow, who barely plays, and the normally loquacious coach struggled to give a cogent explanation.

"Did I expect us to be a little more successful running the Wildcat? Yeah, I'm sure I did," he said, adding, "Has it been a perfect situation? I'd say we're 6-8. There are probably things I never anticipated, and I'm the guy ultimately responsible."

Ryan also said, "For some reason, it hasn't panned out to my expectations -- and maybe not Tim's, either."

Ryan mentioned the phrase "ultimate responsibility" several times in his news conference, sounding very much like a coach concerned about getting fired.

He turned a bit nostalgic, discussing Sanchez's playoff wins over Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Ryan gushed about Sanchez's physical talent, as if sending a message to Johnson that they didn't mess up by drafting him at fifth overall after trading up.

"When you take somebody with that pick, you understand there are physical abilities that go with it," he said. "Mark has all the physical abilities. He can make any throw. He's got the athleticism to be a tremendous quarterback. He's won a lot of games.

"His record might not feel like it now, but if you take his body of work, he's won maybe the eighth-most games since becoming a starting quarterback. (His record is 33-28.) Obviously, this year hasn't been a good year for the football team and, individually, for Mark. From a statistical standpoint, it hasn't been one of his better years."

Ryan added, "It's not like he doesn't have the physical tools to do it and that's why we took him where we did."

The Jets may have to retain Sanchez because of an $8.25 million guarantee for 2013. If they cut him before next season, they'd take a $17.1 million cap charge in 2013. If they designate him as a June 1 cut, they can spread the charge over two years -- $12.3 million in 2013, $4.8 million in 2014. If he remains on the roster, his charge is $12.3 million.

They also could trade him, but his $8.25 million guarantee makes that virtually impossible. They'd incur "only" an $8.9 million cap charge, plus the amount of his salary they agreed to pay to convince another team to take him off their hands.

From top to bottom, the New York Jets are a mess. The Jets have quarterback issues, an old and expensive roster and a circus-like atmosphere in the locker room.

New York has a gigantic cleanup project ahead in 2013.

Here are five steps the Jets should take in the offseason to turn things around:

1. Add a quarterback

Adding a quarterback will be the trickiest but most significant thing the Jets do this offseason. For starters, money is a huge issue.

Although I'm in the minority, I expect Mark Sanchez to be with the Jets next year. His $8.25 million salary is guaranteed for 2013, and the prorated cap hit would be much larger if he's cut. The Jets are already significantly over the cap. As much as they may be ready to move on from Sanchez, it's smarter to save the cap hit and just keep him on the roster for another season.

With Sanchez making franchise money next year, the Jets can't pay two quarterbacks the same amount. So forget about names like Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers. New York cannot afford to invest $16-$17 million into one position.

New York's best option would be to look for a cheaper veteran alternative. Personally, I like Matt Moore of the Miami Dolphins. He has starting experience and would take a cap-friendly contract for the opportunity to play. Moore is currently Ryan Tannehill's backup in Miami. Other veteran quaretrbacks like Jason Campbell, Brady Quinn and Drew Stanton are affordable options who can compete with Sanchez to be the starter.

The Jets can take also draft a quarterback early and hope the rookie can play right away. The quarterback class is not strong next year and head coach Rex Ryan will enter 2013 on the hot seat. He cannot afford to wait another year or two for a rookie to develop. He needs to win now.

2. Fire or demote Mike Tannenbaum

The person most responsible for putting together New York's old and expensive roster should be reprimanded.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum tried to keep this group veteran together too long. New York thought it could get to the Super Bowl after back-to-back AFC title games in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Tannenbaum locked himself into some bad free-agent contracts with older players that are crushing the team's cap.

In addition, Tannenbaum's drafts have been below average. You can start with back-to-back first-round picks of Vernon Gholston and Sanchez in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Both players were taken in the top six overall and the Jets whiffed. That held the franchise back. Other draft busts like Vladimir Ducasse also stand out.

Finally, Tannenbaum's giving Sanchez a five-year, $58.25 million contract extension in March was inexcusable. Sanchez had done nothing the year before to warrant a large extension, yet the Jets believed he was the long-term solution. It didn’t take long for Tannenbaum to regret that decision.

Tannenbaum has his strengths and is a good presence within the Jets. He doesn't need to be fired, but he should no longer have final say on roster moves. The Jets need a new general manager to reshape this roster.

3. Trade or release Tim Tebow

It's clear the Jets' coaching staff doesn’t think much of Tebow as a quarterback. After benching Sanchez, New York passed over Tebow for third-stringer Greg McElroy. Why did Tannenbaum and the Jets ever think the Tebow experiment was a good idea?

Very few people outside of the organization thought this would work. Tebow, for starters, is not a legitimate NFL quarterback. He's a gimmick player who can help by using his rushing ability.

But Tebow brought the large following and media hype of a franchise quarterback. I remember attending training camp in August when Tebow got the loudest cheers. It immediately added unnecessary pressure to Sanchez and the team. The last thing the Jets needed was another circus, but that's exactly what they got with adding Tebow. It was a train wreck waiting to happen.

The good news is Tebow is much easier to move than Sanchez. The New York Daily News reports the Jets can release Tebow and take only a $1 million cap hit.

It's best that Tebow and the Jets go their separate ways after just one year.

4. Get a new offensive coordinator

Tony Sparano is very likeable and a high-energy coach, but he's a mediocre offensive coordinator.

The Jets are ranked 30th in total offense, and the play calling has been mind-numbing. New York is a team without an offensive identity. After 14 games, the Jets still haven't figured out what they do best.

Hiring Sparano in this role was a risky move from the start. He was a head coach in Miami and offensive line coach in Dallas. But the Jets hired him to call plays on offense. Sparano's Miami teams were never offensive powerhouses. There was no indication Sparano could turn the Jets' offense around. His quarterback development has been even worse, as both Sanchez and Tebow regressed on Sparano's watch.

The Jets need to hire a top-level offensive coordinator. Soon-to-be former head coaches like Norv Turner of the San Diego Chargers and Pat Shurmur of the Cleveland Browns should be available. The Jets need someone with a proven track record of developing quarterbacks and successfully calling plays next season.

5. Make cuts, rebuild through the draft

The Jets need to get younger and build through the draft. It starts by making some veteran cuts.

New York can begin by releasing expensive veteran linebackers Calvin Pace and Bart Scott. Both are 32-years-old and making big salaries. Other players like offensive tackle Jason Smith and safety Eric Smith should come off the books, as well. That should provide sizable cap relief.

The Jets won't have a lot of money to spend in free agency, which is why the draft is so important.

Using the draft to build up the offense should be the top priority. The Jets need better players at receiver, running back and tight end to help whoever becomes the starting quarterback. New York also could lose starting tight end Dustin Keller and tailback Shonn Greene, who are pending free agents, and need to fill those positions.

There is no easy way for the Jets to escape this mess. But if they follow these five steps this offseason, the Jets will be heading in the right direction.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- One day after announcing that Tim Tebow wouldn't be used Monday night in the Wildcat or on the punt team, Rex Ryan did a suspicious about-face Friday, claiming Tebow's sore ribs are fine and that he could play against the Titans.

This reeks of gamesmanship.

Without being prompted, Ryan declared that Tebow has made dramatic improvement and could return to his old roles. Ryan said Tebow, who fractured two ribs five weeks ago, looked terrific Thursday in practice.

"He moved around great," Ryan said. "This is the best he's looked in several weeks, so we'll see. There could be a chance he does the Wildcat. We'll see. He moved around that good. We may get him back in similar roles."

It came as a surprise Thursday when Ryan, saying he still wasn't comfortable with the idea of exposing Tebow to contact, announced that he'd make him a regular No. 2 quarterback for the game. In other words, no Wildcat and no personal protecting on the punt team.

Football coaches usually don't reveal strategy before a game. Last week, Ryan kept Tebow's role a mystery until the pregame. Perhaps realizing he goofed, Ryan went out of his way Friday, trying to convince everyone Tebow is good to go.

Tebow hasn't played in the last three games. He dressed in the last two, but never left the sideline.

How does Ryan know that Tebow is ready if he hasn't sustained any contact?

"There's no doubt, that's true, but looking at the way he's throwing the football and the way he's moving ... before, you could almost tell he wasn't real sure. Now I can't see a visible difference from the start of the year to right now."

On Thursday, Tebow said after practice that his ribs are "definitely getting better. Everything, from running to exercising to throwing. It's all getting better. Slowly, but it's getting better."

Titans coach Mike Munchak, in a conference call Thursday with the New York media, thought the writers were kidding him about Ryan's statement that Tebow wouldn't play in the Wildcat.

"Obviously, it's something we would prepare for anyway," he said.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- When backup QB Tim Tebow was done speaking with reporters Wednesday, he went to the team cafeteria to grab a bite to eat -- shirtless. He didn't have a shirt big enough to cover the huge ice-wrap on his back, soothing two fractured ribs.

So it came as no surprise Thursday when Rex Ryan announced that Tebow will be limited in practice for the second straight day.

"He never did a whole lot (Wednesday)," Ryan said. "We'll see how he is (Thursday). We're just going to monitor the situation and see how he progresses during the week."

On Wednesday, Tebow took only one rep in practice, according to a source. Third-string QB Greg McElroy took more than his usual share, fueling speculation that he could dress Sunday against the Cards.

Ryan has said he expects Tebow to be cleared by the doctors, but that doesn't mean he's a lock to play. He dressed last week and didn't play, resulting in an avalanche of criticism of Ryan, who went into the game with only one healthy QB.

In other injury news, WR Clyde Gates (concussion) and CB Aaron Berry (quadriceps) aren't expected to practice. Gates won't play Sunday. WR Chaz Schilens (concussion) will be limited for the second straight day. On Wednesday, he said he was fine and expects to play. WR Jeremy Kerley (hamstring/heel/illness) will be limited, but will play.