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The Giants deal with Hakeem Nicks' foot injury, Falcons coach Mike Smith on his playoff struggles, and Marcellus and Schlereth read between the lines when Mark Sanchez talks at Jets' organized team activities.

It's never too early to start keeping tabs on the high-profile quarterback race between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. As much as the New York Jets try to downplay their quarterback situation, it's no secret Sanchez must do all he can to keep his job in 2012.

According to reports, Sanchez scored the first point in the opening of organized team activities by outperforming Tebow in the first practice Thursday. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News praised Sanchez for his accuracy and making all the throws.

Meanwhile, Tebow threw a pair of interceptions in team drills and was yelled at by new Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. Turnovers are a huge point of emphasis for the Jets this offseason.

Granted, it's just the first practice. But Sanchez needs to establish himself early as the unquestioned starter, and Thursday was a good start.

The AFC East blog will join the Jets for mandatory minicamp next month. That will be the final chance to see the team together before training camp begins. But this week's OTAs are a nice appetizer, and Sanchez got the early jump on Tebow.

» AFC Scenarios: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Jets in 2012.

Dream scenario (11-5): Everything comes together and the Jets set themselves up for another playoff run. Much of this comes down to starting quarterback Mark Sanchez, who must have a bounce-back year in order keep his job and fend off backup Tim Tebow. If Sanchez throws well, Tebow can effectively stay in his role as the Wildcat quarterback and things could run smoothly for New York’s offense. The defense will be fine. The Jets finished fifth last year in total defense, and that was despite their offense's inability to sustain time-consuming drives. New York has the talent to be a playoff team. But chemistry and quarterback issues remain. The Jets also would need a their division rivals, especially the New England Patriots, to have a down year. The Jets were 3-3 against the AFC East last year and need to improve that mark to get a playoff spot and perhaps a division title in 2012.

Nightmare scenario (5-11): If things fall apart, this has the potential to be the worst year of the Rex Ryan era. The Jets haven't had a losing season under Ryan. But with so many questions, this is very much a boom-or-bust season. New York has locker room issues, a quarterback controversy and a brutal first five games that could set a bad tone for the year. If the Jets start 1-4 or 2-3, can this team stay together enough to pull out of it? That wasn’t the case a year ago and probably won't be the case this year. The Jets have a lot to prove both on the field and in the locker room. There are a lot of combustible personalities on the team, and New York proved last year that things can implode quickly from within. It also doesn't help that the Jets are under the biggest media spotlight in New York. If Tebow is the starting quarterback at some point next season, that means something went wrong. Tebow could take over Sanchez's starting job either because of poor performance or injury. Neither scenario would be good.

» NFC pressure points: West | North | South | East
» AFC pressure points: West | North | South | East

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Jets and why.

Tony Sparano is very likeable and well-respected in NFL circles. But even Sparano might not be sure exactly what he's getting into by taking over the New York Jets' combustible offense.

Sparano was a longtime rival of the Jets as former head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He's well aware of the talent but also the personalities in New York. Sparano's biggest responsibility this season isn't X's and O's. It's fixing chemistry and getting everyone to play as a group.

Quarterback Mark Sanchez and No. 1 receiver Santonio Holmes didn't get along last season. Neither did Holmes and right tackle Wayne Hunter. The defense also bickered with the offense last season for not holding up its end. Oh, by the way, there's also a brewing quarterback controversy between Sanchez and wildly popular backup Tim Tebow. This is a lot for Sparano to manage.

In terms of strategy, Sparano has to step up his game. The Sparano I saw in Miami was very conservative and often criticized for going for (and celebrating) too many field goals. That won't fly in New York. It's Sparano's job to produce more touchdowns on the field and better chemistry off it.

SeattleAztec from San Diego asks whether Matt Flynn might be the "most developed" quarterback in the NFC West after learning from Mike McCarthy in Green Bay.

"Alex Smith and Sam Bradford seem to be the least developed with having multiple offensive coordinators and no great vets to learn behind," he writes. "Kevin Kolb had a good upbringing in Philadelphia and Arizona has shown an ability to handle QBs, but Flynn had the benefit of learning in the Green Bay system. Learning behind Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy will give him an advantage, assuming he wins the starting job. Thoughts?"

Mike Sando: Flynn's background with McCarthy and the Packers appealed to the Seahawks. McCarthy, with nothing more than a compensatory draft choice to gain from advocating for Flynn in free agency, gave glowing reviews in conversations with the Seahawks. Those conversations appear more credible based on Seahawks general manager John Schneider's long association and friendship with McCarthy.

"We really respect the job that they’ve done with their offense and their quarterbacking and Matt is a beneficiary of that, so therefore we are also," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after signing Flynn in March. "His process to learn as Aaron Rodgers has learned has really been helpful to him. There are a lot of similarities in their style of movement and decision-making, play and conscience that I think helps us."

That doesn't necessarily mean Flynn will be the "most developed" quarterback in the division. A few thoughts on what the other NFC West quarterbacks have going for them:

• Smith (49ers): Jim Harbaugh should know the position better than any head coach in the division. Smith has more experience than any quarterback in the division. Harbaugh and Smith meshed well last season. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman and quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst round out what looks like a solid support group. Smith has finally had time this offseason to work on his mechanics. He's getting a second season in the offense. Spending one season with McCarthy and a second with Norv Turner probably counts for something, too, despite the passage of time.
• Kolb (Cardinals): Kolb did not practice with the Cardinals until 38 days before the 2011 opener. That made it tough for Kolb to learn a new system and settle into the role. Injuries derailed Kolb once he finally did get experience in the system. The Cardinals fired quarterbacks coach Chris Miller and promoted receivers coach John McNulty to the position. Arizona valued McNulty enough to block Tampa Bay from pursuing him as its offensive coordinator. The team's new receivers coach, Frank Reich, was an NFL quarterback for 14 seasons. What does it all mean? It's a little early to tell.
• Bradford (Rams): New coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was with Mark Sanchez previously. One line of thinking says Schottenheimer led Sanchez as far as Sanchez could go, then took the fall when Sanchez failed to carry more of the offensive load. Another line of thinking says Schottenheimer couldn't get Sanchez past a certain point. Bradford is on his third coordinator in as many seasons. The Rams went through 2011 without a quarterbacks coach. The new quarterbacks coach, Frank Cignetti, coached the 49ers' Smith under coordinator Jim Hostler in 2007. That was one of the worst offensive seasons in 49ers history. Hostler took the blame. It's tough to fault Cignetti in that context, but also tough to offer a strong endorsement without seeing results.

Circling back to the original question, we could make a case that Flynn should be the most developed quarterback in the division.

Other factors go into success, of course. Bradford and Smith were No. 1 overall choices, indicating that teams thought they were more talented than Flynn, a seventh-rounder who drew moderate interest in free agency this offseason. And if the Seahawks were convinced Flynn were the answer, they would have had less reason to use a third-round choice for a quarterback after signing Flynn.

I do think Flynn's background with the Packers was crucial for the Seahawks. Schneider's first-hand knowledge of Green Bay's quarterback training techniques was a factor.

New York Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez is very durable. He's proved it over three seasons by missing just one start. However, Sanchez's durability has more to do with his toughness than his actual size, and that's something Sanchez aims to improve.

Sanchez wants to get bigger and stronger in 2012. That will help him take the punishment at quarterback over a 16-game season.

"Just starting with this first couple of weeks, one of these things is in the weight room, to really push myself and get a little stronger, a little thicker and maintain my agility, my speed and things like that. That was No. 1 physically," Sanchez told reporters at organized team activities this week.

Sanchez has had nagging injuries in the past but always played through them. Last year he took a beating as his offensive line was inconsistent. Sanchez, who is listed at 225 pounds, was sacked a career-high 39 times, often by defensive linemen who outweighed him by at least 50 pounds.

This is an important season for Sanchez, who has a lot to prove. Durability will be especially key this year, because popular backup Tim Tebow is sitting behind Sanchez and waiting for his opportunity.

The quarterback controversy has already begun in Browns minicamp, Damien Woody thinks the Jets should skip "Hard Knocks" and Herm says Vince Young will be more than just a backup in Buffalo.

By now everyone is aware of New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow's biggest strengths and weaknesses. He is an athletic and powerful runner, but his passing often misses the mark.

As a result, the Jets' backup quarterback said he has been working diligently to improve as a passer. Last week Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano praised Tebow's passing. Improvement in that area would make Tebow a more dangerous quarterback in 2012.

"I've been working pretty hard at doing that," Tebow told reporters after organized team activities. "I feel like I had a good offseason before I got here, and being here and working with Coach Sparano and working with Mark [Sanchez] and working with Coach [Cavanaugh] on our drills and footwork and mechanics every day, I hope I'm improving. That’s my goal and I believe it's happening."

Tebow entered the NFL with faulty mechanics. He's in his third season and has a career completion percentage of 47.3. Tebow completed a career-low 46.5 percent of his passes in 2011.

Quality NFL quarterbacks complete about 60 percent of their passes. So Tebow has a long way to go in that department. He makes up for it in some ways with his ability to move the chains with his legs.

Tebow had nothing but good things to say about Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez. Tebow is pushing Sanchez every day, but the pair do not seem bothered by the competition.

"It's been great," Tebow said. "We've had a great relationship ever since he hosted me at USC and we had a lot of fun together and a great experience. We got a lot of stuff to talk about, and always going back and forth, we have a very fun quarterback room, we have a good time."

Tebow said he went to dinner with Sanchez in New York City the other night. If this quarterback pair can be effective and work together in harmony next season, the Jets have a chance to make some noise in the AFC East.

The Patriots show they are dedicated to defense in 2012, Herm reminds us who the Jets' "backup" quarterback is, and it looks like the Vikings will get their new stadium.

The New York Jets are expected to have an extensive Wildcat package this season. New York acquired former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, who has experience with the read-option offense in college and the pros.

New Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano unleashed the Wildcat on the NFL several years ago with the Miami Dolphins. Sparano used two running backs – Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams -- in Miami, and he talked about the differences this week with using Tebow, a quarterback, in New York.

"With Ricky (Williams) and Ronnie (Brown), the reason that we had to do it in Miami at that time was those were really our two best players at that point, and part of the philosophy was to get the two best players on the field at the same time. And in doing so, we created some matchup problems that way. I think the difference (with Williams and Brown) is there was very little element of pass involved in that, where obviously with Tim, that's a different element. So if we decide to go down that road, the element of being able to throw the football out of that brings a complete different dynamic into the picture here."

If effective, Tebow is expected to take some pressure off starting quarterback Mark Sanchez and add a unique element to the running game. Tebow averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2011, and has the athleticism and toughness to move the chains.

Many feel there is a brewing quarterback controversy in New York. But Sparano thinks Sanchez will respond fine with fewer snaps. Tebow could get anywhere between 1-20 plays per game, depending on the game plan and opponent.

"I'm not concerned about that, no, I don't think so," Sparano said. "I think with all the work that we'll be doing between now and the time the season starts and all the steps, I think we have to remember that Mark, he's been under center here for a lot of games, for the three years that he's been here, and I think that between now and training camp and through training camp (with) all the snaps that Mark will get, I think we'll be in good shape."

Will starting quarterback Mark Sanchez rise to the occasion?

It's now or never for fourth-year quarterback Mark Sanchez. For the first time in his career, the New York Jets' former first-round pick is in danger of being benched if he doesn't perform up to expectations. This is a pressure-packed situation Sanchez must handle.

As much as the Jets try to dodge and deny the situation, the reality is Tim Tebow is the huge cloud hanging over Sanchez's head. Tebow is not Mark Brunell, who was Sanchez's harmless former backup the past two years. Tebow is capable of taking Sanchez's job and leading the Jets offense if needed. Tebow helped lead the Denver Broncos to the divisional round of the playoffs and even holds a head-to-head victory over Sanchez and the Jets last season.

"We're just excited to be able to add another good football player to our team; that's what this is all about," Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano said of Tebow in a conference call this week. "At the end of this whole thing, it's about trying to find good football players. Mark Sanchez is one [good] player. I am so excited about the opportunity to coach with him, and Tim Tebow is a good football player, too."

The Jets have done a lot of good things for Sanchez this offseason. For starters, Sanchez received a three-year contract extension that showed confidence from the organization that he can be the long-term solution. Many were surprised by the move. Also, the Jets drafted a legitimate big-play receiver in Stephen Hill to complement weapons Santonio Holmes and tight end Dustin Keller. Even Tebow in the No. 2 role can help Sanchez if New York's Wildcat package is a success and can keep the chains moving.

There are no more excuses for Sanchez. Franchise quarterbacks rise to the occasion when pushed to be their best. The 2012 season is Sanchez's time to live up to "The Sanchise" nickname the Jets handed him prematurely.

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan likes to exaggerate at times. Look no further than his back-to-back Super Bowl predictions in 2010 and 2011.

But Ryan would be wise to tone down the rhetoric when it comes to newly-acquired backup quarterback Tim Tebow. This is a unique situation in New York, where every comment by the head coach could add more gasoline to an already brewing quarterback controversy that is waiting to explode.

Ryan described Tebow's as "outstanding" in New York's limited practices. Ryan also added "same with Mark [Sanchez]," perhaps realizing that big kudos to Tebow could be taken as a slight to Sanchez, New York's starting quarterback.

The Jets should know that this situation is too delicate. Ryan would be wise not to over-hype Tebow or give a play-by-play account on workouts this offseason that have little to do with their performance in the fall.

If Ryan continues to applaud Tebow immensely in the spring and summer, it just provides more fodder for the New York media and fans the second Sanchez struggles. For example, if Sanchez throws a couple of interceptions in the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills, fans and media would quickly call for Tebow, who is already looks "outstanding" this offseason, in Ryan's words.

The Jets' quarterback situation is tense. The pressure already is on Sanchez to produce in his fourth season. The last thing New York's starting quarterback needs is his head coach overselling the backup in May. It's much too early for that.

NEW YORK -- For the players who get taken in the first round of NFL draft, it's hard to to top this week. They are honored and celebrated all over the world's greatest city, treated like heroes in a town that knows as well as any what that word really means. They are congratulated at every turn, applauded on stage at Radio City Music Hall, then flown off to the hometowns of their new employers to sign multimillion-dollar contracts and enjoy red-carpet welcomes all over again.

For Robert Griffin III, the new quarterback of the Washington Redskins, this week represents the end of quite a roll. He went through something very much like this in December, when he was here winning the Heisman Trophy. Since then, he has been hailed as a can't-miss prospect, a savior for whom the Redskins were willing to trade three first-round picks and a second-rounder. It's the kind of thing that could go to a young man's head -- if this were a different young man.

"It's about how humble you stay," Griffin said a couple of hours after the Redskins made official what everyone had known for a month. "It's how smart you can be amid everything that's going on. I'm not going to go into that locker room and say, 'Hey, guys, look at me. I'm on the cover of ESPN the Magazine.' That's not going to work, and I understand that."

As wonderful as his tape looks, as fun as his smile is, as perfect a fit as he appears to be for what Mike Shanahan and the Redskins like to do, this stuff Griffin was saying late Thursday night is the best thing Redskins fans could be hearing about him right now. Because there are two different ways things can go for a guy after he wraps up draft week in New York and heads off to work as an NFL rookie. And if you're not willing to accept the need to reset your sense of humility and remember how much work lies ahead of you ... well, then things could really go the wrong way.

"People say that being drafted can change who you are," Griffin said. "And I think it's the lifestyle change that can be a bit of a shock. So you have to make sure and remember who you are and why they picked you."

The Redskins are asking Griffin to be something they haven't had for a couple of decades now -- a franchise quarterback, capable of leading them to championships. He will get almost no honeymoon, because no one does in today's NFL. Three years ago in this same room, the Jets traded up to take Mark Sanchez, who would find out that not even winning four playoff games in your first two years buys you extra benefit of the doubt from your fans or organization. There is no patience now, and Griffin's every throw, every word and every decision will be picked apart as it never has before.

"I'm having to carry the weight of a city and the fact that they haven't had a franchise quarterback in a long time," he said. "The quote-unquote 'savior' comment is something I ran into at Baylor, and it taught me how to manage that. I know I'll have to do that in D.C. on an even grander scale."

Among the many things he has going for him, Griffin understands his assignment. What the Redskins and their fans will expect of him is what he must expect of himself -- to make sure that Draft Week 2012 does not, going forward, remain the highlight of his football career. Redskins fans will be pleased to know that he has plans to make sure it does not.

"The goal isn't just to restore the Redskins to what they were, it's to do even better than that," Griffin said. "And it starts with a mindset. If you're drafted into the NFL, you have some degree of talent. From there, it's about how you inspire the people around you. You try to come in and show your teammates why they can trust in you and believe in you, rather than telling them, 'Hey guys, you can trust in me. You can believe in me.' And you do that by the way you carry yourself and how hard you're willing to work."

Griffin likes to talk about his teammates. He was back on stage when Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright was taken No. 20 by Tennessee, and he celebrated as if he himself had been picked again. He's following closely to make sure his Baylor center, Philip Blake, gets picked as high as possible in this draft. He backs up that support for his teammates. He declined all offers of private workouts for teams because he wanted teams to show up at Baylor's pro day and watch the rest of his draft-eligible buddies. That's the kind of behavior, if he keeps it up in the pros, that can keep inspiring his new teammates, too.

In the end, though, the key thing for Griffin to remember is how important it is that he forget all of the hype that has led to this moment and focus on the hard work, the study time, the nitty-gritty, non-glamorous stuff he needs to do to hone his game, develop as a pro and transform the downtrodden Redskins into a winner.

"If we're successful in Washington, it's not just me," Griffin said. "But if we're not successful in Washington, it is just me."

Yes, a lot of work and a difficult challenge confronts this young man. And it remains to be seen how it will work out for him. The good news, from this vantage point, for his new fan base is that he really, really, really appears to get it.

Thoughts on the Jaguars draft from three people involved in evaluating personnel for NFL teams:

Guy No. 1

“They are a wild card. A hard team to predict, and No. 7 isn’t a great spot.”

“Not Quinton Coples.”

“I don’t know if Melvin Ingram really is a fit. Gene Smith wants a defined position. Maybe they can find a defined position for Ingram. But part of the appeal is the versatility, you can move him around to different spots.”

“Justin Blackmon if he fell, without a doubt, they’d take him in a second. Otherwise I’d say Stephon Gilmore of Fletcher Cox.”

Guy No. 2

“They have a strange profile. They don’t see the board and value the way others do. They always try to trade out. They don’t care if they are regarded as taking a guy too high. They’d rather you think it’s too high than miss him and be kicking themselves.”

“If Blackmon falls to them, he helps the quarterback. He’s pretty damn good. If he’s not there, they can find a receiver later. There are a bunch of guys that can help them. The way to help Blaine Gabbert the most isn’t necessarily with weapons. It’s with the run game and a good defense that turns him into a game manager, maybe like Mark Sanchez.”

“Ingram is pretty good, but it depends on how you use him. He’s less than 6-2. He’s not a fit for everybody. He’s a little better for a 3-4 than a 4-3.”

“Don’t be surprised if it’s Stephon Gilmore. He is squeaky clean. Kirkpatrick is more flamboyant, with more swagger. Gilmore’s a lot like Rashean Mathis, he’s the same size, he moves the same way. He’s fast, he’s productive, he tackles, he intercepts. What don’t you like about him?"

New York Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez's early impression of backup Tim Tebow has been good. Sanchez reportedly told fans at a paid appearance he has been impressed by Tebow during the opening week of New York's offseason workout program.

Good early vibes are always a good thing, especially in this situation. Sanchez has never had a viable No. 2 quarterback behind him, and will be pushed by the hard-working and wildly popular Tebow all season. Tebow, who won a playoff game last season, was recently acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos.

Sanchez is facing pressure to perform like never before. Depending on how Sanchez handles the pressure, it can be a good or bad thing for the fourth-year quarterback. But it's important that Sanchez and Tebow keep a good working relationship, as the media and fans try to constantly pit the two against each other.

Tebow is expected to come in an run the Jets' Wildcat offense. But if Sanchez stumbles, Tebow could find himself in a bigger role -- and perhaps the starting lineup -- by the end of the season. Still, Sanchez doing and saying all the right things about this Tebow situation is a good start.