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New York Jets
Teams do some goofy things in OTAs, but it's rare that they'll stick an ostensible competitor for the starting QB job on the punt team. That's what the Jets did with Tim Tebow on Thursday, leading the bemused quarterback to comment that he'd never made a tackle on special teams. Tebow threw two interceptions in a seven-on-seven practice, a far cry from Mark Sanchez's crisp and efficient play in the same drill. Whichever quarterback the Jets settle on, it'll be a tough task to take them to the top of the AFC East.
A secret weapon?
There has been much talk about trying Tebow out at positions other than quarterback, but rarely have teams wanted him to make tackles.
Your choice?
Neither Tebow nor Sanchez put up exceptional numbers last season, although Tebow's overall results were better than Sanchez's.
The players' choice?
Jets players have been good-naturedly ribbing Tebow in the locker room, chanting his name while he's being interviewed by reporters.
On Wednesday, "First Take" discussed Jon Gruden's lecture to Stephen A. Smith about how Tim Tebow could (and will) be a successful NFL quarterback. Gruden thinks the NFL is evolving to more of a college spread format, which is right up Tim Tebow's alley. Skip Bayless is obviously elated, but was Stephen A. convinced? What's your take?
On Wednesday, "First Take" returned to a familiar topic -- the debate about Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez. Rex Ryan spent some of today praising both of his quarterbacks, saying that Tebow and Sanchez looked outstanding. He did mention Sanchez second -- not as an afterthought, but still, it's worth mentioning. Is Ryan previewing a QB change sometime this season? What's your take?
On Thursday, "First Take" took a break from talking about suits and instead tried to figure out a much more important issue. Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley said that Tim Tebow's arm, on balance, is stronger than Mark Sanchez's. That's a pretty important statement, considering that Tebow's passing game is among his most questionable attributes. Skip Bayless thinks Kerley might be on to something, while Jemele Hill says it's a meaningless statement considering it happened in a practice and not a game. What's your take?
On Tuesday, "First Take" debated the Jets' plan to use Tim Tebow as a punt protector on special teams. Tebow's bonafides as a quarterback have always been up for debate, but he's undoubtedly an exceptional athlete, which means that he could be useful elsewhere on the football field. Hugh Douglas and Skip Bayless think it's a terrible move and insulting to Tebow, but Rob Parker isn't so sure. What's your take?
On Thursday, "First Take" debated Mark Sanchez's comments about Tim Tebow. Sanchez was asked about Tebow as a competitor, and Sanchez said that he thought Tebow was a great one -- as far as offseason workouts are concerned, anyways. First Take thinks Sanchez was throwing a little water on the Tebow media firestorm. What's your take?
On Wednesday, "First Take" debated when Tim Tebow would start for the Jets. That's assuming things go very badly with Mark Sanchez, as the Jets currently plan on having a kind of hybrid offensive system. Skip Bayless thinks that, if Tebow comes in at about the same time he did with the Broncos (midway through last season), he might rattle off nine wins in a row. Stephen A. Smith thinks starting in New York will expose Tebow as a below-average quarterback. What's your take?
We're still a while away from seeing how Tim Tebow fits into the Jets' offense, but we may have just gotten a preview from one of the team's offensive linemen. Left guard Matt Slauson said it would be like the offense was ''two different teams'' -- one when Tebow is playing, and quite another when primary quarterback Mark Sanchez is behind center. It's not the first time a team has gone with a specialist quarterback to run a different offense, but if one system starts working a lot better than the other, it could have ramifications for both Sanchez's and Tebow's futures with the team.
Split the difference?
Mark Sanchez will be the team's primary quarterback, with Tim Tebow likely being used in Wildcat packages, or even as a fullback.
Sanchez or Tebow?
It remains to be seen which of the Jets' two young quarterbacks will prevail in what is likely to be a high-profile QB battle.
Can Holmes coexist?
As an aside, the Jets as a whole had issues with Santonio Holmes, but both sides seem to be on the same page as workouts start.
Tim Tebow likely has heard stories of how critical New York fans can be, but he got a taste of it firsthand on Sunday. Tebow was booed by Yankees fans when the camera focused on him in the stands. Oddly enough, Dwyane Wade, sitting next to Tebow, was cheered when he held up his Yankees cap. Is this a bad sign for Tebow?
- Tokyo Bay Rays: "Preemptive booing for when he takes over as starter and promptly throws 20 INTs. "
- the_three_libras: "This may be the first thing the Yankees fans have done that I agree with."
- Buzzkill90265: "New Yorkers are way more sophisticated and educated then the previous fans Tebow played for and they can smell a phoney from a mile away hence the boos"
- BirdsPhan36: "Yankees fans are mostly GIANTS fans. Giants fans hate the Jets, just like they hate the Mets. The booooos were for the new uni he wears, not him as a person."
- bilisiei: "has nothing to do with what fans they are. if the jets would've been able to sign peyton manning, and he was the one in the stands, think that he would've been booed? nope."
- saluki2477: "As a Bronco fan I am so happy that the St. Timothy circus has left town. He says that he does not want all the attention. It is obvious he love it."
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Demaryius Thomas will always be linked to Tim Tebow for their 80-yard touchdown play to beat the Steelers last season, but Thomas is concerned that's all people will remember of Tebow's time with the Broncos. Thomas said that he wasn't sad Tebow was gone, as there was more to the quarterback's narrative than simple big plays. We've collected some of Thomas' choice quotes below. Is he off base, or was there less to Tebow Time than met the eye?
Good for Broncos?
"You would have people calling him out saying, 'Tim, you gotta make that throw. You gotta read the defenses better. Players on offense trying to get him better."
Media circus?
"Everything on ESPN was all about Tim. That bothered some players, too, because they would say, 'Tim Tebow Time.'"
Sole responsibility?
"I felt like it was a team thing. If it wasn't for the defense most of the time, there wouldn't be no supposed 'Tim Tebow Time.'"
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