While the New York Jets cannot emphasize enough that Mark Sanchez will be their starting QB, many fans believe that backup QB Tim Tebow will soon earn the opportunity to send Sanchez to the bench and take over as starter. But, his fans are not the only ones. Former Denver Broncos teammates believe it will not be long before Tebow sends Sanchez out and is leading the team.
As a fan of Tebow's, I have said from the announcement of the trade that it would not be long before fans were demanding he be put in. With the idea that the Jets want to work more with the wildcat, it only makes sense that Tebow would be better suited as a starter. And if Sanchez slips up for even one game, the fans are going to be more than vocal about wanting Tebow in (Do you remember Denver and billboards in 2011?).
With that being said, Tebow's former teammates have had a lot to say on the issue in recent days. At the Nike press event for the unveiling of the new uniforms, Denver Broncos CB Champ Bailey talked about Tebow and his work ethic. Bailey stated, "The guy is going to be a starter at some point, whether here or somewhere else, because he's going to work to get it done. He's a great competitor. He works hard."
Bailey also went on to say, "(Tebow) is gonna challenge (Sanchez), absolutely. Sanchez can't feel too comfortable in his seat. If he keeps playing well, he doesn't have to worry about it. But if he doesn't play well, we all know what's going to happen next."
But Bailey isn't the only former Tebow teammate to say this. Ryan Clady said the same thing. If Sanchez underperforms, the fans will not give the Jets or Rex Ryan any other choice but to put Tebow in.
Now, I can understand former teammates who have experienced Tebowmania stepping in and saying Sanchez may be in trouble, but others around the NFL are saying the same thing. Former New York Giants receiver Amani Toomer has said that he doesn't see Sanchez lasting as the starter for the entire season.
In a radio segment for ESPN, Toomer stated, "Here's a guy, all the pundits say what he can't do, that he can't play. These are guys he probably looked up to growing up. All of the sudden, you get your opportunity to be on the big stage, and all these guys are talking bad about you, and he's still - no matter what happens in the fourth quarter - he makes plays and win games. There's something to be said about that."
So, while the Jets continue to say that Sanchez is their man, it is definitely looking like others believe that will not be the case for long. As a fan, I would definitely like to see Tebow back in a starting position. I think after the 2011 season he has definitely earned that chance. While he still has a lot of room to improve, we have to remember he is still relatively new to the NFL and not all the great QBs started out strong. Given a few more seasons, I think Tebow will definitely be a QB to challenge the greats.
Deborah Braconnier is a former athlete and avid football fan. She is a freelance writer and Featured Contributor for the NFL and Olympics. She has followed the Denver Broncos since she was a child became a fan of Tim Tebow during his run as a QB for the Broncos. She looks forward to following his career with the New York Jets. Follow her on Twitter at @fwcdeborah.
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