Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy (12) waves to the fans after completing his last game at Alabama in the Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011. (The Birmingham News/ Mark Almond)
This reporter and another member of the Alabama beat tracked down McElroy, who is now the third-string quarterback with the New York Jets, just after the Jets selected former North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples with the 16th overall pick.
He didn't have much time, and neither did we, but there was enough of an opportunity to talk about -- who else? -- Tim Tebow.
"It's really great to have Tim up here," McElroy said. "It's been a lot of fun working together. Obviously, we were bitter rivals on opposite sidelines for a number of years. Now that we're removed from it, we both respect the game a lot. We both like to prepare in a similar way. We both have a great passion.
"I'm just really, really pleased to have him. He's been a real pleasure to add to the quarterback room along with myself and Mark (Sanchez). Coach (Matt) Cavanaugh has done a great job of just treating us all like equals and having a lot of fun with us."
McElroy's status with the Jets was cast in doubt twice during the offseason. First, his comments about the team's locker room discord didn't exactly go over well. Then, when the Jets traded for Tebow, he was the fourth man on the totem pole behind Sanchez, Tebow and Drew Stanton.
Stanton, though, was the odd man out. He asked for a trade and received it. He's now with the Indianapolis Colts while McElroy remains teamed up with the quarterback he faced in back-to-back SEC title games.
McElroy was a backup to John Parker Wilson when Florida won in 2008. In 2009, as a starter, McElroy helped lead Alabama to a 32-13 romp.
"He's brought it up more than I have," McElroy said with a laugh.
McElroy said he was happy for former Alabama running back Trent Richardson, who was selected third overall by the Cleveland Browns.
"When it comes down to it, the game of football is still the same," McElroy said. "It's important to have a good (player) at running back. Trent is absolutely that. He's an incredibly hard worker, an unselfish teammate.
"Cleveland's going to be really pleased with his production over the next 10 years."
McElroy was also asked to compare Alabama fans to Jets fans.
"New York fans are fantastic. Alabama fans are about as passionate as they come," McElroy said. "Alabama and New York definitely have a lot of similar comparisons aside from the sheer capacity of the people in a small area here.
"It's a lot of fun to play up here. It's the greatest city in the world. I'm really, really blessed and honored to have this opportunity."
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