CORTLAND, N.Y. (USA TODAY) â€" Tim Tebow says he and starting quarterback Mark Sanchez have made a pact not to allow all the intense scrutiny at the New York Jets' training camp affect their friendship.
He says the two have hit it off since Tebow arrived in a March 21 trade from the Denver Broncos. Given the infighting that split the lockerroom during a disappointing, 8-8 season, they know as their synergy goes, so do the Jets.
"It is a strong relationship and it is genuine and we know we have to have a great relationship because of the scrutiny and everybody watching," Tebow told USA TODAY Sports. "We just have to handle this pretty well.
"But also just because there's stuff more important than just winning football games. But also, he's someone of extremely high character and a good person. I know regardless if we're on the same team or opposing teams, we're going to be friends."
The two worked out together for several days this month as part of the Jets West players-only camp in Mission Viejo, Calif.
"He comes from a big, sweet family," Tebow says of Sanchez. "All his aunts really give him a hard time, giving him hugs and kisses.
"He's 'Marky' to them."
So , given his deeply-religious beliefs, does Tebow pray for Sanchez when the starting quarterback is on the field?
"I don't know that I pray for anyone when they're out there or not," Tebow says. "It's more that you're praying that you can have a good influence, praying that you can be a good teammate, praying for everyone on the team that has great chemistry.
"That's probably more how I view it from a team aspect."
Former Super Bowl and league MVP Kurt Warner thinks Tebow will be successful in his role in the wildcat offense. Warner, who carried a Bible to his postgame news conferences, conceded he prayed for his own success in his 2008 quarterback battle with then-incumbent Matt Leinart, whom Warner beat out to lead the Arizona Cardinals to a Super Bowl berth that season.
"The bottom line is when you're competing, you're praying for your success as opposed to praying for the other guy," Warner, now an NFL Network analyst says. "I think Tim can be successful. Anytime you can have two guys who are able to be efficient in two different styles of offense, it's very difficult for defenses to stop. It can change the pace, it throws teams off balance. That's exactly what the Jets have a chance to do with those two guys."
Sanchez says Tebow can keep teams guessing in a red-zone, wildcat role and as a punt protector up-back.
"Tim can do it all," Sanchez said. "Tim looked great in all phases. He was sprinting down on special teams like a monster. He made some good throws, he had some good scrambles."
Tebow says he considers himself "a quarterback on fourth down," ultimately wants to prove he has the right stuff to be an NFL starting quarterback and worked hard at accomplishing that this offseason with UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone and former Major League Baseball pitching and throwing mechanics coach Tom House.
"He's only 24 and he still has a lot of quarterbacking to learn, but he's a better quarterback now than I saw from a year ago," House said. ""Because of his faith, he's going to be able to handle adversity and pressure of New York probably better than most 24-year-old kids."
His unconventional passing and flawed motion are still a work in progress. New Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano barked at Tebow a couple of times during Friday's practice about getting the ball out faster and getting the offense in and out of the huddle more quickly.
"Tempo is huge for him; it's something he preaches a lot and we have to continue to try and be faster," Tebow says. "But I thought for the first day, it went pretty well. The key for us is to get better every day and not make the same mistakes twice."
Copyright 2012 USA TODAY
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