Source: Tebow may want trade; Gators making impact - Gatorsports.com (blog)

Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow prepares to take a snap against the Bills in the fourth quarter of last week's game. A source says Tebow will seek a trade if he doesn't become the starter by season's end. (Photo by The Associated Press)

Tim Tebow would love to get significant snaps this week against the same Steelers team he dramatically booted from the playoffs last season.

More importantly, if he doesn’t start to see more of the field â€" at least more than his five carries last week â€" a source told Gary Myers of the New York Daily News that he’ll seek a trade out of the Big Apple.

“I think he will be a good soldier,” the source said Wednesday. “At the end of the year, I think he will express those concerns to the Jets. He will want to move on. The one thing about Tebow is he is the quintessential team player. He would never do anything that is going to undermine the team. But he’s football-aholic. It’s in his blood.”

“Absolutely he will talk to the Jets or we will have misevaluated his competitive nature,” the source added. “There comes a point, where they get it and realize this is who I am and just accept that role. Tebow is not there yet.”

According to the USA Today, Tebow denies the rumor.

“Yeah, that’s what these guys told me about a little bit ago. I find that pretty funny,” Tebow said. “It’s about as true as me living in Hoboken, I think.”

“I guess that’s just part of what you have to deal with, rumors and stuff like that. I don’t know,” he went on to say. “But all I can say is I love being here as a Jet. I’m thankful for it, I want to be here for a long time. It’s just one of those things you have to put up with.”

The speculation is premature as it’s only Week 2, but it’s been fueled by starting quarterback Mark Sanchez’s performance in the team’s opener. The much-maligned quarterback went 19-of-27 for 266 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the Jets’ 48-28 win over the Bills.

If Tebow were to seek a trade, the contract he signed with the Jets on March 21 could present an issue. In order to finalize Tebow’s trade from the Broncos, the Jets agreed to repay Denver $2.53 million of the salary advance that Tebow had received in 2010. The Jets are scheduled to pay off $1.5 million of that this season, with another $1.03 million coming next season.

That $1.03 million plus a base salary of $2,586,875 in 2013 would make it difficult for the Jets to get good value for the quarterback if he doesn’t at least play a more prominent role with the team this season.

GATORS MAKING NOISE ENTERING WEEK 2
Major Wright
The Bears strong safety had six tackles (three solo) and one tackle for a loss in a 23-10 defeat to the Packers on Thursday night. Wright is coming off a solid year in which he registered 58 tackles, 3 INTs (one returned for a TD) and 7 pass defenses.

Jermaine Cunningham
Cunningham is pushing left end Rob Ninkovich for the starting job and may earn more playing time beginning this week. New England’s defensive end had a sack to go with three tackles (two solo) and a QB hit while drawing a holding penalty in the win over Tennessee. Cunningham’s sack of quarterback Jake Locker came in the second quarter with the Titans facing a first-and-10 from their own 30-yard line and backed them up seven yards, ultimately leading to a punt on that series. Some speculate Cunningham will be used more in the coming weeks.

Percy Harvin
The Vikings’ star receiver led the team in catches (6) and yards (84) in the team’s 26-23 overtime win over the Jaguars. He also rushed five times for 20 yards and returned three kickoffs for 88 yards with a long of 30.

Will Hill
Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has said the Giants’ reserve safety will look to use Hill as a third safety or as a nickelback against slot receivers. He will likely be used on special teams coverage as well. Amazing to see Hill, who was walking around the team’s locker room with his Gator backpack slung over his shoulder and no guaranteed money, in the pros as a contributor. Hill did see the field in the team’s 24-17 loss to the Cowboys in Week 1 and recorded a tackle.

Reggie Nelson
The Bengals’ safety recorded a team-high eight tackles (seven solo) and a pass defense. The Eraser is coming off his most productive season as a pro in 2011, and he’ll most likely be one of Cincinnati’s leaders in tackles by the end of the season.

Deonte Thompson
The Ravens’ receiver is seeing work as a kick returner. The rookie returned four kicks for 88 yards with a long of 27. He was also targeted twice, catching one of those passes for 25 yards.

Louis Murphy
The Panthers’ receiver solidified his spot as the team’s third option in his first year in Carolina, and he attracted five targets from Cam Newton last week with three catches for 63 yards with a long of 51.

Chas Henry
The Eagles’ punter set the franchise record for punting average in a single game (55 yards) off of six punts with one downed inside the 20 and a long of 62. Henry, in his second year in Philadelphia, is coming off a year in which he averaged 42.9 yards on his punts with a long of 62 and 19 downed inside the 20.

Three Gator interceptions in Week 1
Buccaneers safety Ahmad Black, Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins and Browns cornerback Joe Haden all recorded interceptions in Week 1.

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