Tim Tebow: Would New York Jets Consider Trading the Backup Quarterback? - Bleacher Report

There isn't much in the way of negative material for New York media to work with this week, after the Jets blew out the Bills 48-28 and silenced a good deal of critics in the process. That was, until Gary Myers of the New York Daily News asked an unnamed NFL source for his opinion on how backup quarterback Tim Tebow might feel about his role.

The source's opinion is that Tebow will ask for a trade.

We don't know whether that will actually happen, but speaking from a purely logical standpoint, while the Jets might be open to such a trade, there's no reason to think it will transpire.

What say you, Myers and source?

'I think he will be a good soldier,' one NFL 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.'

If Tebow remains in his limited role all season, then the source anticipates the QB will sit down with Jets decision-makers and ask them to trade him. His contract runs through the 2014 season, and Tebow is not ready to concede defeat on being a starting quarterback again.

Apparently, having a team named after him on NFL.com's power rankings isn't enough (I kid, of course).

It would certainly make sense that he would ask for a trade. Tebow has always said that he is a football player first, and a quarterback second. If one thing is for certain, he is a fierce competitor, and it would be ridiculous to think that he is content "playing a bit part in someone else's film." 

Maybe he should start wearing Old Spice?

Even if the Jets wanted to trade Tebow, they might not be able to if he continues to play like he did against the Bills (five rushes, 11 yards). At the same time, if starting quarterback Mark Sanchez continues to play the way he did last week (19-for-27 passing, 266 yards, three touchdowns, interception, 123.4 passer rating), that would simultaneously eliminate the need for Tebow and validate the Jets for trading for him in the first place.

If having a talented quarterback behind him on the depth chart was all it took to get the most out of Sanchez, a fourth-round pick was more than worth it. But the job's not done. Sanchez lit up a suspect Bills defense, but if he struggles this year, the chants for Tebow will come.

Even if that happens, though, Jets head coach Rex Ryan has already indicated to the Daily News that they will ignore the noise and will stick to the plan.

I don't care what I hear. So it doesn't matter. They can yell, they can do all they want. Mark is our quarterback and that's just the way it is. Am I excited to have Tim here? Of course. Because I know we brought in an outstanding football player. I knew that from day one and that's the way it is.'

If Tebow's not going to get a chance even when Sanchez underperforms, no one could blame him for wanting to move on. If Mark Sanchez continues to perform well, the Jets might want to unload Tebow. 

Either way, does it really make a gigantic difference? If Tebow's role is going to be so limited, trading him does no harm other than the fact that the Jets gave up a fourth-round pick for him and probably won't get that kind of value in return.

Erik Frenz is the AFC East lead blogger for Bleacher Report. Be sure to follow Erik on Twitter and "like" the AFC East blog on Facebook to keep up with all the updates. Unless specified otherwise, all quotes are obtained firsthand.