Associated Press Associated Press ADVERTISING NEW YORK — Tim Tebow is coming to New York. Really. After a big false start, the New York Jets pulled off a Tebow-like comeback Wednesday night, getting the quarterback who turned the Denver Broncos
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Tim Tebow is coming to New York. Really.
After a big false start, the New York Jets pulled off a Tebow-like comeback Wednesday night, getting the quarterback who turned the Denver Broncos from an also-ran into a playoff team last season and became the NFL’s most talked-about player — for a fourth- and sixth-round draft pick.
Now, Tebowmania is opening on Broadway.
And, there’s sure to be plenty of drama — just as there was from the moment the Jets pulled off the deal. Or thought they did, that is.
“I’m thankful they stuck with me through this whole crazy process,” Tebow said during a call late Wednesday night, repeating several times that he was “excited” to be a member of the Jets.
Eight hours after initially agreeing to a trade, the teams completed it after it was hung up when the Jets balked at repaying Denver more than $5 million for a salary advance due Tebow. The two sides agreed to split that cost, and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said the team was “comfortable with the compensation.”
He said there was a disagreement about how to handle the salary advance after Denver received the papers.
“We knew what the contract was,” he said. “We had read it. … We felt it was one way; they felt it was another. Based on that, they were well within their rights to assess their different possibilities of what to do and their alternatives. And they did so throughout the day.”
So the Jets waited and waited — and looked as if they had botched the big deal. Despite ultimately pulling off the trade, it’s just another bizarre moment for the Jets, a team that has had its share of them over the years, conjuring memories of Bill Belichick’s hiring as coach and his resignation one day later.
The deal also raised questions about the Jets’ commitment to Mark Sanchez, who received a $40.5 million contract extension, with $20.5 million guaranteed, earlier this month.
During a call late Wednesday night, Tannenbaum repeatedly referred to Sanchez as “our guy” and the team’s unquestioned starting quarterback.
“Mark Sanchez is, has been and will be our starting quarterback,” he said.
But the Jets have opened themselves — and Sanchez — to what could be a season of added criticism from restless fans who are sure to call for Tebow to play at the first sign of struggles.
“We obviously know that Tim has a magnetic following,” Tannenbaum said. “We understand the popularity of the backup quarterback, and this one is more unique than others.”
Tebow said he had a “great conversation” on Wednesday with Sanchez, adding that they’ve been friends for several years.
“My goal is to push him to get better, and to push myself to get better every day,” Tebow said. “But I think we’ll have a great working relationship. We’ll have a great relationship off the field, and we’ve had that the last few years. He’s such a classy guy and handles himself so well, and I’ll be very honored to call him my teammate.”
Just a few weeks after “Linsanity” swept the area and the rest of the NBA with the Knicks’ sensational Jeremy Lin, “Timsanity” now will take over New York.
“I’m just excited for him and to see what he does,” Lin said in Philadelphia, where the Knicks beat the 76ers. “We’ll see what happens next year. But I’m excited, obviously, that he’s going to be in New York.”
Griffin impresses at his Pro Day
WACO, Texas — Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III was smiling, slapping hands with his receivers and making precise throws.
Just what Griffin had planned for his pro day, when he finally threw Wednesday for NFL personnel. That included owner Dan Snyder and coach Mike Shanahan from the Washington Redskins, who traded three first-round picks and a second-rounder for the No. 2 overall pick in next month’s draft, presumably to get the dual-threat quarterback from Baylor.
Griffin was sharp throwing a scripted 51 passes he had been working on with quarterback consultant Terry Shea. Only a few balls even hit the ground.
“I always said I didn’t have anything to prove at pro day. That’s why it’s so easy,” Griffin said. “It’s really not stressful. … The game tape speaks for itself. Really not proving, just show everybody I have been working.”
Throughout his 30-minute session, with music playing that he selected, Griffin was at ease while making the kind of throws expected in the NFL. He threw from different drops and on the run.
