Thoughts on the Continuing Tim Tebow/Jets Saga

Nov 11, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) walks off the field after the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New York Jets at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated New York 28-7. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

Well, guess what team is on the front pages on this sunny Wednesday morning? You guessed it, the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS! And who are they in the headlines about? Yup, Tim Tebow. It would seem that the situation is coming to a head, and the Jets are showing that their locker room isn’t that different from last year. It’s getting ugly in Florham Park, folks.

For anyone that is just waking up and hasn’t heard yet, here is what has gone on this morning. Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News released a story this morning, quoting several anonymous sources, players on the Jets, that have called out Tim Tebow’s playing ability. They called him “terrible”, among other things. The sources have basically said that they have to stay with Mark because Tim isn’t any good. Nobody put their name to it except for guard Matt Slauson. Check out our Hub for the story.

First, let me begin my thoughts with this point: Anonymous quotes are for cowards. If you have something to say, put your name to it. It’s very easy to make nasty comments about someone, when nobody knows that you are making them. I could say whatever I wanted to about anyone, if I was going to hide and not let anyone know that I was saying it. Being anonymous is weak. If you have something to say, put your name to it, otherwise you are a coward. Kudos to Matt Slauson for having the guts to put his name to it. No, I hate calling out teammates in the media, but at least had the guts to take the credit. Anonymous quotes are terrible. Period. That’s number one.

Secondly, Tim Tebow does not deserve this treatment. Whatever any of us think about his playing ability, not one of us can say anything about Tim Tebow as a man. Whether he is a talented QB or not is not my point here. My point here is that he came to the Jets, and has been a person who has acted with the utmost class. He has been all the respectful, classy young man he was advertised to be, and he doesn’t deserve the usual Jets treatment of being called out by anonymous sources. Besides be signs of cowardice, it’s pathetic.

Thirdly, and the most unfortunate part, is that this was coming since the day the trade was made. See the next page.

Oct 8, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets coach Woody Johnson attends the game against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium. The Texans defeated the Jets 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

I don’t think you can even debate the fact anymore, that this trade was thrust upon the Jets by owner Woody Johnson. The lack of any use of him in appropriate situations made it abundantly clear that the coaches wanted no part of him, and now hearing these quotes, you know the players don’t either. Yes, they were anonymous, but with that many of them, there is definitely some fire to that smoke. Yes, the players need to keep their mouths shut, but it is clear they have the same sentiment. And you know what this goes to show you? That this situation was going to happen, it was just a matter of when.

Think back to last year. If you can do so without throwing up in your mouth, you can remember the fact that this locker room had its problems. The comments to the press, and the bickering came to a head in Miami. They could say whatever they wanted to after the season was over, but there was no magic to healing that locker room. It was broken. Coming into 2012, there was a smoldering fire in that room. Was it as hot as it was in Miami? No. But was the fire out? Absolutely not. Without major roster changes, the only way to put that fire out was to win, and the Jets hadn’t done that yet. So the fire was undoutedly still there.

The last thing you do to a fire is throw gas on it. The trade for one Timothy Richard Tebow was throwing gas on the fire. Not because of his talent. Not because of anything that HE did. The attention he draws, is that very gas thrown on the fire. You see, when a locker room needs to be quieted down, and get back to playing football, the last thing you want to do is bring in a guy that draws extra attention. Whether you like him, or hate him, Tim Tebow draws more attention than some of the biggest stars in the game. He is a polarizing figure, and that is not going to settle a locker room down. That is going to set the locker room on fire again, eventually.

That is why this situation is unfortunate, but it was bound to happen. Thanks Woody.