Debunking the Tim Tebow Conspiracy

Nov 22, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) during the game against the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving at Metlife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE

There is a lot of talk these days, about why Tim Tebow has not been used by the Jets. Recently, it came to light that there are contract escalators in Tim’s contract, based on playing time, which caused a lot of speculation that front office members are preventing Tim Tebow from taking the field due to money. OL coach Dave DeGuglielmo did nothing to stop that speculation, when he announced that the platoon of Matt Slauson and Vladimir Ducasse has been mandated from high above him. The conspiracy theorists are now out in full force with Jets fans, with the theory that the front office is dictating playing time, and this is why Tim Tebow has not seen the field to replace Mark Sanchez as the starting quarterback.

I see that side of the argument. Unfortunately, a lot of what happens in sports is dictated by money. Players that make a lot of money are often handed spots in a lineup of a team, while players that don’t are relegated to backup duty. Believe me, I am not blind to the fact that money rules, especially in sports. What I am saying is that in THIS situation, I don’t believe it applies, and I know that I am in the minority. Why? Because in this situation, the parties that would have to be lying or ignorant are not smart enough to pull off the scheme.  The behavior of the Jets participants is so transparent, they would not have the acting ability to pull this off.  Let me explain what I mean.  Let’s look at the “players”, and how this conspiracy would have to play out, for this to be truly about money:

Nov. 22, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan shakes hands with quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) before the game against the New England Patriots on Thanksgiving at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

PLAYER NUMBER ONE:HEAD COACH, REX RYAN

Rex Ryan is a loyal coach. He, like a lot of head coaches, has guys that are “his” guys, and he sticks with them through thick and thin. We have seen it on defense, as he sticks with Bart Scott and Calvin Pace, even though to even the casual fan’s naked eye, it appears that they both are running in quicksand. We have all been calling for the benching of these two guys all season long, have we not? But Rex sticks with these guys. Same thing with Mark Sanchez. Has he not been loyal to Mark Sanchez for the last 3.75 years? He has stuck by this guy, no matter how his performance has been, great or terrible. Look at the picture to the left. You ever see Rex interacting with Tim Tebow that way? Nope. Rex loves Sanchez, and he has always loved Sanchez. Why? Because he is a loyal guy, that’s his character. For this to be all about contract escalators, we have to believe that Rex has all of a sudden given up on Mark Sanchez. That he now wants to bench him, and wants to play a quarterback he never interacts with, but yet he is pretending to be loyal to Mark because of a mandate from the front office. Despite the fact that he has always been loyal to Mark, now, it is only an act. Does anyone think Rex is that good an actor? I sure as heck don’t.

Feb 23, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum does an interview in the hall after a press conference during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

PLAYER NUMBER TWO:GENERAL MANAGER, MIKE TANNENBAUM

He is, admittedly, the toughest one to handicap in this because it’s hard to believe anything this man ever says. Heck, he typically doesn’t say anything that is not part of the script. He is the only general manager of a team that, when he is interviewed, is un-listenable because he gives you no insights. But there is one thing that we have been led to believe, per Mike Tannenbaum. What? That bringing Tebow in was a football decision. You know how I feel about that statement, but that is not the point, it is what he said. The second thing we know is that Tanny’s background is in money, accounting, the salary cap,..that type of thing.

Being that Mike Tannenbaum’s background is in money, and that he intended on Tebow being used, you have to believe that Mike didn’t read Tebow’s contract.  You have to believe that Mike wasn’t aware of these contract escalators, and that he was so unaware of them, that he is complicit in not bringing him of the bench to play quarterback.  He would have to have been so ignorant, that he knows he screwed up the money by making the trade, and is covering up by not using Tim.  I, for one, don’t believe that Mike would be that stupid with a contract.  HIS BACKGROUND IS IN MONEY.  He had to be aware of the language of Tim’s contract, and wouldn’t have acquired a guy that the team couldn’t afford to use. Furthermore, I don’t think he is a good enough actor to make anyone believe anything.  We don’t believe anything he says now as it is.

Nov. 22, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets owner Woody Johnson before the game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

PLAYER NUMBER 3:OWNER, WOODY JOHNSON

Finally, we come to owner Woody Johnson. This is a man that loves headlines, undeniable. In recent years, he always has something to say, he makes rash moves in response to bad Jets’ seasons, even goes on TV to promote whom he supports politically. He loves the camera, and he loves headlines, sometimes to his detriment. Good or bad, that is who Woody Johnson has become. Henceforth, the move for Tim Tebow. Nobody on this planet right now, and certainly nobody in the NFL, generates headlines like Tim Tebow does. Heck, anytime he did ANYTHING on the football field for the Denver Broncos in 2011, it was national news. Just the name, Tim Tebow, makes national news anytime he is spoken. That is who Tim Tebow IS, and that is TAYLORMADE for the Woody Johnson business model.

Are we to believe that Woody Johnson is going to forgo all the headlines that he would generate if Tim Tebow played, because of money? If Tim Tebow ever succeeded Mark Sanchez as the starting quarterback, the Jets would be the king of headlines, and not just on the day after games.  The leader of “Johnson & Johnson”, a man that certainly isn’t HURTING for money, is going to forget about all of the fame that he so craves and desires, because of a money issue?  No way Jose.

Too many players, for too many far fetched scenarios for me to believe that he is being left on the bench because of money.  Is it possible?  Sure.  But I don’t think it is happening here.

Just my opinion, feel free to disagree.  Comment below, reach out on Twitter, my regular readers know that I always respond, whether you agree with me or not.  Thanks, as always, for reading.