Tim Tebow Makes 2012 Make or Break Year for New York Jets

The status of Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum after 2012 could hinge on Tim Tebow's success. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE

OK Jets fans, the dust has settled now on what has been a wild day in the NFL, and a wild day for the New York Jets. Tim Tebow was traded to the Jets, then wait a minute he wasn’t, and then tonight, he was again. It seemed like for a while that Tim Tebow’s time as a Jet was going to be shorter than Bill Belichick’s time as the Jets head coach. But like it or not fans, he’s here. Whether you think he is a good quarterback or not, he now is on our team. Mike Tannenbaum tonight has made it clear that Mark Sanchez is the starter, and Tim Tebow is the backup. There will be some wildcat packages designed for Tebow as well, which was to be expected with Tony Sparano as the offensive coordinator. I maintain that this has the potential to be a great success. Certainly there are arguments to be made on both sides, and I am not blind to the fact that this could be a great disaster as well. If that happens, I believe that Mike Tannenbaum doesn’t survive it, and Rex Ryan may not either.

Let’s talk potential for success first.

Tim Tebow clearly is a talented football player. Watch him play last year with Denver. He is a big guy, and he can run, averaging 6 yards per rush last year. When he did complete passes, he made big plays. He will run the wildcat well, and the Jets have some dynamic weapons as threats when he is out there, Santonio Holmes, Dustin Keller among others. The wildcat has the potential to be a deadly weapon for the Jets.

Now people will say, “What if Mark Sanchez gets hurt?” I say, “What if he got hurt before?” Who would you rather have coming in? A QB that is a former Pro Bowl QB, but now is over 40 and hasn’t started in years (Mark Brunell), or a young guy that hasn’t even reached his prime yet that has starting experience in Tim Tebow? I say the younger guy. Yes he is not an accurate passer but he can be taught. People talk about this guy like he is the worst football player to walk the Earth, and he just isn’t. He led his team to a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, ladies and gentlemen. He’s not the best, but he isn’t lost either.

He knows how to win. Period, he proved that last year. You can teach a guy to play, but you can’t teach intangibles, and Tim Tebow has them.

Don’t discount his potential influence over the locker room either. We are all well aware of the griping and the pouting that went on last year, a lot of it thanks to captain Santonio Holmes. The locker room was clearly a fractured place to be last year. Heck, it seemed like these guys wanted to kill each other by the end. Tebow’s positive attitue might be just the influence that the room needs to “calm the storm”.

But……………

What if his attitude doesn’t help? Judging by the reactions today, the team is clearly divided on the acquistion. Led by outspoken CB Antonio Cromartie, who flat out said “We don’t need Tebow”, there obviously is division. Antonio has a mouth on him the size of the Empire State Building, any Jets fan knows that. But he isn’t the only one who feels this way. Tim will have his work cut out for him to bring the guys together. What if he can’t? What if the room fractures even more than it was before? It could be quite damaging.

Will the grumpy Holmes work with Tebow? Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Will this grumpy WR work with the new backup QB? We all heard Holmes mouth off on more than one occasion in 2011. Picture the first time Tebow comes in for one of his packages, and he sends a pass intended for Santonio Holmes into the 3rd row of the stands. Will Santonio go back to the huddle for the next play quietly, or will he start moaning and whining? Will he mouth off again like last year? I can honestly say I don’t know, and if he does, the situation will get worse.

And there is always the issue of Tebowmania. Tim Tebow has his legions of fans. Come on, I know you are out there. I haven’t heard from many of you today listening to sports talk in NY, but I know you are there. His fans will come with him, buy jerseys, come to games, make signs…etc. What happens the first time Mark Sanchez throws an interception? Will the chants start? Will they persist? How will Mark Sanchez handle it? He is saying all the right things now, but we know he is fragile. He has to already be annoyed by the pursuit of Peyton Manning, and now this. Despite what he says, this can’t sit well with him. Can he handle the Tebow fans chanting his name if he has a bad game? Time will tell.

Whether you approve or disapprove, this is a very interesting move by the New York Jets today. Tim Tebow is the backup quarterback for the New York Jets. He can help them win games. This could bring them great success, but might bring them great failure. Mike Tannenbaum has gone out on quite a limb here, and has created an important year for his regime. If it doesn’t work, I believe it will be the last time he goes out on a limb as a Jets employee. I believe he doesn’t survive, and Rex doesn’t either.

Do you agree?  How do you feel about the acquisition of Tebow?  Good idea?  Bad idea?  Please debate below, will respond to comments made.