new york jets

123 EDWARDS AVENUE, SUITE 456 PINK HILL, NORTH CAROLINA 28572 PHONE: 252.123.4567 FAX: 252.123.4568 YOU@WHATEVER.COM http://www.atozpress.com

ATOZ PRESS

Tebow traded to New York Jets

The New York Jets acquired Tim Tebow from the Denver Broncos, adding a quarterback who created a national stir with his comeback play and religious profile to a team rocked by an on-field collapse and locker-room squabbles.

The trade came a day after the Broncos signed four-time National Football League Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning to be their starting quarterback. After leading Denver to the playoffs last season, Tebow will be a backup in New York to Mark Sanchez.

The deal may be scuttled because of a $5 million clause in Tebow's contract, ESPN reported on its website, citing an unidentified person with the Broncos. E-mails seeking comment on the report from Patrick Smyth, a Broncos spokesman, and Bruce Speight, a Jets spokesman, weren't immediately returned. Advertisement: Story continues below

The Jets confirmed the trade on their official Twitter account, without disclosing what they gave up. Brian Xanders, the Broncos' general manager, told the Associated Press that Denver got fourth- and sixth-round picks from the Jets in exchange for Tebow and a seventh-round selection. All draft picks come this year, Xanders told AP.

The Broncos took Tebow in the first round from the University of Florida two years ago.

The addition of Tebow won't affect the Jets' Super Bowl chances, oddsmaker said. Andrew Patterson of Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which helps casinos set sports betting lines, said they remain 25-1 shots for the title.

Playoff Win

Tebow, 24, had a 7-4 regular-season record as a starter in Denver last season, helping the team rebound from a 1-4 start and get its first playoff win since 2005.

He was voted America's favorite active pro athlete in an ESPN fan-based poll in January and spawned a fad known as "Tebowing" through his kneel-and-pray pose after victories. He has been outspoken in professing his Christian faith.

The Jets also finished last season 8-8 but missed the playoffs and were beset by locker-room controversy, including verbal altercations between Sanchez and receiver Santonio Holmes.

Sanchez signed a new three-year contract this month and Jets owner Woody Johnson said Holmes would be back with the team next season.

As the Jets collapsed late in the season, losing their last three games, the team they share a stadium with, the New York Giants, went on to win its second Super Bowl title in five seasons. Jets coach Rex Ryan said after the season he had lost the pulse of the team and promised not to keep predicting Super Bowl championships for his club.

Low Percentage

While Tebow guided five fourth-quarter comeback wins last season, his 46.5 completion percentage as a passer was the worst among the league's starting quarterbacks.

Sanchez completed a career-high 56.7 percent of his passes last season, his third as a starter. The Jets agreed March 16 on a contract with backup quarterback Drew Stanton, who played his first four seasons for the Detroit Lions. They also have quarterback Greg McElroy on their roster.

The 6-foot-2, 236-pound Tebow, who won two national championships at Florida, rushed for 660 yards and six touchdowns last year, when the Broncos had the league's top rushing attack.

The Jets may use Tebow in offensive packages that feature a running back taking a direct snap from center. Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano incorporated those types of plays when he was coach of the Miami Dolphins and the Jets occasionally used the strategy with former college quarterback Brad Smith to help them reach American Football Conference championship games in 2009 and 2010. Smith joined the Buffalo Bills before last season.

'More Weapons'

Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie on his Twitter account questioned why the team is adding Tebow when it need to "bring in more weapons" for Sanchez. The Jets' offense ranked 25th out of 32 teams in total yards last season.

Tebow led the Broncos to a 17-13 victory over the Jets in Denver on Nov. 17 by directing a 95-yard drive in the closing minutes capped by his game-winning 20yard touchdown run. He completed 9-of-20 passes for 104 yards against the Jets, while rushing eight times for 68 yards.

For the season, Tebow completed 126 of 271 passes for 1,729 yards, with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Although Tebow emerged as a fan favorite in Denver, John Elway, a Hall of Fame quarterback with the Broncos and now their executive vice president of football operations, personally recruited Manning, who signed a five-year free-agent deal yesterday that ESPN said is worth $96 million.

Elway Reaction

Elway said during Manning's introductory press conference that the Broncos were looking into trading Tebow.

"This is a tough business and I will tell you the toughest thing about this whole thing is Tim Tebow, because of what I think about Tim Tebow," Elway said. "The things that he did last year were tremendous in helping turn this organization around from a 4-12 team to a playoff team and winning the division. I have a great deal of respect for him, as a person and for the things that he does."

The Jets' odds of winning the Super Bowl remain 25-1 after the addition of Tebow, according to Patterson of Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

"It's a story because he has a huge fan following, but I don't see how he makes the Jets a better football team," he said by telephone. "He's not going to play quarterback, he's going to come in maybe on third downs, but if a team signs a really good fullback, does it affect their win total or game lines? No, not really."Bloomberg