Tim Tebow Traded to Jets for Draft Picks
Tim Tebow was traded from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets for draft picks Wednesday, according to reports.
Tebow was traded to the Jets for their fourth- and sixth- round draft picks for next season, while New York gained a seventh-round pick in addition to the quarterback, according to Fox Sports. Curiously, the Jets seemingly acquired Tebow only as a complimentary backup player to starting quarterback Mark Sanchez.
"I'm sure he was disappointed," John Elway told reporters Tuesday, after calling Tebow the previous night to discuss the possibility of a trade. "He didn't come out and say he was disappointed. I think it was a typical Tim Tebow response in the fact that he was very positive, and he said, 'Well, we're talking about Peyton Manning, and I understand exactly what you're doing."
Sanchez, who was granted a contract extension to the tune of $40.5 million several weeks ago, will continue to start for the Jets, along with backups Drew Stanton, Greg McElroy, and now, Tim Tebow.
Tebow was replaced by Peyton Manning, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, with a 5-year, $96 million contract. Only a week after he was released by the Colts, Manning had ousted Tebow from his starting spot, despite the sophomore bringing the Broncos to the playoffs from a 1-4 losing season.
"It would be our goal to get him in the best situation possible for him to have success also," Elway told The Associated Press before the trade. But was the trade to the Jets Tebow's "best situation possible"?
The Jets' new team dynamic could be affected substantially by the trade, with Tebowmania and Jets' locker room sentiment clashing.
"We don't need Tebow," tweeted Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie before the trade, showing his allegiance to Sanchez. Cromartie's loyalty is strengthened by Sanchez's superior record when compared to Tebow- statistically, he's better, completing 55.3 percent of passes to Tebow's 46 percent.
However, Tebow made it to the playoffs through a number of harrowing fourth-quarter comebacks, something Sanchez failed to pull off last season. In addition, Tebow's fans- known for their love of the NFL player's public and devout Christian faith- could put pressure on Sanchez, possibly hindering his performance.