Jeremy Lin or Tim Tebow, Who Deserves More Hype in the Big Apple?

Of course Tim Tebow has been traded to the New York Jets.

The media sensation of the 2011 NFL season was born for the Big Apple, with his strong (almost controversial) religious beliefs, good looks, passionate following and unorthodox style of play.

When the Denver Broncos signed Peyton Manning, Tebow had to go and now he’s gone. The one formally known as the Mile High Messiah will now need a New York-style nickname as he and a seventh-round pick have been sent to the Jets in exchange for a fourth and sixth-round pick (via Denver Post).  

Not only will he be battling Mark Sanchez for snaps, but he’ll be battling Jeremy Lin for the back page.

The humor Twitter account Peyton’s Head warns us of what to expect:

"

Tebow AND Sanchez in NY? The odds of someone being killed by an errant PepsiMax bottle just doubled.

— Peyton's Head (@PeytonsHead) March 21, 2012"

Tebowmania consumed America for the better part of three months of the NFL season, and it was a wild ride.

Sportscenter had the hour of Tebow, when he was nothing but No. 15.

Skip Bayless stayed relevant through his unabated Tebow love. Nobody had analysts and fans alike so split in half.

You have a strong opinion of the guy in one way or another.

As the Broncos lost the playoffs and Tebow faded to the background, another phenomenon came onto the sports scene.

Linsanity didn’t have the same legs as Tebowmania, but there was a three-week period in February where this guy was deemed the savior of the franchise.

Now that the two sensations are sharing the same zip code, who deserves more attention?

For now it has to be Lin.

Tebow was able to have a best-selling book, a deal with Jockey, numerous SNL skits about him and one national craze known as “Tebowing.” All while living in what some call a “cow town,” Denver, Colorado.

Now that he plays in the biggest market in the nation, the sky is the limit.

There are an endless amount of advertising opportunities in New York City. Tebow can host SNL. Movies and TV appearances won’t be far behind. All Tebow, all the time.

But none of that will happen if he can’t see the field.

Tebow was somewhat forgotten about during his rookie year when he barely sniffed the field.

Tebowmania didn’t begin until he was in the starting lineup. In New York, he’s now stuck behind Mark Sanchez, who just received a fat extension worth $58.2 million. Tebow’s ability to get on the field aside from a few wildcat plays hinges on Sanchez’s struggles.

Fans can only care about a guy that comes in for a handful of plays for so long.

In an odd twist, Sanchez is the one that will end up determining how popular Tebow will become in New York City.

This is different to Jeremy Lin's situation.

The Asian-American exploded onto the scene and now has a firm hold on the starting point guard spot.

Fans can watch Lin play 30 minutes a game every other day for six months.

He has an entire nation of fans that are only concerned with him.

International advertising opportunities, in addition to the deals he can sign with American-owned companies, abound.

Few athletes in America have an opportunity like this.

The other factor here is a Knicks vs. Jets issue.

It’s no secret the city has been dying for the Knickerbockers to be relevant for the last decade. They were desperate for a guy like Lin to come along.

Considering the Nets are an ugly stepchild who pale in comparison to the Knicks in terms of popularity, there is no doubt who is the basketball king in the city.

Some argue that the Jets have made this trade because of the attention they’ll receive. With the more popular Giants just winning a Super Bowl, the Jets are struggling to stay in the headlines.

Lin has more of a wide-ranging appeal on a more popular team while also actually getting playing time.

The media in the Big Apple is going to have a great time with Tebow and Lin.

Expect to be absolutely sick of these two sooner rather than later—assuming you already haven’t. But until Tebow is starting for the Jets (and winning), this is still Lin’s town.

Yet as Sport's Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina reminds us, neither player can compete with the ultimate King of New York:

"

As religious as Tim Tebow is, he'll quickly learn that no matter what he does, there is still one god in NYC: Derek Sanderson Jeter.

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) March 21, 2012"

Follow Eric Ball on Twitter.