Tim Tebow: What the Trade to New York Means for Mark Sanchez and the Jets

The NFL has experienced two giant days of media, with the Denver Broncos signing Peyton Manning, and now New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton's one-year ban from the league as punishment for the bounty program.

With Manning going to Denver, the door was opened for Tim Tebow to be moved, and just one day later, he was.

Even though Tebow plays an unorthodox game and oftentimes doesn't complete more than 50 percent of his passes, he's a proven winner, something he also isn't as recognized for as he should be.

In 2011, Tebow went 7-4 as a starter and turned what appeared to be a lost season in Denver into an AFC West title and a playoff berth. Among his seven wins was a six-game winning streak and three overtime wins.

Despite his last-second heroics throughout the season and in a playoff win against Pittsburgh, Tebow still isn't respected around the league due to subpar passing statistics and inconsistency.

One thing he did do consistently, though, was win football games.

Tim Tebow will bring a winning attitude and motivation to a New York Jets team that had "extremely selfish individuals and a corrupt mindset," according to quarterback Greg McElroy.

McElroy's statements were backed by Jets general manager Mike Tannebaum. Tebow is a guy who has proven his unselfishness time and time again and could definitely take the starting job away from Mark Sanchez.

Even if he's a backup for the entire 2012 season, Tebow brings leadership, passion and a winning attitude to a team that finished 8-8 last season and on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

Not all the blame should be placed on the players, though. Head coach Rex Ryan is known for spouting off on a regular basis and making guarantees that later fail. His cockiness seems to have rubbed off onto his players, and clearly an attitude adjustment is in order.

Not everyone is on board with Tebow as a Jet. Defensive back Antonio Cromartie tweeted the following:

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"Y bring Tebow in when we need to bring in more Weapons for@Mark_Sanchez let's build the team around him. We already signed to 3 year ext."

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Perhaps Tebow will bring an unwanted saint-like presence to New York, altering their selfish mindset. At first it will be a complicated relationship, but I see it blossoming into a positive transition once Tebow is promoted to starter and becomes the leader of the team.

To expand on Cromartie's statement, Sanchez played just fine with the weapons he was given. Shonn Greene and Santonio Holmes are stars in the league, and veterans Dustin Keller, LaDainian Tomlinson and Plaxico Burress still have plenty of talent left in them.

If Sanchez or the aforementioned skill players under-performed, that's their own fault.

Tebow isn't a player who needs superstars around him to play well. Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker were virtually nameless players outside of Denver until Tebow burst onto the scene and made them household names. His uncanny ability to make those around him better is an extremely valuable and rare quality.

Guys like Jeremy Kerley, Eron Riley and Dedrick Epps can be integral parts of New York's offense with Tebow at the helm.

Even if he doesn't start, his ability to run makes him all the more useful, especially in wildcat formations.

Since 2009, the Jets have averaged more yards per rush from the wildcat than any other NFL team (6.1). That number should increase with Tebow, and he will make opposing teams game-plan more in depth due to his versatility.

No matter what role Tim Tebow will play for the Jets, it will positively affect the team. Whether it's as an inspirational leader on the sidelines and in the locker room, a second-string QB waiting for his opportunity, a wildcat and situational player or the starting quarterback, Tebow is a great fit in New York and will help the franchise just as he helped the Denver Broncos.