New York Jets: Trading for Tim Tebow Will Hurt the Team Greatly

The circus is heading to New York. No its not Barnum and Bailey. New York will be home to another kind of circus and its name is Tim Tebow.

The New York Jets acquired Tim Tebow and a 7^th round pick from the Denver Broncos in exchange for a 4^th and 6^th rounder. The Broncos seemed destined to trade Tebow following the team’s acquisition of future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

Many believed Tebow would be traded to the Dolphins or Jaguars, two teams in desperate need of fan interest and national relevance. The immense following Tebow brings with him, along with his hero status in the state of Florida due to his illustrious college career, would instantly put either franchise on the map both locally and nationally if they were to trade for the polarizing player.

If the Jaguars or Dolphins had traded for Tebow, it would have been completely defensible because he is one of the few players in the league with the ability to single handedly bring a franchise to relevance. Even if you don’t believe in Tebow as a NFL quarterback, one cannot argue with his value from a purely business standpoint.

The New York Jets, on the other hand, make no sense whatsoever. When I heard their name being mentioned among the possible Tebow suitors, I did not believe they were seriously interested in acquiring him.

The Jets already have one of the most controversial figures in all of professional sports in their head coach Rex Ryan. Like Tebow, Ryan is a fixture in the media with his bravado and annual Super Bowl predictions.

Having both of these people be a part of your franchise will prove to be very distracting for the team.  

Every member of the Jets will be asked daily questions about Tebow that are both football and non-football related. How is Tim adjusting to New York? Why isn’t Tim the starting quarterback?

How did Tim look in practice today? How great of a guy is Tim? Does Tim inspire you to be a better person?

Look at the Jets roster. Do you believe guys like Santonio Holmes and Antonio Cromartie (who has already tweeted remarks stating his opposition to Tebow joining the team) are going to take kindly to constantly being asked about a backup quarterback?

The Jets have babied starting quarterback Mark Sanchez throughout his first three NFL seasons in an effort to build his confidence and let him know the team has complete faith in him. The Jets showcased their trust in Sanchez by giving him a contract extension this offseason, instead of going after Peyton Manning.

Despite being given a lucrative extension, Sanchez still faces many who question his ability as a starting quarterback. He did help the Jets to consecutive AFC championship games in his first two seasons, but last year failed to lead the team to the playoffs and has put up less than stellar numbers during his brief career.

The first time Sanchez struggles this upcoming season, he’s going to have fans chanting “put in Tebow!” The media will also constantly be asking Sanchez questions about Tebow and whether or not he deserves to be starting over him. For a player who has never been pushed to earn his position in the NFL, this may be a debilitating experience.

The Jets are most likely going to use Tebow in limited wildcat formations this season. The real question is, are five to eight plays a game worth the media circus that comes with the notorious quarterback?