Tim Tebow to Jets: Will We See a Repeat of What Happened in Denver?

After the outcry in Denver for Tim Tebow to replace Kyle Orton, one can only wonder how long it will take New York Jets fans to do the same with Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez is the current quarterback of the Jets and has done a pretty good job. He took New York to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in just his first two seasons in the league. He also just received a three-year extension on his contract after failing to reach a deal with Peyton Manning.

Sanchez had a career high in touchdowns (26) and completion percentage (56.7), but he also had 18 interceptions. His play has been shaky throughout his career and has not shown much improvement. While it does sound nice that Sanchez had a career high in completion percentage, he was still ranked 28th and was last among quarterbacks who completed all 16 games.

The fact that anonymous Jets players have called Sanchez lazy and wanted the team to get Peyton Manning shows that members of the team do not have faith in their quarterback. And if they players don't have faith in the quarterback, it gives the fans more reason not to either.

Last season the Denver Broncos got off to a slow start, which led Denver fans to do anything they could to get Tebow as their starter, including putting up Tebow billboards.

With the team losing and the fans chanting, John Fox had no choice but to make a change at quarterback.

In New York, everything is scrutinized more. The Tebow coverage was overblown in Denver—just imagine what it's going to be like in the Big Apple. The slightest mistake by Sanchez that costs the Jets a game or a slow start to the season would have Sanchez on the chopping block.

Sanchez has already felt the pressure from Mark Brunell when coach Rex Ryan gave the former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback reps with the first team. This was used to motivate Sanchez and Brunell was never a serious threat to take the starting job.

However, if this move is used with Tebow, fans will want him to stay. Fans that are fed up with Sanchez will see Tebow as a proven winner, given what he did last season with the Broncos. They will be willing to take the chance to get rid of him and try something new to spark the team.

Without a doubt what we saw in Denver last season will happen in New York. The only way it won't happen is if Sanchez leads Gang Green to a Super Bowl title. Going to the AFC Championship Game two out of the last three years isn't helping him with the fans, which proves he needs to win a title to get satisfaction from them.

The feeling around the Jets is that they got as far as they did in spite of Sanchez. Even if Sanchez gets off to a hot start this season, he still won't be safe. The NFL is a "what have you done for me lately?" league. The Jets may start the season 4-0 and be cruising for a great season, but if they go 1-4 in their next five games the chants of Tebow will get louder.

In the middle of a game last season, Broncos fans were chanting "we want Tebow" late in the fourth quarter while Orton was trying to make a comeback against the Oakland Raiders.

Sanchez will hear that in games he struggles. Tebow is polarizing to the fans and has a large and passionate fanbase that will stick by him no matter what. Rex Ryan also knows that if the Jets are struggling he may need to save his job by putting Tebow in as quarterback.

The ironic part is the fact that Jets fans who want Sanchez out will most likely complain about his inconsistent play or low completion percentage, which the former Broncos quarterback struggles with. As mentioned earlier, Sanchez was ranked 28th in completion percentage among 34 quarterbacks. Tebow was ranked last and was the only one who completed less than 50 percent of his passes.

The 2012 season will be interesting for Sanchez and the Jets. If the Jets have tough opponents in 2012 and Sanchez struggles, expect to experience deja vu in New York.