New York Jets: Report Claims Tim Tebow Thinks He Can Beat out Mark Sanchez

When the New York Jets brought in quarterback Tim Tebow in a trade earlier this week, it was reportedly made clear that the third-year pro would serve strictly as the backup to starter Mark Sanchez.

However, it appears that Tebow may not have got that memo. Gary Myers of the New York Daily News reports that the former Florida Gator may have his sights set on unseating Sanchez as the starter under center for Gang Green.

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Tim Tebow’s love of New York has nothing to do with pastrami and rye, or Times Square, or even Madison Ave.: The real reason Tebow loves New York is because he feels he can beat out Mark Sanchez and become the Jets’ starting quarterback.

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Tebow and Sanchez were two of the more talked about quarterbacks in the National Football League last year, albeit for very different reasons. Tebow directed the Denver Broncos to an AFC West title and playoff game victory with comeback after comeback, despite passing statistics that look like numbers from 1948.

Sanchez, on the other hand, actually posted the best statistical numbers of his three-year career in 2011. He also threw for almost 3,500 yards. However, his decision-making seemed to regress badly as the Jets lurched to an 8-8 record that contained more locker room drama than on-field success.

The pressure will certainly be on Sanchez to rebound in 2012. Indeed, as one Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator told Myers, that pressure will only grow now that one of the most popular players in the NFL shares a locker room with "The Sanchize."

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There has been a little bit of a question mark in the front office, the head coach and players, with Mark Sanchez. At different times, different people have alluded that he might not be good enough. Now all of a sudden you bring in the most popular guy in the league — the guy sold more jerseys than (Tom) Brady did last year. It’s going to put a lot of pressure on Mark. More pressure than he’s ever had.

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As Myers points out, Sanchez has played some of the finest football of his career while in the pressure cooker that is the playoffs. However, the media circus that Tebow's arrival in New York will bring with it throughout training camp and into the season is a different animal altogether.

Sanchez may find himself on a very short leash if he struggles out of the gate, as Myers states.

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If Sanchez and Tebow play like they did last year, the Jets could have a new starting quarterback by Halloween. This is a crucial year for Rex Ryan. If Sanchez doesn’t respond to the pressure Tebow puts on him, Ryan will go into self-preservation mode and could demote Sanchez to save himself.

Tebow is too competitive to settle for serving as Sanchez’s caddie. He led the Broncos to the playoffs last season and won a playoff game while Sanchez regressed. No matter how the Jets spin it, this is a vote of no confidence in Sanchez, who many now believe is vulnerable to losing his starting job.

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After a nightmarish 2011 season filled with dissension and bickering in the locker room, the last thing the New York Jets needed was another massive distraction that could affect the team's focus entering the season.

However, bringing Tim Tebow on board has already started another whirlwind of speculation swirling. As always seems to be the case with this Jets regime, the controversy they wanted so badly to avoid they seem to have once again brought upon themselves.

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