Why Tim Tebow Trade Sets Up Starting QB Mark Sanchez to Fail

I was shocked when the New York Jets moved aggressively to acquire Tim Tebow simply because of the effect it would have on current quarterback Mark Sanchez. While the Jets have backed Sanchez so far, Tebow's arrival will clearly put even more of a spotlight on his short-comings. In fact, the team could be setting it's 25-year-old quarterback up for failure.

Sanchez was reportedly shocked by the Jets' acquisition of Tebow from the Denver Broncos, as he should have been. After all, it came just a few weeks after the USC product received a hefty extension from the team. 

The problem for Sanchez is that his already shaky confidence won't exactly get a boost by the team adding another young quarterback, especially one with a following like Tebow has.

The first time Sanchez throws a pick-six, you know he's going to be looking over his shoulder at the "savior" on the sidelines. And it's not hard to imagine Jets fans calling for Tebow if things don't go well for Sanchez early in the 2012 season.

In 2011, Sanchez struggled to find consistency again. He finished the season completing 56.7 percent of his passes for 3,474 yards, with 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. His passer rating of 78.2 ranked 23rd out of the 34 quarterbacks who qualified league-wide. Those numbers are average at best.

Count me among the group of people who thinks Sanchez can be a top-tier quarterback in the NFL. Objectively, he has all the tools needed to become a star. Add that to his personality and you've got a guy who can lead a team. But bringing a guy like Tebow in could shatter his confidence before what will likely be the biggest season of his professional career to date.

Sanchez has been through a lot in his short time at the head of the Jets offense. After dealing with the dissension in the locker room that erupted at the end of last season, I'm simply shocked that New York decided to bring in another young quarterback to compete with its franchise signal-caller. 

Tebow's presence caused a major upheaval in Denver when Kyle Orton was the team's starting quarterback. It's really not hard to see the same thing happening with Sanchez in New York, especially given the pressure to win immediately in the Big Apple. 

The fact that the Jets felt the need to bring Tebow in to help spark the offense, even if he only plays in certain packages, is telling. Despite the big-time extension Sanchez got earlier in the offseason the addition of Tebow could be setting the team's young quarterback up for failure.