Why Tim Tebow Is an NFL Locker Room and Team Killer

Tim Tebow absolutely crushed the Monday press conference introducing him to his new team, as he was able to duck and dodge every question that could lead to a controversial answer.

But that doesn’t mean a whole lot to his New York Jets teammates.

Tebow is the hot-button topic in the NFL, and more often than not his fellow peers use the opportunity to bash him. Kyle Orton was run out of town because the third-stringer’s fan base engulfed a 1-4 Denver Broncos squad. Brandon Lloyd essentially demanded a trade when Tebow was inserted as the starter. The rest of his teammates had to answer more questions about their unorthodox QB than themselves.

The constant Tebow questions wore on his teammates, even after another miracle comeback. It’s not his fault, but when Santonio Holmes has to answer the fifth Tebow question after a bad play by Mark Sanchez lost them a game—it’s going to get ugly.

Just watching him at Monday’s presser reminds you that he is the most humble, respectful and intelligent guy in the room more often than not.  Media members don’t like that. They like the Rex Ryan’s of the world that can always give them the memorable quote to sell papers and nab clicks.

It’s in the DNA of athletes; they want to be the man. They want all of the cameras by their locker. So when they see a player who they may secretly believe stinks swamped with media members, a strong sense of jealousy and anger begins to bubble under the surface.

What makes it worse is that he’s going to one of the most undisciplined locker rooms in the entire NFL.

Brian Costello of the New York Post spoke with several Jets off the record and they all were less than thrilled with the team conducting a press conference of such a high magnitude for a guy that was supposedly brought in to be the backup. There are big egos, bad attitudes and a general sense of entitlement that the Broncos locker room didn’t have. The ill-will is going to be strong behind the scenes.

Throughout Monday’s presser Tebow reminded the crowd that the huge press conference wasn’t his idea. It was the higher ups in the organization that wanted to capitalize on the opportunity. They are taking advantage of the fact 200 media members are willing to listen to a backup QB for over 30 minutes a good five months before the season even starts.

This isn’t Tebow’s fault.

So now Tebow is donning the green and white and the over/under for the crowd to root for him to replace Mark Sanchez is in the preseason. Playing 20 snaps a game out of the wildcat is not enough for his fans. Sooner or later, the debate consumes the Jets locker room until a melt-down ensues.

The Jets signed up for this, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where this ends well. Tebow is in town and he’s bringing the circus with him.

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