Daily Overreaction: Can New York Jets Avoid an Exploding Chemistry Experiment?

Mark Sanchez may have Tim Tebow breathing down the back of his neck for the New York Jets' starting quarterback job, but he's not feeling the pressure. In fact, despite the acquisition of Tim Tebow, Sanchez doesn't think he'll be on a short leash, according to Jenny Vrentas of the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger.

That may have something to do with the fact that Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum have repeatedly given him votes of confidence, with Rex having gone so far as to say that the Jets are "hitching [their] wagon" to Sanchez as the starter for 2012 according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

But with Tebowmaniacs foaming at the mouth ready to call for Timmy as the starter if Sanchez falters, could the Jets be headed for disaster once again?

Overreaction: Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow Chemistry Experiment Doomed for Nuclear Meltdown

The assumption is that this two-QB system can never work, and that may be correct; no team has ever won a Super Bowl with a QB-by-committee.

The other assumption is that this situation is headed for a disaster with an eventual divide tied in. That assumption operates on yet another assumption: that Sanchez will not play well in 2012, and that the Jets faithful will quickly become unfaithful to Sanchez if he doesn't.

And therein lies the solution: If Sanchez plays well, taking a step forward and living up to the career trajectory that Mike Tannenbaum and Rex Ryan consistently praise him for, there will be no problem.

Thus, essentially, the best way to make the two-QB system work is for Sanchez to make it unnecessary. The only one with a problem, in that scenario, would be Tim Tebow himself.

The question is now, can Sanchez do it?

With help from Pro Football Reference, we take a look at quarterbacks whose career stats were similar to Sanchez's in their first three years (completion percentage less than or equal to 56 percent, passer rating less than or equal to 74). While there are some real duds on the list, a few names provide reason for hope.

Among the not-so-promising comparisons: George Ratterman, Joey Harrington, Charlie Conerly, Tom Flores. Ratterman was a backup for much of his career despite some early success, Harrington should have been a career backup, Conerly's career was highlighted by two Pro Bowl selections and Flores won just four more games in his career than Sanchez has won in the first three years of his career.

Among the hope-inspiring comparisons: Joe Namath, John Elway, Eli Manning, Drew Bledsoe, Fran Tarkenton and Bob Griese.

• Each of these quarterbacks appeared in at least one Super Bowl as a starter
• All but two of those quarterbacks (Namath and Bledsoe) appeared in multiple Super Bowls as a starter
• All but two of those quarterbacks (Bledsoe and Tarkenton) won at least one Super Bowl as a starter
• Three of them (Elway, Manning and Griese) won multiple Super Bowls

Hope is not lost for Sanchez, and the Jets seem more than willing to give him that hope. It's up to him to live up to it, but history tells us that while it's not certain that he will, the casket is far from closed on his career.

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