Tim Tebow's Presence Will Polarize the New York Jets Locker Room More Than Ever

The New York Jets have had a problem over the past few years that no amount of personnel shakeup seems to be able to change.

No, I’m not talking about their inability to advance farther in the playoffs than the AFC Championship game—although that’s a problem, too.

I’m talking about the terrible attitude that has prevailed in the locker room: Over the last several years, a string of controversies and incidents have brought national attention to the New York Jets.

A reported case of sexual harassment that involved most of the locker room and antagonistic comments about Mark Sanchez and the offensive line from wide receiver Santonio Holmes have been just two of many incidents that have received national attention.

Let’s not even talk about Rex Ryan and his famous trash-talking.

These are incidents that happen during the regular season, and which take away from the concentration that players should be putting towards improving their games and building a better team. They have fractured the Jets locker room, pitting players against each other.

Worse, it doesn’t seem like the situation is set to improve in 2012.

Holmes, perhaps the most polarizing figure in the Jets locker room, doesn’t seem to be going anywhere for the 2012 season. As long as Holmes and his attitude are present, drama won’t be hard to find.

So why drag Tim Tebow into such a volatile atmosphere?

The Jets need a quarterback of true starting caliber if they want to find someone who can compete with Mark Sanchez for the starting job.

Tebow’s NFL statistics resemble those of a running back more than those of a starting quarterback. Much of his success in Denver was the result of a somewhat trick offense that was designed to accommodate Tebow’s poor throwing accuracy and strong running abilities.

From a personnel perspective, Tebow is about as controversial of a figure as they come. His reputation and his fanatic followers won’t do the Jets any favors in New York because let’s face it: When your team’s inability to mesh in the locker room is a subject of national interest, bringing in perhaps the most polarizing figure in the National Football League is hardly the way to fix it.

And yet, that’s exactly what the front office of the New York Jets has done.

Rather than helping to unite a team divided, it seems more likely that Tebow’s very presence will polarize the locker room even further than it already is regardless of whether or not he actively courts that dissent.

By bringing Tebow to New York, the Jets front office has all but drawn a line in the sand to force players to choose between Sanchez and Tebow. And make no mistake: the players—and the fans—will choose a side.

Regardless of who comes out the winner in that battle, the damage to team morale and the faith in whoever ends up starting under center will be tremendous and lasting.