Tim Tebow: Darrelle Revis' Comments Prove Jets Locker Will Soon Be Divided

It goes without saying that Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez will be a quarterback competition this training camp, regardless of who recognizes it or not.

Sanchez has only seen minimal improvement during his career, while Tebow took the NFL by storm in 2011 and displayed a higher level of potential. Now, even if Sanchez enters the regular season as the No. 1 quarterback, Tebow will certainly see the field as his versatility is going to benefit the Jets anyway.

Not to mention that offensive coordinator Tony Sparano ran the wildcat in Miami, and Tebow had an eerily similar offense with the Denver Broncos last season.

The more controversial decision, however, will be the long-term solution for the No. 1 spot as the locker room could potentially divide before the 2012 season kicks off. In an article by Rich Cimini of ESPN New York, Jets' cornerback Darrelle Revis appears to be on the Tebow bandwagon:

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"He's a born leader, he really is," Revis said Wednesday. "Very few athletes have the gift he has. He tries to lead by example all the time. He tries to be positive, which is awesome, and that (has resulted) in his success on the field."

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Now take into account Revis' credibility on and off the field and that's impressive praise for a quarterback that completed just 46.5 percent of his throws last season (40.4 percent in the postseason).

Still, Tebow did win games and completely turned the Broncos' 2011 campaign around by winning the AFC West and defeating the 2010 defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round.

One fascinating note, though, is that Sanchez led Gang Green to two consecutive AFC championship games in 2009 and 2010. Was it really that long ago?

No, but it sure seems like it after a disappointing 2011 season—although Sanchez improved statistically, and the Jets were sitting 8-5 before losing three straight to close out the year.

If anything, the heat Sanchez has received from all over is just further proof of how much pressure a quarterback endures while playing in New York. Two consecutive AFC title game appearances was by far the most success any Jets quarterback has enjoyed since Joe Namath.

That appears to now matter little, unfortunately, as the Jets locker room will divide at some point this season. Sanchez has the additional pressure of potentially losing his starting job, and Tebow is going to find out how difficult playing in the Big Apple really is.

And the beginning of the season will be quite telling as well. Four of the Jets' first five games are against Buffalo, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Houston, all of which have legitimate postseason and realistic Super Bowl odds for 2012.

So, by early October we'll know which direction the Jets are headed at quarterback because each of those defenses have top-five potential. The preseason is when to really watch, though, as it will be eerily similar to what happened in Denver, with Kyle Orton remaining the starter and Tebow the backup.

The difference in New York, however, is that it will also give us a small taste of Tebow's offensive package from Tony Sparano because running a new system for the offensive line will need real-game practice.

Expect Sanchez to be under center Week 1 and Week 2, but his production during those games will enhance the pressure to consistently perform by Week 3. Plus, Sanchez now has a backup quarterback capable of competing for the No. 1 spot, so his true ability will be unveiled early on.

At that time (most likely before October begins), we'll then see the disharmony of a divided locker room.