Tim Tebow vs. Mark Sanchez: Why the New York Jets Should Stick with Sanchez

The New York Jets once again made a lot of noise this offseason. Rather than head coach Rex Ryan proclaiming them "Super Bowl champions," they acquired Tim Tebow in a trade with the Denver Broncos. 

The organization has been adamant since day one that Mark Sanchez is the starter and Tim Tebow will be his backup. New offensive coordinator Tony Sparano is also expected to create a special package for Tebow that will resemble the Wildcat offense.

Speculation has run rampant ever since the Jets acquired Tebow. Many analysts believe that the writing is on the wall for Sanchez. ESPN's Skip Bayless said on First Take that he believes Tebow will be starting by no later than midseason.

This is a dangerous argument to make.

Mark Sanchez has been in the NFL one season longer than Tebow, but in terms of wins, there is no comparison. Sanchez has won a lot more games than Tebow. 

In his three seasons as the Jets' starting quarterback, Sanchez has a record of 31-22 in the regular season. He also has a 4-2 record in the postseason and has led the Jets to the AFC Championship game in back-to-back seasons. 

Tebow's body of work is smaller, but still relevant. In his two NFL seasons, he has a record of 8-6 as a starting quarterback. He also lost his last four regular season games and backed into the playoffs. His postseason record is 1-1, thanks to a "Tebow Miracle" against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In terms of wins and losses, it's clear that Mark Sanchez is the better quarterback. In terms of statistics, the argument is even stronger in Sanchez's favor. 

Last season, Sanchez was said to have regressed. He passed for nearly 3,500 yards and threw 26 touchdowns.

Those numbers aren't too bad for a third-year quarterback who lacked a consistent running game, offensive line and go-to receiver. It's true that he had too many turnovers, but Brett Favre is the all-time leader in career interceptions. He is also a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Tebow finished the season with very different numbers. He passed for a 1,729 yards, 12 passing touchdowns and six rushing. He also had a completion percentage of under 50 percent and threw six interceptions.

That is not good enough to consistently win games in the NFL.

The early reviews from Jets OTAs only add to the argument is Sanchez's favor.

ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported on SportsCenter (h/t jetsrant.com) that Sanchez was very sharp on Thursday, while Tebow struggled. Sanchez hit rookie receiver Stephen Hill on a 75-yard touchdown pass. Tebow meanwhile threw back-to-back interceptions.

Hopefully, the addition of Tim Tebow motivates Sanchez to live up to his potential. He better hope he stays sharp all season long, or the whispers for Tebow at MetLife Stadium will grow louder.

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