New York Jets: 4 Facts Every Tim Tebow Fanatic Must Face in 2012

If you thought we heard a lot about Tim Tebow when he was in Denver, you're in for a rude awakening.

Now that Tebow is in New York, every magazine, newspaper and tabloid will be sure to feature a piece on the polarizing quarterback at one point or another during the upcoming 2012 season.

From what he's doing on the field to off the field, someone, somewhere will weigh in on "Tebow-mania." 

Here are four facts that fanatics must come to grips with now that Tebow is a member of Gang Green. 

Successful Red-Zone Opportunities Will Move Him Up Depth Chart

Tim Tebow had very little success throwing in the red zone with the Denver Broncos. For that reason alone, Mark Sanchez will be the starting quarterback of the New York Jets.

Therefore, if Tebow has any hope of moving up the chart, he has to make the best of the situations he's put in. 

In an article by Pat Kirwan of CBSSports.com, we see the difference between Tebow and Sanchez in the red zone.

In Tebow's 25 games, he's only had nine touchdown passes while inside the red zone. Sanchez, on the other hand, has thrown 43 touchdowns when inside striking distance in 53 games.

If Tebow really plans to man the starting QB position, he's going to have to improve his passing in the red zone.

Passing is the more effective option inside the red zone, and most of the teams in the league know and implement that strategy.

On using the wildcat package in the red zone, Kirwan adds:

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"The strategy is also puzzling when you consider that more teams score in the red zone throwing than running. Last year there were 342 rushing touchdowns and 492 passing touchdowns in the red zone."

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That stat, combined with Tebow's not-so-strong arm, should be enough for New York to keep Tebow where he is on the depth chart.   

He'll Be More of a Stablizing Factor in the Locker Room Than on the Field

With the Jets season ending with locker room rifts, Tim Tebow might be the guy that can come in and balance out the big egos with the quiet folks.

Everyone knows that Tebow is very religious. His beliefs are respected by all those around him. Many even embrace his Christian ways and take part in prayer, which is evident when he pulls the team in at the conclusion of games. 

That's why, especially in the beginning of the season, he will be more of a factor in the locker room than on the field.

This could translate to a bigger role as the season progresses.  

Days after the Tebow trade, Jets owner Woody Johnson said (via CBSNewYork.com), "I'm going to be very clear: Mark Sanchez is our starting quarterback. Period."

If Johnson really is serious, then Tebow will need to accept that for the time being and stabilize the locker room. 

A healthy locker room leads to a successful football team. Communicating with each other is what moves the football down the field, and that starts in the locker room. If Tebow makes the best of what opportunities he's given, he could see an increase in playing time. 

Picture this—the Jets are on a win streak, and Tebow gives a speech. He praises the hard work that everyone is putting in on the field. The team will surely buy into whatever efforts he makes to bring the squad together. The team then starts to play even better, with Tebow's playing time increasing with an occasional third down and some red-zone opportunities. 

New York Media Can Make or Break Tebow

The media in New York is certainly abundant. 

Tebow recently discussed how frustrating the media is in the big city (via Seth Walder of the New York Daily News).

When No. 15 was asked if he gets frustrated when he goes out in New York, Tebow stated: "It's not that I get frustrated doing it, it's just sometimes you want to relax." 

While the paparazzi might be annoying now, they may also be the ones to give Tebow his first break in the Big Apple.

Every day, the papers will weigh in and sound off on Tebow's position with the team. If Gang Green really is more concerned with making New York headlines, Tebow being the signal-caller could stir up the back pages.

In all reality, newspapers could hand over the starting job to Tebow before management does. They might follow him to church or even a health food store and name him the starting QB because of his role-model-like behavior.

The question is, can Tebow handle the pressure long enough without having a meltdown? 

He's a Great Football Player, but Not a Great Quarterback

Tim Tebow is a wonderful person and a great football player, but the man is not a quarterback. 

Tebow completed 126 of 271 pass attempts in 14 games played. That's a completion percentage of 46.5 percent. That isn't the number of completions nor number of attempts I want to see from my starting quarterback.

Mark Sanchez, on the other hand, completed 308 passes. That's more completions than Tebow's attempts. 

Using ESPN's total quarterback rating, which values a quarterback based on all plays with a numerical value of 0-100, Tim Tebow ranked 32nd with a rating of 27.2.

Mark Sanchez wasn't that much better with a rating of 33.6.

Meanwhile, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has a rating of 74.2, because he completed 66 percent of his passes. He threw 611 passes with 401 completions.

Are you starting to see why Tebow shouldn't—and probably will not—be the starting quarterback?