Last year, after Kyle Orton couldn't get the Broncos off the ground to start the season, backup quarterback Tim Tebow became the Mile High hero, lifting Denver into the playoffs with his never-fading passion and strong will. He was the ultimate unintentional Plan B. Yesterday, at the Broncos' introduction of new quarterback Peyton Manning, a reporter asked Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway what his Plan B would be if Manning's neck didn't hold up. His transparent answer implied that the team had no intention of keeping Tebow. They had no backup plan he said with a confident chuckle.
Today, the Broncos confirmed that answer by sending last year's leader to the New York Jets for a fourth-round pick. Although the trade was expected from Elway, who never had full confidence in the former Florida star, the move is a bit odd for the Jets. Gang Green is fresh off handing Mark Sanchez a three-year, $40.5 million contract and just signed former Detroit Lion quarterback Drew Stanton to the squad. Any confidence Sanchez gained from the contract is diminishing by the second as an overbearing ominous storm of speculation rolls into town.
It is possible that the Jets plan to return to using the Wildcat like they did when Brad Smith was still on the team. Tony Sparano, who brought the formation to the NFL, is the team's new offensive coordinator, after all. We might be looking at a two-quarterback scheme in the works. No matter what happens or how the Jets use Tebow, we know one thing for sure: The media will make him front-page news whether he's picking his nose on the sideline or completing three-yard passes under the bright New York lights. Will Sanchez be able to handle that?
[via Jay Glazer]
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