JETS 101

The New York Jets quarterback situation was going to be a story with or without Tim Tebow in the mix. Entering his fourth year, it's time for the Jets to get a definitive answer on Mark Sanchez. There have been flashes that suggest Mark Sanchez can grow into the franchise quarterback they envisioned when they selected him fifth overall in the 2009 NFL Draft out of USC, but there have been some deep valleys that leave many wondering if he will ever realize that potential. With Tim Tebow in the mix, the hysteria that seems to accompany even minor news about the quarterback situation is almost comical.

When the New York Jets traded for Tim Tebow, most realized that the starting quarterback job still belonged to Mark Sanchez. There were stories about a budding quarterback controversy, concerns about Mark Sanchez's mental toughness and his ability to deal with potential fan outcry in favor of Tim Tebow, and plenty of other overreactions to the acquisition of a package player who will also serve as the backup quarterback.

With each snippet of news that has come out since the trade for Tim Tebow, another firestorm has taken off.

Matt Simms signed in May: Matt Simms, son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, was signed as an undrafted free agent. An undrafted quarterback signed in Many. Not much of a story, right? Except this is the Jets, and this somehow involves Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow because they are quarterbacks. In reality, most sane people realized it didn't involve Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez and would have no impact on them whatsoever.

Others began spouting off about cutting into reps in training camp and other issues about having five quarterbacks on the roster. Meanwhile it wasn't training camp time and there was no guarantee that the five quarterbacks on the roster would make it to training camp. Back on June 28 the Jets waived quarterback G.J. Kinne, dropping the number of quarterbacks on the roster for training camp to the standard four. Crisis avoided.

Tim Tebow to be red zone quarterback: This is the most recent example, with many blowing their lids over the report that Tim Tebow would be used in the red zone. Some took this as meaning that Tim Tebow will automatically replace Mark Sanchez every time the Jets cross the defense's 20-yard line. It doesn't, or course. And as long as that's not the case, this really isn't news. It was obvious when the Jets traded for Tim Tebow that he would be a part of their red zone plans. 

Judging by the minor news that has sent shockwaves through the New York media covering the Jets, one has to wonder what the season will hold. Will one bad performance by Mark Sanchez lead to articles from every outlet wondering when he will be yanked in favor of Tim Tebow?

While it will certainly be bothersome to read those headlines, the comforting thing is that it will have no impact on the Jets' personnel decisions nor their play on the field.

Tags: Football, G.J. Kinne, Mark Sanchez, Matt Simms, New York, New York Jets, NFL, Phil Simms, Tim Tebow

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