Jets players rip the idea of starting Tebow at quarterback

A contingent of New York Jets players have vocally expressed their concern about the prospect of Tim Tebow replacing Mark Sanchez as the team's starting quarterback and essentially claim that the Tebow experiment is nothing more than a gimmick.

In an article by Manish Mehta of The New York Daily News, more than a dozen Jets players — mostly unnamed — told the reporter why Tebow should not be the starting QB and — in a scathing assessment of his talent — don't believe he can salvage the 3-6 Jets season.

"He's terrible," one defensive end told the Daily News.

The sentiment in the Jets locker room is that Tebow has not made any improvements as a quarterback over the past few months and, despite Sanchez's abysmal season, the players still think the fourth-year starter should lead the team.

"It's not even close," said left guard Matt Slauson, who has had Sanchez's back all along.  "All the other quarterbacks know it.  I have all the confidence in Mark.  We don't really have a choice."

When asked about the two backups to Sanchez — Tebow and third-string Greg McElroy — Slauson really laid into Tebow.

"We have Greg ... and we have an athlete," said Slauson.

Asked if the team could win with Tebow — owner Woody Johnson's favorite PR stunt — another veteran player quipped.  "Do I have to answer that question," he said.

At no fault of Tebow's, the Jets inconsistent use of the Wildcat offense has limited him to an average of seven plays a game and a grand total 132 yards for the season.

Jets players scoffed at the idea that the specialized skills of Tebow could turn him into a real NFL starting quarterback.

"We don't look at him as a quarterback in the league," said another anonymous player.  "He's the Wildcat guy."

And could the Wildcat be used to revive a limp offense?

"Hell no," another unnamed player ranted.  "You got to keep defenses honest.  You just can't line up in the Wildcat all the time.  That won't work."

Another player put it even more bluntly.  "We can't win running that s---," he said.

The organization continues to keep quiet on their big off-season pick-up but some claim it would take a monumental failure by Sanchez for Tebow to get the starter's job.

"It would take Mark to totally just s--- the bed and become unglued (before there was a quarterback change)," said a prominent member of the club.

Does anyone on the Jets believe Tebow should be the starter?

"Nobody," a member of the organization told the Daily News.

Looks like the old Jets dysfunction is back bigger and better than ever.  That next team meeting should be a blast.