McElroy and Jets teammates hid concussion from coaches

New York Jets coaches were apparently unaware that Greg McElroy was experiencing concussion symptoms during practice this week — after getting sacked 11 times last Sunday against the San Diego Chargers — but some of his teammates did.

The Jets quarterback — who went from nursing a minor abdominal injury to being benched for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills — had been concealing his symptoms "for days" telling teammates about the situation but only finally going to the team on Thursday morning.

It's not uncommon for NFL players to quietly play through injuries but the alarming aspect to this story is that more than a few of his Jets teammates knew about about McElroy's serious condition after the 27-17 loss and kept silent.

"He came into my room [Christmas night] and we talked about it" receiver Clyde Gates told ESPNNew York.com. "He was hurting real bad .  I was like, 'Bro, I know, I've been down that road already.  I'm just saying you can't try to tough it out cause you going to end up hurting yourself.  You've got to let everybody know how you really feel."

McElroy finally told Jets trainer on Thursday — after experiencing headaches during a morning weightlifting session.  Head coach Rex Ryan later announced that McElroy wouldn't play this Sunday.

Guard Matt Slauson was also aware of McElroy's situation.  "He definitely has that [warrior] mentality, but it got to the point where it was scaring him," he said.

One has to take in a couple of perspectives from all the players involved to explain their actions.  Illogical and as dangerous as it may seem, the NFL culture breeds this type of reasoning.

McElroy — the one time third-string quarterback — is finally getting a shot at showing the league he is worthy of being a starter.  Unless he battled through the pain, it might be a long time before he is given this window of opportunity again.

His teammates, while showing concern for their teammate's safety, would have been breaking an unwritten code betraying a confidence if they went to the coaches about their concerns before McElroy actually did.

These are grown men fighting for their livelihoods in a violent and mostly short-lived career. The NFL has their work cut out for them if they intend to curb the rash of concussions in the league.  Apparently the players themselves aren't going to help themselves even when they are at risk.

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.

Darrelle Revis says Tim Tebow is 'a born leader'

It has been said that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he eats his lunch and— if you believe Darrelle Revis— Tim Tebow's lunchroom habits make him "a born leader."

Revis, the outspoken New York Jets cornerback, said he can tell by the way Tebow approaches even the most menial of tasks that he has natural leadership skills.

"Some people have it and some guys don't," said Revis about Tebow.  "I just think the passion, it's the passion within.  You see it all the time, eating lunch you see it, walking down the hallway you see it.  He's like, I'm trying to think of the cartoon character, Zeus?  He's just one of those guys, he's very positive, he's got a lot of passion for what he does."

Asked how a person eats passionately,  Revis imitated Tebow leaning in to listen to a conversation.

"He's into stuff," said Revis.  "I'm like, alright, buddy, we're not competing.  He's just very passionate when he talks about things and in conversations."

Revis was one of Tebow's harshest critics before and after he joined the Jets. Last year Revis said Tebow was the kind of quarterback who could lull a defense to sleep but, after spending time with the new backup quarterback, it sounds like he has now caught Tebowmania.

"He's a born leader, he really is," Revis said.  "Very few athletes have the gift he has.  He tries to lead by example all the time and he tries to be positive which is awesome and I think that's the reason for his success on the field."

The All-Pro cornerback isn't the only Jets player who had praise for Tebow.

"You can tell... he's a very passionate guy," left guard Matt Slauson said.  "He works extremely hard.  Everything he does, he does at 100 percent.  So he's a lot of fun to watch in the weightroom.... he meshes well with all the guys."

The coaching staff still hasn't said how they will utilize all of this passion within the Jets offense but Revis now thinks Tebow has the ability to wake up an opposing defense which has to look at two playmaking quarterbacks on the opposite side of the ball.

"My initial thing to the play would be a trick play, something tricky," said Revis.  "Tim is dangerous and Mark [Sanchez] is dangerous as well and to have them both on the field at the same time, you wouldn't be able to prepare for it because no one has ever seen it.  You just have to be cautious, maybe on the defensive side 'hey back up.'"

It sounds like Tebow is doing a good job of fitting in.  After Tebow suggested Bart Scott to soak his sore body in the cold tub, the Jets linebacker playfully asked Tebow if he would 'baptize him.'

"He makes plays,  He wins games. That's it," said Revis.  "As a teammate, it's kind of different.  You actually get to see him every day.  When you get to know him as a person, you have way more respect for the person and appreciate the guy."

Revis went as far as to say Tebow had the "It" factor.