Tim Tebow Resident In Big Apple Is Not Home

It’s not easy being an athlete in New York. It is somewhat a misunderstanding when it comes to the Tim Tebow trade and, as bizarre as it is, he is relocating to a city of drama and craziness. Never is there a dull moment in New York, and with Tebow claiming his citizenship, the media circus has only gotten more berserk.

There is no bigger distraction, even spiritually, in sports other than Tebow simply for shoving his religious beliefs in our faces. It’s all probably for the overexposed Christianity flap-doodle, or for Tebow’s inability to throw with anticipation and only produce enough magic to pull off the miracle. Even though, he’s a charismatic superhero, the holy son of optimism and natural powers, resplendent on the field, he’s the most polarizing human being in sports.

It is, however, awkwardly strange that he ends up in an environment where he will, no doubt, feature extensively on the front page of local newspapers vilified for playing the quarterback position non-traditionally with the type of style not seen too often from a peerless NFL quarterback. If you haven’t been staying on top of things, the flawed quarterback was traded from Denver to the Jets in exchanged for fourth and sixth round picks, including an additional $2.5 million.

The addition of Tebow absolutely creates a plethora of fame, but with all the swirling controversy in an uproarious locker room as players are committed to the blame game, he can either be useful or ineffectual. What happened to the hearsay of him potentially returning home to Florida as Tebow could have polished his career with one of those mediocre franchises in the state where he once was a college legend? What happened to the sensible predictions of him ending up in Miami or even Jacksonville, a pair of NFL teams in desperate need of a quarterback, though the Jaguars are committed to breeding quarterback Blaine Gabbert?

The soon arrival of Tebow, as a situational quarterback and maybe even an inspirational, charismatic voice that motivates and drives starter Mark Sanchez to finally produce in the quarterback role, makes sense to some degree with new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. It’s a move that seems to be the right fit for an offensive system catering perfectly to Tebow’s singular running style. With Sparano, the creator of the Wildcat formation, Tebow could benefit the Jets. This all may not be such a bad combination when Tebow’s running style complements the Wildcat offense, designed to create a mismatch with a speedy runner against an unprepared defense.

But, then again, he’s in a town where criticism is heavy, in a town where fans and the media can be aggressively finicky and belittling of his mistakes and flaws, such as Tebow’s inability to transform into an elite passer. It’s what Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan desired and decided to obtain him in a trade to serve as the second-string behind Sanchez, whose paltry performance last season toppled much promise and heated up an ongoing rift in the Jets organization. It’s confusing to see what the Jets saw in Tebow and why the front office felt they needed him, after giving Sanchez a three-year contract extension, which increasingly raised his guaranteed money to $20.5, due to him over the next two seasons.

This isn’t the strangest deal ever, and even if this seems like a perfect fit — in many ways — it makes no sense whatsoever. The more we talk about Tebow, the more he becomes famous to America pop culture, a role model, a pious figure who many admire simply for his good character, dignity and humility. The more we doubt him, the more he’s willing to put time and effort in improving his poor throwing motion. This is what fascinates those who truly eulogize Tebow – either the most likable or polarizing athlete in sports.

It’s notable that he has good work ethic and tremendous appreciation for the game he plays, especially after he was named the Broncos starting quarterback a year ago to replace a struggling Kyle Orton, which resulted in a seven-game winning streak and playoff berth. This has been, no doubt, an interesting offseason – even greater — an intriguing spring for Tebow and the Jets. If this team is trying to develop Sanchez and assure that he turns into a reliable passer, anticipating for him to play skillfully for every penny he’s worth, then bringing in Tebow could initiate disturbance and even reduce his confidence and pride.

In every way, Tebow is moving on to New York and competing for the starting job, in the saddle to take the place of Sanchez if all hell breaks loose next season. If this Tebow trade foils, Ryan is indeed out of a job, as the circus hasn’t left the town since his arrival, known for guaranteeing Super Bowl victories and constant failures. By making this deal, the Jets created unnecessary quarterback controversy, pairing two aspiring quarterbacks all on one franchise in one town.

The Big Apple just became the Circus Big Top.

Trading for Tebow, who had led the Broncos on an incredible run last season, was an insult to Sanchez and it gives us every reason to believe that the Jets are moving in a new direction and could shut the door on him in favor of Timothy Richard Tebow. That’s not only disrespectful — that’s also being disloyal to Sanchez, who the Jets said they deeply love and want as their everyday quarterback. It’s almost like seeing an ex-boyfriend secretly flirting with an unnamed chick while still in a relationship with the girlfriend. The drama exists in New York — it really does — and sadly, the Jets have no trust in Sanchez with a superstar like Tebow waiting in the wings.

As insane as this week has been, regarding the trade talks surrounding Tebow that eventually turned out to be true, these were all sights for which he’ll be used on third and fourth-down plays in most series. The dumbest thing of all of this — even though he can arrive to New York and exemplify a superhero — is that he’s pampered, ennobled and treated like he’s the greatest quarterback on the planet, when in all, he’s nothing more than only a backup to Sanchez at least for the beginning of the season. It almost comes across as if the Jets traded so much talent to receive Tebow when, in reality, they gave the Broncos nothing. The arrival has brought another circus to town, rightfully so.

And, as always, the New York Giants are laughing at the Jets, having all the bragging rights in the world after their recent Super Bowl win. This wasn’t such an intellectual deal, after all. Worse of all it could delay the development of Sanchez, who once was known as Sanchise long before he sputtered and degenerated. Please forgive me if I’m paying no mind about his storybook run with the Broncos. It’s not an overreaction to refresh our memories on what a success he was last season, mastering the role as a quarterback perfectly and had won seven of eight games after the Broncos placed him into the lineup following a 1-4 start.

He’s not your average quarterback. As we all know, his mechanics are bad and he has a slow release. As we all know, he has potential, much of it, but is still a work in progress and not quite ready. This is all bad for a franchise with enough problems as it is. Sanchez was named the team captain, but couldn’t bring the team together as a unified squad. The other troubling issue is a moody Santonio Holmes, surrendering on his teammates at the end of the season. And, well, Ryan admittedly said he had lost his locker room.

So what does that tell you?

Sometimes it’s hard to understand the Jets. And, in this case, nobody knows the team’s intent. This is what it takes to win games?

I’m not even sure the Jets have the answer to that one.

Darrelle Revis Needs To Compromise in Holdout To Be a Jet Forever

Lately, as team players ask for higher money without reporting to training camp and partaking in rigorous workouts and preparations with evidently all certitude to fathom that the NFL is an enterprise inheriting revenue, Darrelle Revis, a prolific cornerback of the New York Jets, is the prototype of a non-prioritized industry.

In a monopolized age when athletes are pampered with enormous deals without proving to be superstar-caliber, it’s not only a business where performance counts, but a business mismanaging to implement a wage scale as rookies are becoming rich and famous.

Considering that we live in a society where money is poorly invested and notoriously sabotages the integrity of sports because of the flow of cash, there is a shortage in teams' payrolls.


The perception of the Jets refusing to compromise with Revis is that it has induced the most complex holdout in NFL history, and as much as the shutdown defensive back is disgruntled over contract disputes, the longer he’ll be a no-show in the regular-season. It’s very clear that this is Woody Johnson’s franchise, and he’s evidently not desperate or anxious in having his best defensive player on the field in time for the season-opener.

For once, a team is unwilling to become victimized of a shortage in payroll or Johnson is just too cheap to give the star cornerback the highest-paid deal. Before he ever announced that he wanted an outrageous raise, the All-Pro defensive star said he wanted to be a Jet forever.

If he is ardent to retire as a Jet, then why is it so complicated for each party to reach an agreement? As of recently, the Jets turned down the latest contract proposal from Neil Schwartz, the agent representing Revis in this unusual conflict and at a preoccupied meeting at Roscoe Diner on Friday afternoon and negotiated for three hours, but failed unanimously to pacify Revis.

All of this, of course, is risky and could be regrettable in the end as Revis—who is expected to earn $1 million this season—is still without a new contract, requesting to be the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

For now, however, he’s holding out until the deal accommodates his needs and wants, even though he’s being greedy and moping over higher salary, increasingly fixated on ego other than conceivably beginning the season on a convincing winning streak.


In the first three games alone, the much-anticipated fans were waiting for the Jets to start the season with a 3-0 record. But as it turns out, the Jets are destined to suffocate without the aid of Revis, who is a requisite element in the backfield. Even if a very optimistic Johnson admitted Monday that he wasn’t sure Revis will return in time for the season, and could sit out the entire season. If one side doesn’t compromise in time, the Jets are in dire uncertainty.

Without their Pro Bowl cornerback, the Jets aren’t nearly as efficient in the secondary, but may still be relevant enough to rise as contenders in the postseason, given the size and depth on defense. At least someone is confident in his defense, while awaiting the arrival of Revis, who is very stubborn and threatens to holdout until he is Richie-Rich.

It happens to be coach Rex Ryan, the animated comedian of New York, too. As this unjustifiable and far-fetched drama seems implausible solving in a negotiation anytime soon, Ryan is optimistic the Jets are a productive force without Revis and isn’t worried missing his defensive leader.

“Don’t feel sorry for us,” Ryan told reporters Tuesday. “We have everything we need here on defense.”

If Revis is missing in action, it’s hard to imagine the Jets as a primary factor in the AFC East. The presence of Revis is indomitable and instrumental, but his absence is clearly a loss. And if the Jets are aiming to punch a ticket at the Super Bowl, they’d need a healthy and content Revis to have a pragmatic impact.

Regardless of a promising offense in working progress, the Jets specialty is a conscious defense and with the addition in bringing aboard former Pro Bowl corner Antonio Cromarite, a tenacious secondary is dangerous and to be reckoned with, particularly with the presence and abilities of Revis.

The point of precisely putting together arguably the toughest defense in the AFC East was to build around Revis and likely present trouble for its opponents and constitute much buzz on the East coast.

In retrospect, though, the fairest solution would be for Revis to surrender his ego and cease greed, just as a way to help the Jets benefit in victories. But again, he’s reluctant in sacrificing his ego and individuality for earning more money, as many unhappy fans in the community are imploring for Johnson to issue out the check and unleash the money from his wallet.

As it is, he isn’t acknowledging Revis’ sensational season previously, and the Jets are holding their end of the bargain.

Even if he signs by the time the regular season begins, he will be a bit rusty and passive for missing out on training camp and not participating in workout drills that benefits a player’s capabilities entering the season. Besides holding out on the franchise that he mustered notability, he is fined $16,523 each day.

When an eventual signing does happen, he’ll represent the Jets as the most talented defensive player and he is sure enough a needed fragment to their postseason pursuits.

Just a year ago, the Jets suffered a loss at the AFC title game against the Indianapolis Colts, but had the most forceful defensive player. The lack of guaranteed money is upsetting Revis. Meanwhile, he’s rejecting all offers, until he’s handed the richest deal as a cornerback, but of course, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum believe he needs to settle for a lesser amount to accommodate with his team.

“As I said at the start of training camp, our offer to Darrelle Revis conveyed that we are flexible on how the guaranteed money is structured, including the areas of singing bonus, roster bonus and option bonus,” Tannenbaum said in a statement Tuesday night. “This situation revolves around a fundamental disagreement in total compensation.”

A numerous of sporting franchises are allowing prima donnas to compel financial defaults for overly paying and providing an unproven or overvalued athlete with countless cash. As routinely, the Jets are subjecting themselves to an ugly holdout, almost in a tough situation with usual patterns of possibly losing Revis.

Because the Jets said they won’t trade their star player elsewhere, it’s hard to think otherwise when a long-suffering holdout remains a problem and disrupts what is expected to be a credible year.

But it’s unnecessary to guess that he’s the next millionaire in the metropolitan area, when Tannenbaum treated Revis’ agent to lunch without settling a deal. So the Jets are downplaying the possibilities of a trade, like the time the franchise traded Keyshawn Johnson to avoid a holdout and even dealt former defensive end John Abraham, regarding contract disputes.

For all the suggestions that the Jets are the most talented team in the AFC, building around a young and mobile Mark Sanchez, who quarterbacked the Jets last season in a marvel postseason run, is troublesome and places much pressure on the rookie corner Kyle Wilson.

In addition, LaDainian Tomlinson, an aging running back, was brought to New York in hopes of changing the dimension at the rushing attack and strengthening the landscape. But lately, the Jets have increased the posture by putting the matter into perspective of life without Revis.

Clearly, are there any teams afraid of them minus the effects of Revis? Not a chance. How long will Revis sit out? Until he earns as much as Nnamdi Asomugh, the compelling corner of the Oakland Raiders, he’ll return at full strength and thrive to be the best cornerback in the NFL. There is a clear understanding that he is a unique talent, but is he worth the richest contract in NFL history?

Not even Asomugh is, but sullied owner Al Davis gave the invigorated defensive player a huge contract. Apart from the biggest contract ever giving, Ryan acknowledged that no player is greater than the system.

“We have a great collection of individual talent,” Ryan said. “These guys will play great as a team. That’s what we’ll do. Obviously, Revis is a tremendous player. But it’s about the unit, and we’ve been selling that from the day we walked on here.

“We can get it done,” Ryan said. “We’re not afraid of anybody.”

We’ll see. But it won’t be easy without the star player.

If there’s no Revis, opponents aren’t afraid, either.