Tebow was "forced" onto Jets roster

[ThomasTomasz]

The perception of the New York Jets' trade for Tim Tebow has been that it was the brainchild of owner Woody Johnson, but that's not how it was presented to at least one general manager candidate in his interview with the team.

Former Broncos GM Ted Sundquist, who interviewed for the job nine days ago, said Johnson told him it wasn't his idea. Sundquist said it was his impression that the trade was "forced" on Johnson and team president Neil Glat, who also participated in the interview.

Sundquist's description of the interview makes it sound as though Johnson was blaming former GM Mike Tannenbaum for the Tebow debacle; in a sense, Johnson did exactly that, firing Tannenbaum one day after the regular season ended.

The Jets hired former Seahawks executive John Idzik as their new general manager last week. He will be introduced at a news conference Thursday.

Johnson also said, according to Sundquist, that he eventually "jumped on board" with the Tebow idea, deferring to his football people.

"They realized it was divisive and hard on the locker room, and they wanted an exit strategy," Sundquist told ESPNNewYork.com, sharing the vibe he received from Johnson and Glat.

The Jets are expected to part ways with Tebow next month.

Coach Rex Ryan and one-term offensive coordinator Tony Sparano failed to incorporate Tebow into the offensive scheme with any success. Tebow also saw time as a punt protector -- a role that became full time after safety Eric Smith was injured.

Tebow's future in the NFL is unclear. The one team to express interest in Tebow last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars, is no longer interested. After a season with the Jets, Tebow finds that his prospects of starting in the NFL are dim.

"I can't imagine a scenario in which he'll be a Jacksonville Jaguar -- even if he's released," new Jaguars GM David Caldwell said at his introductory news conference earlier this month.

In all, Tebow was used for just 73 offensive plays for the Jets (6-10) this season.

Tebow, who has two years remaining on his contract, said in an interview with the Fox Business Network after the season, "I don't have any regrets" about his move to the Jets.

"I believe everything happens for a reason. I don't know what my future holds, but I know who holds my future and in that there is a lot of peace and a lot of comfort," he said in the interview.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/sto...k-jets-owner-woody-johnson-ted-sundquist-says

This story just gets better and better.

 

[killgod]

I thought this was going to be a Tebow is gay story.

'Roster' instead of 'owner' in the thread title might have made it more clear :shifty:

 

[Cornelius]

I'm waiting for a story about Tebow having a fake online gf.

 

[EmpireWF]

The story with the Jets was always that Tennenbaum never had ultimate say on personnel, so this doesn't jive.

Doesn't make sense either, why/how would Mr. T force him on the owner AND Rex? Unless everyone was on board until the first practice and then they turn on one another.

 

[Maynard]

i could believe that an owner would "go along" with his football people. but not in the jets offices. they love the tabloid coverage they get and tebow was all about adding to the drama. no way that owner didnt know full well what they were doing

 

[Aso]

The report on Rotoworld said that Woody took all the credit for signing Tebow but now that it didn't work out he's gonna place the blame on recently fired GM Mike Tannenbaum? Pointing fingers won't win you a championship, all it does is make you look like a jackass.

 

[PG24]

There's absolutely no way that this is true. There were stories breaking all off-season and during this regular season that the ownership were the ones that wanted Tebow on the field to help create fan support and sell tickets. He was more than happy to accept the praise from fans when Tebow was originally acquired, and now he's pushing the blame away? Thought he was a bit more classy than that. I guess not.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

The report on Rotoworld said that Woody took all the credit for signing Tebow but now that it didn't work out he's gonna place the blame on recently fired GM Mike Tannenbaum? Pointing fingers won't win you a championship, all it does is make you look like a jackass.

Especially when people in the NFL know other people in the NFL. The story will float around from Tannenbaum, Sparano and others involved, and the whole placing blame by Johnson could backfire in the future for hiring potential executives or coaches.

 

[jeffx]

Aso is 100% right. Woody is full of shit. He was the one saying "I can't enough Tim Tebow". Please. The Jets braintrust is dumping everything on Tannenbaum, when all the personnel moves had Rex's stamp of approval. So why does he keep his job? And who gets a 'do-over' at their after four years?

According to Jay Glazer, the Jets couldn't give the GM job away. And the dude they hired is a cap/finance expert (like Tannenbaum), not a football guy. So who has the final say on picking and evaluating talent - Rex?

Jets remind me of the Knicks under Isiah.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Why does this POS fullback playing out of position keep getting media attention? Who cares?