Rex Ryan Goes Back to Mark Sanchez at QB, Bypassing Tim Tebow Once Again
Rex Ryan found out Thursday morning that the QB he was going to start again this week, Greg McElroy, was suffering from concussion-like symptoms. McElroy, the 2nd year pro from Alabama, was sacked 11 times against the Chargers in a loss Sunday, and this morning, while lifting weights, was plagued by headaches.
So Ryan, coach of the 6-9 Jets, pulled former starter Mark Sanchez and the People’s Choice, Tim Tebow, out of meetings and notified them Sanchez would be starting in the season finale against Buffalo. The last time anyone saw Sanchez on a football field, he threw four interceptions and fumbled late to ruin New York’s shot at the playoffs. Obviously, this means one thing: Ryan wants to lose in Buffalo and improve the Jets’ 2013 draft positioning.
At 6-10, they’re probably looking at the 8-10 pick range; at 7-9, it could be as high as 16-17, depending on what the other 6/7-win teams do (there are seven of them).
Tebow, who for the 2nd December in a row is the biggest talking point in the NFL, couldn’t have made a worse decision in March to pick the Jets over the Jaguars (assuming he had the choice, as some outlets reported at the time). If you feel like playing the what-if game, what’s the ceiling for a healthy MJD with Tebow running the read option? Sure worked well for Willis McGahee in 2011. For fun, you could even put Shorts/Blackmon in the role of DeMaryius Thomas.
While it’ll be debated forever (regardless of what the media says), it’s been clear from the jump that Rex Ryan never wanted Tim Tebow on this team. It had to be a move made by the greedy owner, Woody Johnson. Ryan has had numerous opportunities to insert Tebow as the starting QB, and has passed on all of them. I also see Rex’s decision as a slight to GM Mike Tannenbaum, who almost certainly won’t be making player personnel decisions in 2013.
Yes, the Jets’ braintrust is a mess (as we chronicled earlier this month).
Rex Ryan is sticking by his $8.25 million man (next year, at least). Perhaps he’s hoping to bolster the confidence of Sanchez, who did torch the Bills in the season opener (one early pick, but three TDS, 19-of-27).
Gosh, I hope the Jets lose Sunday. I’m itching for them to draft Manti Te’o in the first round to play MLB alongside David Harris. If the Jets want to get back to the 2009/2010 formula that made them successful, stopping the run should be the top priority, barely over rebuilding the offensive line. They’ve got time to worry about QB, given the Sanchez contract.

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42 Responses to “Rex Ryan Goes Back to Mark Sanchez at QB, Bypassing Tim Tebow Once Again”
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December 27th, 2012 at 4:25 PM
All aboard the Mike Vick Experience.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:28 PM
How is a 6-9 disaster the biggest story in the NFL?
You’re wrong … it’s not.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:29 PM
“Biggest” according to who? Where? Is ESPN your barometer? There’s your answer.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Woody Johnson! Gives up a fourth rounder for a player his head coach won’t use under any circumstance
December 27th, 2012 at 4:30 PM
The NFL should blackout the Jets/Bills game out of respect to its fans, I’m sure the viewers in the home markets would prefer watching relevant franchises play football
December 27th, 2012 at 4:31 PM
Just let Tebow play. The reason Rex doesn’t want to play him is because if Tebow wins, he’ll look like an idiot for benching him all year.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:32 PM
That bridge was crossed long ago
December 27th, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Skip Bayless runs this motherfucker
I’m a little disappointed that the playoff scenarios seem pretty cut and dried this weekend, I like the years where teams need to run up the score worse than someone else to win an 11th tiebreaker if five other games go their way at the same time
December 27th, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Beating the Bills doesn’t mean Tebow would have taken them to the playoffs…he’s bad, Denver knew it and look at where they are now after making an upgrade
December 27th, 2012 at 4:36 PM
Of course not. The Jets suck and Tebow pretty much sucks too.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:36 PM
Moving the inevitable 47-10 Packers thrashing of the Vikings to the afternoon doesn’t help things
/preparing
December 27th, 2012 at 4:38 PM
Expecting a tight game myself just because I think it will be a shaky start with that crowd and d-line fired up, here’s to Ponder making the difference once again…I like hearing that CJ Wilson’s back practicing, he’s not the best lineman out there but they missed him in run defense over the last month
December 27th, 2012 at 4:41 PM
That’s not nearly as compelling or dynamic as you think it is. Also, Tebow’s not so good at the read part of the read option.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:44 PM
Sons of bitches. Stupid Vikings blew it so badly in Lambeau. They had a legit chance. This one’s either going to the wire or the Packers win the toss and score in the first 3 minutes, immediately followed by a Ponder arm punt woefully underthrowing a flailing Jerome Simpson.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:50 PM
But it is.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:52 PM
Everyone saying Tebow sucks (even though he has taken 20 snaps this year) is getting about as annoying as ESPN hyping him up to be a God last year. He’s probably somewhere in the middle, worse than Peyton, better than Skelton, Gibbard, Cassell, etc…
December 27th, 2012 at 4:52 PM
not really
December 27th, 2012 at 4:53 PM
Big football fan, eh?
December 27th, 2012 at 4:53 PM
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, ESPN tends to have a big say in what the biggest story is, so while you may disagree, it’s still the biggest story.
/burps
December 27th, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Not really.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:55 PM
The middle is guys like Stafford and Cutler…he’s not nearly as good as them
You’re seeing with RGIII someone who can run that type of offense while still being able to score points which is what they weren’t able to do in Denver
December 27th, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Dammit, Gfunk.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:56 PM
And if we really start asking this question, everyone will have a different take on what the biggest story is, which could lead to countless comments and several soapboxes, and no one wants that.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:57 PM
I think there is no question that Timmy is a better QB than the guy from Death Cab for Cutie, yes.
December 27th, 2012 at 4:59 PM
RGIII, Cam Newton, Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, and so on. It’s not that the spread concepts don’t work, it’s that Tebow is limited in his ability.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:01 PM
So the Jets is the biggest story? Bigger than AP? Bigger than Peyton (the one story ESPN created but hasn’t run into the ground)? Bigger than the Steelers missing the playoffs? Bigger than the Seahawks crushing fools?
The 6-9 Jets are only the biggest story in the NFL if you measure biggest stories by how close they are to New York City and Bristol.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:02 PM
There were times last year that wideouts would be running completely unaccompanied downfield and he wouldn’t even get the ball in the camera shot.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:03 PM
*Add rookie QB play to the list of bigger stories than the Jets.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:03 PM
I was honestly asking. I don’t watch ESPN outside of games.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Greatly hampered by his inability to throw to anyone other than a wide open receiver. That and the Byron Leftwich-esque wind-up.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:05 PM
Remember when Tebow and Manning were bigger stories than the Olympics? Good times.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:07 PM
For my money Clay Matthews’ sack dance in Chicago was the biggest NFL story of the year
December 27th, 2012 at 5:09 PM
Huuuuuuuuuuuuuge story.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:14 PM
The Steelers missing the playoffs and Roethlisberger playing like rat ass the last three weeks should be a bigger story…Sports on Earth had a good piece about this, you win a Super Bowl or two early on and you’re suddenly elevated beyond the type of criticism other guys take it seems (see also: Brett Favre)
December 27th, 2012 at 5:15 PM
Steelers are like the Giants. All or nothing. It’s accepted.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:18 PM
6-9 and switching back to Blaine Gabbert for a meaningless week 17 game.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:22 PM
McDaniels drafted this fraud in the first round. But yeah, let’s hire him and give him control over personnel (which he wants, but clearly doesn’t deserve).
December 27th, 2012 at 5:47 PM
With the shitty O-line the Jags have? 4-12? Tebow is a novelty, and in no way is a competent starting NFL quarterback. He needs to get over his ego and move to FB or TE.
December 27th, 2012 at 6:46 PM
Pack will win by at least 10. Byes are delicious
December 27th, 2012 at 11:56 PM
So what would Ryan do if McElroy AND Sanchez both were injured or sick this weekend? Who would he start as QB then? The waterboy? Who’s pulling Ryan’s strings- he looked mighty uncomfortable up there- even he didn’t believe what he was saying. So on Monday- Tebow may be looking for a job- but so should Ryan and the QB coach-
December 28th, 2012 at 12:00 AM
Come on ButtersBC=the only reason Denver let Tebow go was that Peyton Manning was available- even Tebow acknowledges that. Get real- Tebow took his team to the playoffs last year. Where were you? Out of the country? or just new to football?
December 28th, 2012 at 2:07 AM
Rex Ryan must have a serious man crush on Mark Sanchez to continue rolling with him. Sanchez needs a career change!