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Can Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow truly co-exist?
Rex Ryan was asked about the state of this relationship at the end of mini-camp.
“They [are] fine,” Ryan said. “I had thought that these guys would get along great because I know both of them and they both want the same thing, they both want to win. They’re both competitive guys and they’re good teammates. I think they’re both accepting people, they accept other people, and they don’t have to be exactly like each other, but I think they get along the way I anticipated that they would get along.”
There is no question they both have a desire to win, but is that really enough to keep both of them happy?
You have to be a fool to think Sanchez is happy about this.
Gary Myers is happy about this, but Sanchez?
Remember, he stayed out of the public eye, and avoided the media, for quite some time, after the Tebow trade.
Do you really think there was a conga line at the Sanchez house after the Tebow trade was announced?
To Mark’s credit, he did an admirable job with the media during the spring practices open to the press. He said all the right things, Tebow as well.
But that doesn’t mean Sanchez is happy about this. No quarterback would be, in their heart of hearts.
Perhaps the $20.5 million in guaranteed money the Jets are paying Sanchez, in the next two years, soothes the pain a little bit.
And what also helps is that Tebow is such a good guy. This isn’t an act. Tebow is the real deal. He’s an awesome person. If Tebow was a jerk, this might have already blown up on the Jets.
But one thing that is really important to keep in mind – Tebow wanted to come to the Jets. Even though he was a little vague on the topic afte the trade, numerous league sources have made it clear the Jets were his choice.
This surprised some people because he’s from Jacksonville, the other team that was in consideration.
Why the Jets?
Well, for one, he’s now in the #1 media market. This can help him a great deal off the field with endorsements and his foundation.
But the second reason is the one that could make Sanchez and his camp very uncomfortable. You get the sense that Tebow picked the Jets because . . . let me see how I can put this diplomatically . . . he doesn’t think Sanchez is a great quarterback.
Tebow has seen him play, plenty. He saw that awful Pick Six in Denver, first hand.
Tebow clearly thinks he can grab this job at some point in the near future.
He’s never going to say that, but reading the tea leaves, that is clearly what’s going on here.
But so far, so good – the two are getting a long fine.
Let’s see what happens when the heat is turned up in training camp, and then it becomes as hot as Venus once the season starts.
July 1, 2012
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