Jets fans might want to get down on one knee this morning — not to “Tebow” but to pray their team does not need to use the backup quarterback.
Tim Tebow looked terrible in his first Jets practice that was open to the media.
Now, it’s only May. It’s only organized team activities, where teams are still in shorts. But incumbent Mark Sanchez looked way ahead of Tebow at this early juncture. Tebow looked indecisive and unsure of himself. He threw interceptions on consecutive passes at one point. Sanchez, on the other hand, looked crisp and showed a good command of the new Jets offense.
Anthony J. Causi
Tim Tebow
At this rate, there won’t be any of the anticipated quarterback controversy.
“I think Sanchez is really throwing the ball well,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “He’s got a live arm, a lot of zip on it.”
Sanchez’s highlight of the day was a deep pass to rookie receiver Stephen Hill that went about 75 yards for a touchdown.
Linebacker Bart Scott and newly acquired safety Yeremiah Bell intercepted Tebow during 7-on-7 drills.
“It’s definitely frustrating, but it’s 7-on-7 and both those plays are the first time I’ve ran them. I’ll learn from it,” Tebow said. “Honestly, it won’t bother me again. When you make a bad play, just put it behind you and move on. I feel like I did. I went out there the next team period and felt like I did OK. You just have to remember where you are and what you’re doing. That was 7-on-7 and the first time running those plays.
“It was a good play by Yeremiah and Bart. I’m sure I’ll hear about it a lot from Bart.”
The Jets have not installed any of the special plays for Tebow yet. He did, however, work on the punt team as the personal protector, the player lined up a few yards behind the guard. Tebow sprinted down the field on punts, something that is new for him. A quarterback for his entire football life, Tebow said he has never played special teams before.
“It’s definitely something I’m trying to get used to,” he said. “It’s unique. It’s fun. I had a good time out there.”
Tebow’s teammates continue to have a good time with his presence in the locker room. When he walked in to find a throng of media members waiting by his locker, Jets players began chanting his name. That was followed by chants of “Lolo,” referencing Olympic sprinter Lolo Jones, who told HBO this week that she is a virgin, just like Tebow.
The 24-year-old laughed off his teammates’ playful taunts. He continues to impress the Jets with his demeanor.
“I hope Tim can handle it,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said. “Today at practice I said thanks for throwing a turnover to us today, just joking. He’s doing what he needs to do and he’s fitting right in. I think that’s the best thing.”
Sanchez continues to say that Tebow’s presence has not had any effect on him. He displayed a ton of enthusiasm at practice, running down the field to slap hands with receivers after catches. Sanchez even spent some time with Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson after practice chatting.
“I’m getting a good vibe,” Sanchez said. “I’m not going to compare last year to this year, if I can. I just get a good vibe from what we’re doing now.”
While Sanchez has not shown any signs the attention Tebow has received has bothered him, someone who represents him did yesterday. Brian Murphy, the president of Athletes First, the agency that represents Sanchez, posted something interesting to his Twitter account.
“No offense media,” Murphy posted, “but of course Sanchez is going to outperform Tim T., Mark is a franchise quarterback and Tim is a great athlete.”
It was hard to argue with him yesterday.
brian.costello@nypost.com
Mark Sanchez, Sanchez, Jets, Bart Scott, Bart.”The Jets
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