Rex Ryan never fails to to surprise.
At the AFC coaches breakfast in Phoenix, Arizona, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan was asked about his team's outlook for next season, and America's favorite backup QB was high on the list of topics.
"He's on the roster, and he'll get a chance to compete," Ryan said regarding Tim Tebow. "We'll see how the offseason plays out, but right now Tim is on our roster."
When it comes to the New York Jets, you have to read between the lines, because often that's where the closest semblance to the truth is. "Right now" isn't just a Van Halen song, it's also a heads up that Tebow shouldn't make long-term plans, despite Ryan's alleged plan to have Tebow compete in the team's mini camp. Sanchez is guaranteed to go into the mini-camp as the starter, but from there, it is to be an open competition and rightfully so.
Jets QB Mark Sanchez play was abysmal last year, ranking near the bottom of the league in several quarterback categories. The only thing more notable than Sanchez' struggles was that Tebow wasn't allowed a real chance to obtain the QB position. Instead, third string QB Greg McElroy was given the opportunity. Despite Sanchez' poor play, it was almost impossible to cut the former USC quarterback due to salary cap reasons.
As if the quagmire at quarterback wasn't bad enough, the Jets decided to sign veteran David Garrard into the mix last week. Garrard would normally be seen as a serviceable backup, but he hasn't played in the NFL in two years and comes with health issues. Nevertheless, Ryan was supportive of their newest signing.
"We wouldn't have brought in David if we didn't think he could provide competition," Ryan said. "Now, he hasn't played in two years, and we recognize that. But the main thing is, when we go through the process, that we feel good about what comes out of it."
Of course, most Jets fans are probably wondering exactly what is "the process". So far, it seems like being a source of confusion at the most important position on the team. Well, at least with four QBs on the roster, the Jets wouldn't be crazy enough to bring in any more, right?
Wrong.
Ryan was also asked about the possibility of bringing in the recently released Arizona QB Kevin Kolb. Ryan claimed that the idea of bringing in Kolb hadn't been given a high priority, but he kept the door open to it.
"If we feel that would help the competition, then that's something we would look into," Ryan said.
"The competition"--that's the same competition that Tebow is supposed to be a part of, but no one really believes that it's going to happen. Ryan and the Jets blew their chance at the benefit of the doubt when they brought Tebow in last season only to play him sporadically and never give him a legit shot at the QB position.
The Jets are determined to hold Tebow until the start of the 2013 NFL Draft on April 25, at which point, he's expected to be released if he hasn't been traded.
It takes a lot to brag about a team that didn't make the playoffs, but that's never stopped Rex Ryan.
"People should be more scared of us than we are of them."
Don't worry, Rex. We're plenty scared, believe me.