NFL

Jets have talked about trading for Tebow

The Jets have had serious internal discussions about trading for Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, according to a team source.

The Jets lost the Peyton Manning Sweepstakes earlier this month but may benefit from Manning’s arrival in Denver. The Broncos no longer need Tebow, the God-loving, comeback-leading QB who became a national sensation last fall. It is a widely held belief around the NFL that the Broncos will now trade Tebow.

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The Jets hope to position themselves at the front of that line. Tebow could give them a new dimension at quarterback to complement starter Mark Sanchez. Tebow could run the Wildcat formation, a favorite of head coach Rex Ryan and new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano.

A source said the Jets also think Tebow could have a positive effect in repairing their dysfunctional locker room. It would give the Jets a huge surge of interest. Members of the Jets organization have noticed what Jeremy Lin has done with the Knicks. Tebow in New York could be even bigger.

General manager Mike Tannenbaum would not comment on Tebow, saying Tuesday, “Tim Tebow is a player under contract to another team.”

ESPN reported the Jaguars, Packers and Dolphins are interested.

One Jets player took to Twitter yesterday to say he was not in favor of bringing in Tebow.

“We don’t need Tebow,” cornerback Antonio Cromartie posted to his Twitter account. “We sell out every home game let him go to Jacksonville Tampa or Miami. Our wildcat offense can b run by [Jeremy] Kerley or Joe McKnight we straight.”

Broncos executive John Elway didn’t say exactly what will happen to Tebow but, “It would be our goal for us to get (Tebow) in the best situation possible.”

A message was left by The Associated Press for Tebow and his agent, Jimmy Sexton.

The next step in the process may be finding a trade partner, but the Broncos are in no hurry to do so. As for an outright release, well, the Broncos said no way.

“He’s a first-round pick,” Broncos general manager Brian Xanders said. “He’s just won the division, we were 1-4 at the time, he’s got a guaranteed contract. I can’t see that.”

Tebow’s base salaries for the next few seasons are very cap friendly: $1.942 million in 2012, $2.266 million in 2013 and $2.590 million in 2014.

His next destination likely will not be Miami.

A person familiar with the situation said Tebow would not fit the West Coast offense the Dolphins plan to install this season under first-year coach Joe Philbin. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because trades and other personnel moves are confidential until completed.

The Dolphins have been mentioned as a possible Tebow landing place after he starred at the University of Florida. Miami has incumbent quarterback Matt Moore on its roster along with recently signed David Garrard, who is expected to compete for the starting position.

In Manning’s introductory press conference with the Broncos on Tuesday, he said he would be happy to team with Tebow, “but if other opportunities are presented to him, I’m going to wish him the best.”

The Jets kicked the tires on Manning after the Colts decided not to pick up his option two weeks ago, but they did not make the four-time MVPs short list of teams.

The Jets acted quickly when passed over by Manning and signed Sanchez to a three-year contract extension, which opened up some salary-cap space for the team this year.

The Jets used some of that space to sign Drew Stanton to back up Sanchez, who was blamed by anonymous teammates for the team’s 8-8 season in a published report.

Tebow engineered one of his several comebacks last year against the Jets.

Trailing 13-10, Tebow drove the Broncos 95 yards for the winning score, capping it with a 20-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds left in the 17-13, Week 11 win.

“I know what kind of player Tim Tebow is, what kind of person he is, what an awesome year it was,” Manning said. “If Tim Tebow is here next year, I’m going to be the best teammate I can be to him. He and I are going to help this team win games. If other opportunities present themselves to him, I’m going to wish him the best.”

With AP