CIRCUS BACK IN TOWN: Tim Tebow, who was expected to be released last month, and Darrelle Revis, who could be traded before this month is out, are both expected in Florham Park today — with GM John Idzik there to watch — as the Jets begin voluntary workouts. (Getty Images; Jeff Zelevansky (3))
Coach Rex Ryan will address the 2013 version of the Jets for the first time at 8 a.m. today. The players may need nametags.
New general manager John Idzik has overhauled the roster as he begins the rebuilding process for a team that has missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons and went 6-10 last year. Seven starters from last year’s defense and four from the offense are now gone.
It won’t be all new faces, however. For some reason, quarterback Tim Tebow will be in Florham Park today even though every indication is he won’t be around when the season starts in September.
Cornerback Darrelle Revis will miss Ryan’s meeting as he meets with his surgeon in New York, but he will arrive at the Jets training center later today after being forced to show up by Idzik.
Revis’ return to Florham Park is the most notable story of the beginning of voluntary offseason workouts for the Jets. The star cornerback’s future has dominated the offseason as the Jets appear ready to move on from the 2007 first-round pick. Revis is unlikely to cause too many waves. He’ll leave the negotiating to his agents. But this still will be an awkward situation for all involved. How do you think that introductory handshake between Idzik and Revis is going to go?
Then, there’s Tebow. The Jets traded for him last year, talked about how creative they were going to be using him, then barely put him on the field. All of it left Tebow unhappy and contributed to the firing of offensive coordinator Tony Sparano and GM Mike Tannenbaum, who was replaced by Idzik.
The thought was the Jets would try to trade Tebow at the beginning of the league year in March and release him if they could not find a trade partner. But he’s still here. The Denver Post may have figured out why. In a story yesterday, the Denver Post reported the Jets still owe the Broncos $1.53 million as part of the money advanced to Tebow before last year’s trade. This was part of the money that temporarily stalled the trade the day the deal was made. The Jets are stuck paying that money if they let Tebow go. Idzik may be desperate to at least recoup something — a conditional seventh-round draft pick? — before conceding he just has to release Tebow.
All of it is a giant headache for Ryan, who has gone from leading the Jets to consecutive AFC Championship Games to fighting for his job. Ryan’s job security is going to hang over this Jets season like a bad stench.
When Ryan looks at those faces in the Jets’ auditorium today and struggles to recognize his own team, it probably will hit him what a mess 2013 might be.
brian.costello@nypost.com