That sounds simple enough, right?
Unfortunately for the Jets, nothing is ever simple. After the two teams initially agreed upon the deal, the Jets were hesitant after re-reading Tebow's contract and found some little nuggets that almost soured them on the trade — mainly whether they should pay the $5 million kick back that Tebow was owed.
The Broncos and Jets agreed to split the bill, but the holdup in the trade was an embarrassing moment for the other New York team. Now, not only do the Jets look incompetent in their handling of the Tebow trade, but they have also opened up the tent and brought a new show to town, and its effects on the team could be devastating.
All the while, the New England Patriots continue to keep their business relatively quiet, and continue to make the decisions that prove why they remain at the top of the AFC East, and more strikingly, show the distinct difference between how the two clubs operate.
The Jets' apparent inability to read the provisions of Tebow's contract is baffling, and brings into question the motive for bringing in the media darling. The Jets rushed to get Tebow, and due to that, failed to see the money that they would have to potentially give the signal caller. This was a fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars noticed, and was why they did not initially pull the trigger on the Tebow deal.
When your franchise is being outsmarted by the Jacksonville Jaguars, there might be a problem.
The Jaguars are a team that could've desperately used Tebow to generate interest in the struggling franchise, but even they knew that the price might have been too high. With other teams noticing these contract stipulations, how did they fly past the Jets?
The hastiness shows that the Jets were simply looking to make the big splash and grab Tebow for the purpose of making news and generating fan support for a team that took a PR beating last season with the locker room turmoil that sunk the team. Not to mention their cross-town rivals hoisting yet another Lombardi Trophy.
This is something that would never fly under Bill Belichick and the Patriots' watch. Belichick is one of the best football minds of this generation, and the key word in that sentence is "football." There were some rumors that the Pats might have been looking at Tebow, and "The Hoodie" is a big fan of the QB, but the only way that Tebow would land in New England is if he could help the team win.
Belichick and owner Robert Kraft want to put the best team on the field, knowing that fans will flock to a strong product. Both know that they don't need to try and rope in a gimmick to bring in fans.
Another aspect of the Tebow deal that generates more questions for the Jets is the effect that Tebowmania will have on Mark Sanchez.
Sanchez has struggled to prove consistent mental strength, and now Tebow's presence will be the toughest test for Jets incumbent starter.
Tebow's following is huge and the QB is a media magnet. Regardless of his role on the Jets, people will be watching him. Sanchez must be aware of this, because if he starts to struggle at any point during this season, the Tebow chants will begin.
The idea is sound in nature. The Jets want to push Sanchez so he can take the next step to become an upper echelon quarterback. It could very well work too, as Tebow could be great incentive for the "Sanchize" to finally prove himself.
However, Tebow's large following is simply too large of a risk to take. The hysteria that follows him is purely too much chaos for a team that is trying to rid itself of problems after a troubling 2011 campaign. It didn't matter, though, as the Jets wanted to make that big splash and direct the attention on themselves once again.
Meanwhile, Tom Brady restructured his contract to save the Pats nearly $7 million in cap space. The Pats signed Brandon Lloyd to an affordable deal and will look to build on a team that was ever so close to another Super Bowl victory last year.
The Pats continue to make moves that, while not flashy, are better for the team in the long run. Sure, Belichick has taken risks before with the additions of Randy Moss, Corey Dillon, Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco, but the risks were low in all of those cases. When they worked out (Moss, Dillon), the benefit was huge. When they didn't (Haynesworth, Ochocinco), the team was not crippled in the slightest.
Then again, none of those players have the rabid following that Tebow possesses, no matter how many Twitter followers Ochocinco has.
Belichick has a strong grasp of his locker room, and never allows problems to manifest for too long, as shown with his willingness to let go of Moss and Haynesworth when they became malcontents. The Jets do not have that type of control, as Rex Ryan's team displayed at the end of last season.
The Patriots wouldn't take on Tebowmania if they weren't ready for it, and that is why they are perennial Super Bowl contenders. The Jets are already in disarray and decided to add another layer of madness, which is why they are still waiting for a second Super Bowl appearance, 43 years later.
