Jets head coach Rex Ryan met with reporters at the league meeting this morning, and as will often be the case this season, his backup quarterback was the primary subject of conversation.
Ryan suggested that Tim Tebow will be on the field more than any other backup quarterback in the NFL, calling him “perfect” for the Wildcat because he has both the skills of a quarterback and the size and power to be an inside runner. And Ryan said he’s excited about what offensive coordinator Tony Sparano can do with Tebow.
“I’m absolutely putting it out there,” Ryan said of Tebow being a player who could take 20 snaps a game in the Jets’ offense, via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “I think the Wildcat is alive and well.”
Ryan referred to Sparano as “one of the most creative guys I’ve been around” and described himself as “excited” -- a word Tebow used dozens of times during his introductory press conference on Monday -- about how Sparano can utilize Tebow’s skills.
Said Ryan, “Tim Tebow is a good football player. Mark Sanchez is a good quarterback.”
So what will it say to Sanchez if Tebow is taking 20 snaps a game in the Wildcat? Ryan says it will be fine.
“Mark will be OK with it if we win,” Ryan said.
The problem for Sanchez is that if the Jets win with Tebow taking 20 snaps, some fans and reporters will say it just shows Tebow should take every snap. And if the Jets lose with Tebow taking 20 snaps, some fans and reporters will say that just shows Tebow should take every snap, too.