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Background with Tim Tebow gives Jets high hopes for Eric Decker

Eric Decker

New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker runs with the ball during an NFL football organized team activity, Wednesday, May 28, 2014, in Florham Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

AP

The Jets paid No. 1-receiver money for Eric Decker this offseason, and they’re convinced his stats aren’t just inflated from playing with Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning last year.

And they might know that better than anyone.

“He did catch eight touchdown passes when [Tim] Tebow was the quarterback,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said yesterday, via Kimberley Martin of Newsday. “Hey, that’s pretty impressive.”

While their current quarterback depth chart (or competition, whatever) falls somewhere between the relative talents of Messrs. Manning and Tebow, the Jets obviously think Decker’s going to help them.

They’ve been in the bottom three in passing yards per game the last two seasons, so spending the money on Decker was viewed as a necessity.

“Clearly, he is going to be a go-to guy,” Ryan said. “We know what we’re getting. This is going to be a guy that you can get him the ball in critical situations.”

And if he was able to score with Tebow on the field, they apparently figure he can score with anyone.