Still fielding questions about how this unique and new situation will work with two Quarterbacks on one team, Jets’ Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow continue the politically correct dance.
SANCHEZ SPEAKS:
On if it’s good to be back to football…
I was real excited just driving through town getting back to where I think there’s some real magic up in Cortland. It’s our job as a team to find it here. It happened our first two years. I was a little skeptical when Rex (Ryan) said that we’re going up to camp my rookie year in 2009. You know it’s a long drive, you have to take the bus, but this is where we need to be. This kind of place, they’re so welcoming here at the University, in town here in Cortland. This is the best place to just shut the doors and focus on us, focus on football, and really start something special.
On how big of a factor Tim Tebow can be in the offense…
It is huge. He can help any team. We’re lucky to have him. It’s going to work out well. If anybody knows how to make it work, it’s Coach Sparano. Whether Tim runs, throws, is on special teams, he’s only going to be an asset for us, so we’re thrilled about his potential here.
On how Tebow will be integrated into the offense…
In meetings with Coach Sparano, I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on. It’s my job to focus on me being in there, support Tim when he’s in there, and play really well as well as make sure we’re all on the same page and lead this team. I think that we’re in the great hands with Coach Sparano.
On if he thought about how he’d handle it if the fans wanted Tebow to play…
I’m not going to get into hypotheticals. I just know that mentally you have to be strong in this position and in this town. I’ll be ready for it and hopefully things will go well.
On how they operate offensively…
I’m confident that I’m going to be ready to play and lead this team. As far as how Tim (Tebow) is integrated, I have to differ to Coach (Tony) Sparano, but I’m also confident in his feel for handling two different systems and my rhythm as a quarterback. He knows how important that is.
On his role with the team…
Just leading these guys. Doing my best to set a good example, being out on the practice field as long as we need to. Getting in bed early, getting the right sleep. Making sure we get good meals here. We’re lucky enough to have great food. The most important thing is just setting a good example. We’ll get a chance to interact with some fans we don’t get to see much up here, who don’t get the chance to go down to New Jersey and Manhattan to see the Jets play. We have our work cut out for us, but it’s my job to lead these guys.
On how he feels sharing the accolades with Tebow…
We all get plenty of attention. It’s our team. It’s everybody’s (team). We all have ownership in it, so it’s good.
On how the offense is adjusting to two systems…
They can handle it. A lot of that is what this team is good at. Running, throwing, they can do it all. That’s the best part, it can keep defenses off balance and hopefully it works in our favor. Coach is ready to handle it. He’ll know exactly the right timing. I’m confident in that. As an offense, those guys up front can block, the receivers can run and catch, our running backs can do a great job in protection and run the ball. We’re confident in all of our abilities and we’ll be fine.
On if Tebow motivates him to do better…
I think good athletes want to compete and show their best not against just anybody, they want to show their best against other good athletes. That’s what we’re trying to do here as a team. I want to show my best throws against (Darrelle) Revis and (Antonio) Cromartie. I want to practice things this camp against two of the best corners in the league. I want to really work our run checks. I want to really communicate with (Nick) Mangold about where Bart Scott and David Harris are lining up on every play. That stuff is important to us. We laugh and joke about it after practice but during practice its serious and we want to win, we want to beat the other guy and then at the end build up your teammates. I think it’s just us being competitive and wanting to win and play well.
On who his roommate is at camp…
(Greg) McElroy. I’ll make sure he doesn’t pop off. (Laughter)
On if he has a handle on the offense…
I feel good. I’m confident going into the year and confident in Coach Sparano.
On why McElroy is his roommate…
I think I’m the only one who could put a muzzle on McElroy. (Joking) So, he had to stay with me.
On his weight…
I’m right around 230.
On his weight at the end of last season…
I was like 218, I was skinny.
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TEBOW TALKS:
On how it feels to get started…
It kind of feels like my first day of college, showing up to Florida. No, it’s exciting, you know it will be fun to get away. I think it will be good for the team to just be here and isolated and kind of be together 24/7. I think that’s good bonding time for the team.
On his relationship with Mark Sanchez…
Well, I think my relationship with Mark is great. We’ve been friends since he hosted me at USC. We kept in contact over the break, we worked out several times together, spent some time together. So, (we) had a lot of fun besides just working out or besides just football stuff. He’s a great guy and everything. I know that I’ll support him and he’ll support me.
On what he would say to people that think he and Sanchez will not work well together…
I don’t really have to say anything. You have to go out there and work hard and try and do whatever they ask me to do and improve every single day, learn this offense and just try and contribute to this team. I’m not worried about what other people are going to say and what other people have said, that’s not my job. They don’t pay me to weigh-in on that.
On if he thinks it is challenging to have a relationship with another quarterback…
It depends on the relationship (between the two quarterbacks), for sure. I think more than anything, your number one goal has to be how can we win games and how can we make this team better. And I think if that’s your number one goal, I think it can definitely work out.
On whether he has a clear sense on how he will be used…
I mean, we haven’t even started training camp so I don’t think there’s a clear sense on anything. I think we all just go to work and try to get better every day. There’s a lot of stuff that can happen in training camp. That’s why we have training camp. It’s officially the beginning of the year. So, it will be fun.
On the biggest adjustment he’s had to make playing in New York…
I don’t know, it’s hard to say. I think, probably one of the biggest things is getting used to all the new relationships. With everybody on the team, I feel like that’s something that’s gone really well so far. But, you know, I’ve never played a game with everybody here and that’s a big adjustment. So, I think the preseason will help with that. Getting used to seeing how guys react in good situations and bad situations, how you come together through adversity. I think those are all huge things that will be big for me.
On the media attention…
To be honest, I really try not to worry about it. I try to be who I am and live my life and not let it affect me. It’s how I try to focus and handle it. I feel like I learned early on at Florida to not worry about what I can’t control, and I can’t control what everyone here says with their report, what they say I’m wearing when I walk in the building, who the last guy I worked out with, what type of training I do, so I really try not to let that affect my life, and just be who I am and not change at all.
On his relationship with Mark Sanchez and his experience at Jets West…
Well, my relationship with Mark is great. I feel like we’re friends. I feel like whether we were on the same team or not, we would continue to be friends. I feel like we support one another, on and off the field. It was fun getting a chance at Jets West to meet all his family, and his aunts. He has a huge family so that was fun. They are very sweet people. Jets West was a lot of fun, getting a chance to see a lot of the guys, and have a good time, and going to the ESPY’s with some of them was fun as well, and I feel like we really enjoyed it.
On if one of his goals is winning the starting quarterback job…
I feel like my goal is just to get better every single day and improve every single day and just continue to develop a relationship with Coach Sparano, Coach Cav, Coach Ryan, and just find out my role every day and how that role expands and just continue to develop and get better.
On being a first string quarterback somewhere down the road…
Like I was just saying, for me it’s not about living in the past or in the future, it’s about living in the present, and that’s right now. That’s being ready mentally for practice, going out there and having a great practice, and not worrying what the future holds, but just worrying about how I can get better every single day.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN…..