The QB controversy nobody expected

Little did we know that the QB controversy wouldn’t be with Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez, but Tebow and Greg McElroy . . .

Let’s get this straight.

Tim Tebow can’t run the wildcat now because of his broken ribs.

But he can run the Jets regular offense better than Greg McElroy, who led the Jets to a victory over Arizona, running the conventional offense.

This is just weird. Tebow was brought in to compliment Sanchez with the Wildcat, not because he’s proficient running a regular NFL offense.

Maybe he can run a regular NFL offense, but there is no evidence of that thus far.

This summer, when given a chance to run a regular offense, he struggled.

Remember when he played extensively in the second and third preseason games after taking over from Sanchez in each contest.

From what we hear, the reason he played so extensively was to see how he would do running the regular offense

Granted he was playing with backups, so we should cut him a little slack, but it did not work out very well. If that was truly a barometer, to see how he would do running a conventional NFL offense, he did not get high marks.

So now, with fractured ribs, and following a solid performance from McElroy in relief, Tebow is the primary backup again, even though he can’t run the Wildcat?

You can’t make this stuff up.

Here is what I think is going on.

In my opinion, Rex Ryan has a hard time being tough on front-line players. If you are a reserve like Emanuel Cooke, Marcus Dowtin or Greg McElroy no problem, but guys like Tebow, Sanchez, Bart Scott, Santonio Holmes, not so much.

I don’t think he has the gumption to take Tim Tebow in his office, look him in the eye, and say, “McElroy is now our #2.”

I just don’t think he can do it.

Just like he refused to discipline Holmes after the Miami game last year. He pretended he didn’t see Holmes get pulled from the game in Miami, so Schotty and Henry Ellard were thrown under the bus, making them the bad guys.

How can a head coach not know his “star” receiver is being yanked for the game? That is mind-boggling.

And then, instead of naming people worthy of being captains, unlike Holmes, he dismisses the concept of captains, claiming it’s flawed, and names no permanent captains this year, to help Holmes save face.

Scott once labeled the Jets coach, “Uncle Rex,” because of he’s such a player coach.

So Tebow remains the backup – even with broken ribs, and even with McElroy’s performance with Arizona.

Part of this could also be that the owner was behind the Tebow trade, according to a source close to the Jets, and maybe that is playing into this.

So often the Tannenbaum-Ryan combo seem just as concerned with appearance as winning.

That is why they want to make this Sanchez thing work so bad.

And that is probably why Tebow is still the #2. They traded two draft picks for him.

But you know what, this could turn into a PR disaster against San Diego, the Jets only remaining home game.

McElroy has turned into a fan favorite, at least it sounded that way when they were chanting his name during the Arizona game, while Sanchez was struggling.

If Rex makes McElroy inactive, and Sanchez struggles against an underrated San Diego defense directed by Chuck Pagano’s brother, John, and Tebow comes in the game and struggles as well, Rex is going to take a PR hit he might never recover from.

I think the Jets have enough to beat Tennessee and Buffalo with Sanchez, but that San Diego game, a team that blew out Pittsburgh last week, is the one that could really bite them in the butt.

Phillip Rivers is better than Sanchez, and while he’s struggled at times this year, a lot of that had to do with a banged up offensive line, featuring a rookie free agent left tackle.

But the Jets don’t rush the passer that well off the edge. Against Arizona, they did little against a pair of rookie OT’s – much of the pressure came from Mo Wilkerson along with Bart Scott and David Harris on the inside.

So Rivers should have time against the Jets, and he has weapons.

One of the worst scenarios for Sanchez is when he has to go toe-to-toe with a talented NFL quarterback. Because he struggles reading defenses and with completion percentage, he has a hard time “keeping up with the Jones” when facing a top-shelf QB.

Tebow had the same problem last year. Remember, Tim was on the wrong side of two blowout losses to Tom Brady and the Pats last year.

Both Mark and Tim do best with a good running game, and a suffocating defense, so they can win games 17-10.

I don’t know if San Diego offers that opportunity.

So if Rex deactivates McElroy, in front of a potential lynch mob at home, and Mark and Tim aren’t the answer, you wonder if the coach will be able to survive the PR hit he will take.

December 13, 2012

Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Friday night.