Tebow-mania falls on deaf ears

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

New York Jets fans caught the opening act of Tebow-mania at training camp Saturday, and it wasn’t love at first sight.

Tim Tebow was heckled by a few loud fans during the Jets’ first public practice, which drew an announced crowd of 2,588 on a rainy morning.

The overall reception was lukewarm at best, as the backup quarterback was anything butsharp during the 2½-hour session.

There was no sign of Tebow-mania. It was a pro-Mark Sanchez crowd.

The conditions were sloppy — it rained heavily through most of practice — but that didn’t stop the fans from reacting to his bad throws.

The most compelling moments came early in practice, when Tebow and Sanchez, side by side in a passingdrills, threw long balls to uncovered receivers. A few of Tebow’s passes wobbled and hung up in the air, prompting groans from the crowd.

“Look, it was practice,” said offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, downplaying Tebow’s shaky day and the crowd reaction. “We’re out here and, I mean that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing. You’re going to throw a bad one, you’re going to throw three good ones, you’re going to catch two of them and drop one of them, miss a block, whatever it is.

“The most important thing is to see how the guys battle back and watch them in that process. Tim and allthe other guys out there are playing with a lot of passion.”

Tebow created a YouTube moment at the end of practice. He jogged off the field — shirtless in the driving rain — providing fodder for a handful of photographers.

This is life with the Jets. For the third straight day, close to 100 media members covered practice.

Tebow, working exclusively with the second team, took 12 snaps in team drills. He completed only three of eight passes in the padless practice, taking a “sack” on a play in which he scrambled from one side of the field to the other.

The play seemed to take forever. As it unfolded, some fans screamed, “Throw the ball!”

When the play finally ended, one fan screamed, “That’s why you’re No. 2.”

Presumably, the fan meant Tebow’s place on the depth chart.

Later, Tebow uncorked a wobbly, floating screen pass to tight end Josh Baker. By the time the ball reached Baker, he was surrounded by defenders.

Rex Ryan has emphasized that Sanchez is the clear-cut starter, but competition was palpable when Sanchez and Tebow, taking turns, launched deep passes in front of the bleachers.

It was almost like a 3-point shooting contest between two teammates. The crowd roared with every completion, as the two quarterbacks almost seemed like they were trying to outdo the other.

No doubt, the wet conditions contributed to the sloppy performance. In fact, there were several dropped passes.

“In this type of weather, it’s hard conditions to play your A game,” tight end Dustin Kellersaid. “But (the rain) could happen on a Sunday, and you have to be ready for it.”

Tebow’s best moment occurred near the end of practice, when, in a one-on-one drill, he connected with rookie receiver Stephen Hill on a 40-yard pass.

The crowd cheered. So did Sanchez, who clapped.

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