Tebow gets billboard outside Lincoln Tunnel

If commuters aren't tired enough of hearing about Tim Tebow on their talk radio stations while stuck in traffic, now they'll have to stare at his face as they inch down the Helix (ramp) to the Lincoln Tunnel from the New Jersey side.

Jockey has put up a billboard outside the underground entrance to New York City bearing the face of the New York Jets  newest quarterback with the words," WE SUPPORT TEBOW & NEW YORK." The firm's trademarked logo appears below the green and white letters.

Tebow and Jockey have a marketing campaign together.

The ad, according to a statement released by the company, "plants a stake in the ground that NYC is now officially Tebow-country."

The welcoming ad went up at noon today and will stay up for the next week.  Approximately half a million people will see the ad, the company speculates.

Tebow isn't even officially a Jets player due to a clause in his contract, but the snag is expected to be rectified on Saturday.

Maybe the sight of saintly Tebow watching over the maddening traffic jams will keep  drivers from cursing out buses or flipping off lane-cutters.

Jets fan first to be buried in Tim Tebow Jets jersey

A lifelong New York Jets fan made a deathbed prediction last week that his favorite team would get Tim Tebow and then, sadly, passed away.


In a cruel twist of fate, Russell Francis, spoke those words to his wife before news broke that Tebow was headed to New York in a trade with the Denver Broncos.  A swap that nobody saw coming, according to The New York Daily News.


His family will now send the Jets fan into eternity on Friday sporting a brand-new, green-and-white No. 15  New York Jets jersey as Tebow-mania hits its most unlikely venue yet: a funeral home.

The ink isn't even dry on the new Tebow jerseys and they're making their way into heaven already.

Widow Wendy Tatum told the Daily News she recalled one of her last conversations with her husband Francis, 44, as he battled lung cancer.

"He kept saying, 'They're going to get Tebow.  They're going to get Tebow,'" she said after shopping for the jersey for the shirt on Thursday.  "This was a whole week before the trade."

It sounds like Francis wasn't much of a Mark Sanchez fan.

Francis may be headed to that great stadium in the sky, but other visionary words he left behind might excite fans of Gang Green.

"He said they're going to the Super Bowl this year," his wife said.

Pat Robertson: Manning injury would be karma for trading Tebow

Televangelist Pat Robertson is not happy with the Denver Broncos trading Tim Tebow to the New York Jets.  So much so, that he is wishing Tebow's replacement Peyton Manning nothing but bad karma.

Robertson— a leader in the Christian Right movement— said Denver treated Tebow "shabbily" after all he did for the "nothing team" last season from his pulpit on the 700 Club on Thursday.

"And you ask yourself, OK, so Peyton Manning was a tremendous MVP quarterback, but he's been injured.  If that injury comes back, Denver will find itself without a quarterback.  And in my opinion, it would serve them right," he said.

Robertson has come to Tebow's defense before.  He blasted Saturday Night Live earlier this year for performing a skit that mocked Tebow's religious beliefs.

Remember, the television preacher also once called the earthquake in Haiti a "blessing in disguise."

Robertson went on singing the praises of Tebow and trashing Denver last night.

"He wins seven games, he brought them [Denver] into the playoffs, for heaven's sakes.  I mean, they were a nothing team .  He rallied them together with spectacular last minute passes and, you know, when they beat Buffalo, I mean Pittsburgh, excuse me it was a tremendous victory."

Sounds like he subliminally has something against the Bills too.

Tebow-mania touches down in New Jersey; Next stop: New York

Tim Tebow finally arrived in the New York area as either the New York Jets latest experiment or new backup quarterback.  The unannounced flight touched down at Morristown Airport by — what else— private jet at approximately 3:20 this afternoon before he was whisked away.

Tebow exited the jet, shook some hands and was driven off the runway in a black luxury SUV as news choppers circled overhead.

Tebow-mania has already started and he's still 30 miles west of Met Life Stadium.

Last night, Tebow had a chance to address the media in New York via phone after the trade with the Denver Broncos was finalized.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity to to play for such a great organization," he said.

Tebow, who has spent a lot of time in the spotlight in the past year, was asked if he had any trepidation about life in the big city.

"Not really.  I'm excited about it," he said. "I think it's a great market.  It's a great city.  I'm excited to be a Jet now."

 The Jets have made it clear that incumbent quarterback Mark Sanchez was, and will be,  the Jets starter in 2012.  The new guy in town didn't seem bothered.

Tebow said he already talked with Sanchez on the phone after the trade and everything was fine between the two quarterbacks.

"We spoke on the phone yesterday.  Got caught up a little bit," said Tebow.  "Had a great conversation and looking forward to seeing him soon and working with him and, you know, we've been blessed to know each other over the last few years.  "I definitely have a lot of respect for him."

The Jets have not released the day and time of Tebow's official introduction as a Jets player, but expect a media crush.

If news choppers stalking a country airport is any indication— I think Tebow-mania is going to be bigger than ever.

Lin can't wait for Tebow-mania

If anybody knows sports hysteria it's Jeremy Lin.  The man who kicked off Linsanity in a New York Knicks uniform is thrilled that Tim Tebow is coming to town.

"It's awesome.  I'm just excited for him and to see what he does," said the Knicks point guard.

"We'll see what happens next year, but I'm excited obviously that he's going to be in New York," said Lin after dumping 16 fourth quarter points on the Philadelphia 76ers in last night night's 82-79 win.

Lin's rise to worldwide celebrity didn't come with the baggage Tebow-mania lugs into New York.  The journeyman NBA player was an anonymous benchwarmer crashing on his brother's couch when his star rose.

Tebow just doesn't want to end up being a couch— Tim Couch that is.

The expectations and questions surrounding Tebow's role as New York Jet are a lot more complicated than Lin's magical turn and the New York media is ready to pounce.

Tebow had his shining moments last season but now comes in with a $2.5 million, two second-round draft picks price tag.

Tebow-mania in Denver is being Cinderella — Tebow-mania in New York is the clock striking twelve.

Lin dealt handily with the few weeks of Linsanity and had some tips for the incoming quarterback/tight end/fullback/fill-in-the-blank to help cope with the distractions in his new city.

"Everyone gave me some advice— they said, 'Make sure not to read the papers,'" Lin joked with reporters.  "But I don't want to offend you guys.  But that's what I've been told.  I don't really read anything.  I think it helps me."

Lin said he did not talk with Tebow— who's #15 Jets jersey will soon replace Lin's as NYC's best seller— yesterday during the wild trade-talk frenzy between the Denver Broncos and Jets, but said he'd like to catch a few Jets games this season.

Both athletes are deeply religious men, and Lin revealed that he has never Tebowed with his fellow Christian.  That could all change once Tebow gets into the Jets dysfunctional locker room.

"I've only talked to him like once," said Lin. "But he's a great guy from everything I hear, and the conversation I had with him was great as well."

After Tebow meets Gang Green and the hungry media, he might want to keep a Bible handy and his phone's speed dial set to Linsanity.

Jets Tebow jerseys could already be collectibles

When word got around that Tim Tebow was traded to the New York Jets this afternoon, Tebow-mania hit New York City like well...  Linsanity and it didn't take long for the New York Jets Store in mid-town to start ironing out green and white #15 jerseys with Tebow's name on the back.

After the deal shockingly hit a snag, the store stopped producing the shirts.

Lucky for the few dozen New York Jets fans, who snagged the jerseys bearing Tebow's name on the back, they could now be holding a valuable collectible.

Apparently the Jets didn't read the fine print (who would have guessed) on the contract and found out they must pay an additional $5 million to secure the rights to the Broncos quarterback or the deal is off.  The decision is now in the hands of the Jets themselves.

If the Jets back out of the deal, cha-ching for the jersey owners.

As for Tebow, the good news is that #15 is currently not taken by any other Jets player.  The bad news  is it's on a Jets jersey.

The only other person I can remember wearing #15 for Gang Green was Babe Parilli.  Parilli was Joe Namath's backup in Super Bowl III.

Antonio Cromartie: No room for Tebow on Jets

Antonio Cromartie apparently isn't too keen on the New York Jets taking an interest in Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow in any capacity.  Cromartie tweeted about it after Denver signed Peyton Manning— all but ending Tebow's career with the Broncos.

The outspoken Jets cornerback used Twitter to express his feelings about pursuing Tebow.

"We don't need Tebow," Cromartie tweeted Tuesday.  "We sell out every home game let him go to Jacksonville Tampa or Miami."

Cromartie— one of the leaders of the mayhem in the Jets locker room— wasn't through trying to sway the Jets brass from bringing in the unorthodox quarterback.


"Our Wildcat offense can be run by (Jeremy) Kerley or Joe McKnight,"he tweeted.  "We have Mark_ Sanchez and just signed Drew.  Mark has taken us to 2 AFC championship game.  We need to build on the team we have right now."

Could introducing Tebow's ultra-religious character to the dysfunctional Jets locker room have something to do with Cromartie's rant.

Cromartie has a troublesome background and has fathered nine children with eight women in six states and doesn't exactly adhere to Tebow's beliefs.

The Jets cornerback does make some good points for not getting Tebow, but several people in the Jets organization have told the New York Daily News that he might be a good fit.

Many insiders believe the Jets new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano could put Tebow's abilities to good use in certain Wildcat schemes.  Sparano was the head coach for the Miami Dolphins when he began using the Wildcat offense to pump up the anemic offense.

There are a lot of pros and cons that come with bringing Tebow into the Jets family.

For one thing, Tebow's character could play a big role in bringing the fractured locker room together, but could just as well split the team in two.  The team isn't exactly a group of choirboys.

The media attention surrounding Tebow could distract the press enough to take the cameras away from oft-targeted Sanchez but, on the other side of the coin,  there is also the possibility that Tebow could wilt under the 24/7 New York media spotlight.  'Aw, shucks' only goes so far in New York— unless you win it all.

Just ask Eli Manning.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum hasn't commented on Tebow except to say that "Tim Tebow is a player under contract with another team."

Tannenbaum also avoided dumping any more negativity onto the tattered psyche of Sanchez— after the 'Peyton Manning to the Jets' stories and disappointing 2011 season— by saying he "feels good about" the quarterbacks on the roster, which includes Greg McElroy and Drew Stanton.

Tebow-mania and Linsanity in the same city might be a little too much anyway.

Ochocinco treats doscientos (200) fans to dinner

New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco invited all of his Twitter fans in New York City to dine with him at the famed Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem last night— for free.  That's nada.

He tweeted, "Dinner in NY tonight—> 1st 200 people at Sylvia's Restaurant by 7 pm in Harlem.  Leave ya money/credit cards at home.  I got you this time."

It's surprising that Ochocinco's 4:13 pm tweet didn't attract more of a crowd.  According to the restaurant, only about 50 people were turned away after the first 200 were seated.

I guess New York Jets fans can sure hold a grudge— even with a free meal at stake.

It might sound surprising that a player from the Jets biggest rival would treat a group of New Yorkers to a good time, but it isn't the first occasion he has picked up the tab on enemy turf.

In 2010, he bought steak dinners for 85 fans at a Cleveland steak house and has been known to take random fans to the movies in various cities where he plays.

This lucky group was treated to dinners of ribs, fried chicken, greens and macaroni and cheese at the Lenox Avenue landmark.

Ochocinco, who personally greeted each and every guest, did not speak at length to the media, saying it was a "family affair" and he gained "200 family members."

He even got closer to his new "relatives" by giving them his phone number.

The generous NFL star was in New York to finalize a deal on a new VH1 reality show that chronicles his upcoming marriage to Evelyn Losado titled, "Eva and Ocho."

Poor Evelyn, she probably doesn't know she just picked up 200 more in-laws.

Mayor Bloomberg: We already have a Manning in New York

Mayor Mike Bloomberg showed his love for New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez after a caller pleaded with hizzoner to to help recruit free agent Peyton Manning to Gang Green on the mayor's weekly radio show today.

"We have a Manning playing for the Giants," said Bloomberg, referring to Peyton's younger brother, Eli, who plays for the other New York football team.

The mayor— who has dictated how New Yorkers should live by banning trans fats, salt and once set his sights on curbing liquor outlets to keep us healthy— continues his assault on the things that make life more enjoyable.

Now, the second-richest New Yorker's crusade to make NYC thinner has pulled a Snickers bar from his pocket and wants to keep the Jets looking like big, fat losers.

"I think it's be a great story for the press— Manning vs. Manning, both playing in New York," he said.  "But keep in mind the Jets have a young quarterback in Mark Sanchez and he nearly led his team to the Super Bowl twice.  So let's not dismiss.  He's sitting there."

Don't underestimate how much the Massachusetts-raised Bloomberg influence has.  He got the city to allow him to run for a third term.  Look how good of an idea that was and now he goes from being a nutritionist to NFL general manager.

Bloomberg said he met both Manning brothers when they were playing golf with their father Archie on the same course as the mayor.

"I was very impressed that I shook their hands," said Bloomberg.

Joe Namath says Jets' dysfunction will keep Peyton Manning from joining team

Joe Namath is speaking out again and said Peyton Manning wouldn't be interested in joining the New York Jets with their current roster and locker-room dysfunction.

"The Jets have to get their things together on their own turf before someone with his background would be interested in coming," Namath, 68, who led the Jets to their only Super Bowl title, told Bloomberg News today in a telephone interview from his Florida home.

Namath was probably alluding to the Jets 8-8 finish and verbal altercations between receiver Santonio Holmes and quarterback Mark Sanchez.

The Hall of Fame quarterback is familiar with Manning's situation.  Namath also changed a team he was associated with late in his career; when he was waived by the Jets in 1977 at the age of 33.  He signed with the Los Angeles Rams and played four games in one season.

Namath started eight games for the Jets in 1976 before he was released by New York.  He said he didn't think he could have regained the starter's spot and wanted finish his career with a contender.

He said the process of leaving the Jets was "excruciating" and that he struggled to adjust to a new team and surroundings in Los Angeles.

"What was difficult for me, that I didn't appreciate, was how much all the newness could get in the way and be a distraction," he said.  "I wasn't prepared for that feeling.  the new faces, new places, new system."

Namath believes Manning's attention to detail and game preparation will allow him to adjust to a new system faster with a new team.

"I think he'll handle it much better than I did," he said.

Namath regrets leaving New York and, if he could do it again, wouldn't  have traded Broadway for Hollywood— even with 80-year-old knees and hamstrings like old rubber bands.

"I didn't know that, when I made the decision to make the move," said Namath.  "Knowing that I wasn't up to par physically, I wouldn't have left the Jets, absolutely not."

Namath has now changed his tune about the current Jets signal-caller Sanchez— whom he publicly knocked last season— and thinks he has the work ethic and skills to be the Jets quarterback for years to come.

Jets spokesman Bruce Speight sounded like someone defending their weird uncle when he responded to Bloomberg News via e-mail.

"We appreciate Joe and he is entitled to share his opinions," he said. 

Namath said that with Manning's injury last season and the availability of Andrew Luck with the No. 1 draft pick, he wasn't surprised that the 35-year-old quarterback was released.

"Your heart might be in one place, but business is business," said Namath.  "The No. 1 questions is, 'Is he going to be satisfied with the strength in his throwing arm?'"

So Broadway Joe, you can remain secure in the knowledge that you are still the best quarterback ever to wear the Jets green and white— except maybe for that Favre transient.

Plaxico: Giants are 'always a great possibility'

Another off-season and another possible Plaxico Burress return to the New York Giants.  Haven't we gone through this routine before?

It's that time of year when Burress— the former Giants receiver who caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII, shot himself in the leg, spent 20 months in jail then signed with the New York Jets— tells everyone about the prospect of his return to the Giants.

He's at it once again.  Burress, in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio, today with Rich Gannon and Adam Shein, said he wouldn't mind re-signing with the Giants next week when free-agency begins.


"It's always a great possibility," Burress told the hosts.

Too bad the optimistic wide-out has probably used up his three wishes with the Big Blue genie.

Last summer— after his release from prison for weapons charges— Burress spurned the Giants after a much-ballyhooed free-agent visit to the Timex performance Center in the Meadowlands for dinner with the owners and Tom Coughlin.

The Giants offered him an incentive-based contract which Burress turned down; then promptly grabbed a guaranteed deal with the Jets.

Afterwards,  he said he never wanted to play for the Giants and had nothing but distain for head coach Tom Coughlin.

Now it sounds like the 34-year-old Burress has changed his tune... again.  The Lomabrdi Trophy can do that to a person.

"Playing in Kevin Gilbride's system is definitely one of the best," said Burress.  "You see the production those guys are having at wide receiver position.  Victor Cruz obviously with the year he had, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham.  You just look at some of the plays that those guys are making out there on the edge.  And Eli [Manning] has really just become a man of his position, leading those guys the last few games of the season, the last five or six winning, and obviously the Super Bowl."

Is there a spot for Burress on the Giants?  Probably not.

The Giants are preparing themselves for the loss of free-agent Mario Manningham but still have Cruz, Hicks and a re-signed Domenic Hixon.  There are high hopes for Jerrel Jernigan and Ramses Barden and Burress didn't exactly do anything with the Jets.

The free-agent has bandied about the names of the Giants, Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles as teams he would like to join.

Burress told a Philadelphia radio station that "Nothing would make me happier" than playing for the  Eagles, but he said that last summer too.

The Giants got over the loss of Steve Smith to the Eagles without any complications.  Burress would be a no brainer.

"I haven't been able to talk to any teams as of yet obviously because it's not free-agency time," Burress said today.  "But I'm looking at all offers , I'm just looking for an opportunity to go into an offense, have fun, make some plays these last few years and the goal is always to win a championship."

Too bad he gave up that chance last season.

Mark Sanchez gal leads Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover race

Mark Sanchez paramour Kate Upton is the odds-on-favorite to grace the cover of the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.

The smoking-hot Victoria's Secret model— who has been linked to the New York Jets quarterback— is the front runner for the coveted spot, according to the New York Post.

Sources told the Post's Page Six that Upton's blond, all-American looks made her a top contender even though the magazine crowned Russian lingerie model Irina Shayk, the girlfriend of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, its cover girl last year.

Even when Sanchez's Jets don't make the playoffs, he gets hurt and talk is swirling that the maligned quarterback might be replaced by Peyton Manning next season, he still comes out a winner.

Sanchez was spotted making late night arrivals— incognito— at Upton's Manhattan apartment last season and scooting away before morning.

The Michigan-born Upton, 19, who made her SI Swimsuit debut last year, is apparently no Rex Ryan when it comes to predicting the chances of her landing on the legendary cover.

At a ceremony to kick off the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center yesterday, Upton was humble about the chances of her photo gracing the cover and giving her career a gigantic boost.

"All I can say is that I'm in the issue," she coyly told the Post.  "Fingers crossed!"

Other cover girl candidates include swimsuit veteran Chrissy Teigen, the fiancee of R&B star John Legend and Russian Victoria's Secret model Anne V. who is dating singer Adam Levine.

Pulling up the rear are South African beauty Genevieve Morton and California's Alyssa Miller.  Both beauties made their Swimsuit issue debuts last year.

A source told the Post," There's no clear cut front-runner" for the cover.  "There's a lot of talk about Kate in general.  But the idea of American versus international has never been part of the [debate].  It really comes down to the best picture wins."

The issue is ready to go to press and the cover will be unveiled  Monday on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

The Post said a SI rep declined to comment.

Peyton To Eli: 'It's All About The Giants Now'

Peyton Manning was understandably proud of his younger brother Eli after the NewYork Giants 20-17 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC title.

The Indianapolis quarterback had a a quick chat and embraced Eli before he  headed to the team bus for the flight back to New York and ultimately a trip to Indy for a Super Bowl rematch with the New England Patriots on Feb. 5..

"Go Giants," said Peyton.  "It's all about the Giants now,"

If the two siblings never get a chance to share the stage at MetLife Stadium— as Giants and Jets quarterbacks respectively— this might be the closest scenario.

And it sounds like big bro is more than happy to let Eli get the spotlight in Peyton's adopted hometown of Indianapolis.

Peyton had a lot to puff out his chest about.

This season, Eli stepped out of the shadow of his big brother— who was sidelined after neck surgery—in a big way.  The younger Manning will actually have as many Super Bowl appearances under his belt as the "elite" Peyton and is one win away from having one more championship ring.

"I'm just proud as a quarterback to watch him compete," Peyton said after watching his brother get battered by the fierce Niners defense and still win.  "And the way he's played, I'm even more proud of him as a brother."

While Eli's game yesterday wasn't a thing of beauty, it was a testament to his toughness.

Eli threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns with out any turnovers against a swarming San Francisco defense.  There didn't seem to be an easy throw for Eli all day and he was hit 20 times.  It seemed like he had a 49ers player draped on him during every play.

"It's what I expected him to do," said Peyton.  "I'm just proud of Eli and how well he's played this year.  He's been awesome.  he's been clutch."

It's twice as ironic that Eli could win his second Super Bowl title in  Peyton's adopted hometown— where fans have waited and hoped for four years to see their own Manning win in their home stadium—and against Peyton's arch-nemesis Tom Brady.

"Yeah, it's my home town," said Peyton. "I've just been proud of all year.  I've really gotten to see a lot more of his games since I've been injured.  It's fun to watch him play.  he's been clutch all season long.  Fourth quarter comebacks.  when they needed him, he was always there."

Peyton had little to say about the prognosis for his injury or where he'll be playing.  When asked about the possibility of playing for the Jets, he laughed, "Nahh.  Giants, man. Go  Giants."

For now, he's seems happy that in Super Bowl XLVI, at least one Manning is playing in front of the  Lucas Oil Stadium crowd.

Ex-Jet Damien Woody: Team "Babied" Sanchez

 Former New York Jets tackle Damien Woody said he agrees with the anonymous Jets sources who were quoted in the New York Daily News Wednesday as saying Mark Sanchez has been "babied" by team management and thinks the team should give some thought to getting a veteran quarterback to push the struggling player.

Woody doesn't exactly call Sanchez another Blue Ivy Carter, but says the first-round quarterback is still a work in progress and needs a competitor to light a fire under him.

"I do think he needs to pick it up, needs to pick up his play.  I wouldn't call him lazy, but I do think there are certain things about Mark and the organization that need change," said Woody.  "I think the organization does baby him and they definitely need  to bring in a viable backup— a viable backup to really provide that competition.

"With competition, either you're gonna rise, or you're gonna just crumble.  You bring in a viable backup and let it play out and we'll see which mark Sanchez shows up after that."

Woody— a Jet from 2008-10— joins rookie quarterback Greg McElroy as the only members of the Jets family to criticize the team in public.

While McElroy was criticized for breaking the "locker room code" for speaking out— he's the only active player with enough cojones to put a face with the quote.

Last week, McElroy— in a radio interview— didn't criticize Sanchez personally, but used words like "selfish" and "corrupt mindset" to describe the whole 2011 Jets team.

"It's definitely not a fun place to be.  I can assure you," the seventh-round draft pick said.  "It's the first time I've been around extremely selfish individuals, and I think that's the nature of the NFL."

Woody was more specific in his assessment of the team by criticizing Sanchez but still thinks the quarterback "deserves one more year to see if this guy can be the future, and, if that doesn't happen, it's time to look in another direction."

The former Jets player thinks the team's front office goes out of its way to protect Sanchez from the swarms of New York media.

"You can see if someone's playing well and someone's not," said Woody.  "But the organization really tries to baby him and protect him as far as the media's concerned."

"When you're playing quarterback in New York, you have to have tough skin and be able to stand up to the criticism," said Woody.  "When things are going great, you're going to be  a god in this city.  But when things aren't going well, you have to man up and take it all.  I think the organization can do a better job of letting the man be a man and stand up and take the bullets like all the other players."

Woody had some harder words for the "unnamed sources" who attacked Sanchez with their harsh anonymous quotes.

"You're scared to put you're name on it, that's just speaks badly of your character as a player," he said.

As for head coach Rex Ryan claiming he "didn't have the pulse of the team," Woody said he wasn't surprised by any of the locker room dysfunction this season and how Ryan lost control of his players.

"When you've had success, it's great," he said.  "But when it's not going well, this is what happens and now you're seeing the ugly side to it."

It looks things are going to get real fugly.

Jets Players' Calls For Peyton To Replace Sanchez Getting Louder

The end of a disappointing season for the New York Jets has led players to point their fingers at one player for the epic fail— Mark Sanchez— and started  a rallying call inviting the services of a veteran quarterback to take the reins— namely Peyton Manning.

The consensus among unnamed players, according to a story in the New York Daily News, has been that if  Manning gets a clean bill of health, he would be the ideal solution to the inept Sanchez.

Those calls are getting real loud.

Key members of the Jets organization said Sanchez is a "polarizing" figure in the clubhouse and there are serious doubts he can lead the team to the Super Bowl.

The consensus among players, according to the Daily News, is that— at the least— the team must sign a legitimate veteran backup to push their young quarterback.


"We have to bring in another quarterback that will make him work at practice," said one unnamed player.  "He's lazy and content because he knows he's not going to be benched."

Sanchez has been inconsistent for three seasons and his deficiencies came to a head during the 19-17 loss against the Miami Dolphins. In the final game of the 2011 season, Sanchez's lackluster play helped put the kibosh on any playoff chances and was the final sour note on a season where head coach Rex Ryan was singing the Jets praises.

The inconsistent play of Sanchez over the final three games started his teammates dreaming about another Manning in MetLife Stadium.

The Indianapolis Colts are expected to take Stanford QB Andrew Luck with the first pick of the draft and there is speculation that the team will let Manning go.

The future Hall-of-Famer is still recovering from a pre-season surgery to his neck, is 35 years old and still waiting to be medically cleared before he can even suit up again.  That's a lot of ifs.

Whether it's in blue and white or green and white is any one's guess.

Asked if the Jets should make a move for the veteran Indianapolis Colts QB if he becomes available, several players told the Daily News they would welcome him with open arms.

"Come on.  That's a no-brainer," a Jets source said.  "If you have a chance to get a 36-year old Peyton Manning and you don't do it, then you're stupid.  If you get a healthy 36-year old Peyton Manning, then, hell yeah, I would trade Sanchez."

The chances Manning would make the switch from the Colts to the Jets are pretty good.

For one thing, at the core, the Jets are a good team and— if they keep Santonio Holmes— have plenty of targets for Manning to throw to.

Secondly, Ryan adores Manning and with all the problems with play calling from the sidelines, Ryan would relish having a real leader on the field to lead the team.

The trifecta payoff is the presence of Jets consultant Tom Moore who was Manning's offensive coordinator and mentor for over ten years in Indy.

"We already have his coach— Tom Moore," one well-respected player told the News.  "Plus, he's a field general and will get everyone lined up.  He will get his playmakers the ball.  We can win a Super Bowl with Peyton."

Manning already has a Lombardi trophy and the Jets are wondering if they can do it with Sanchez?


"How can we when he's not improving at all?" a Jets player said.  "He thinks he is, but he's not.  He has shown us what he's capable of."

Sanchez is only 25-years old and has two years left on his contract.

Some Jets players still think he needs another shot— god knows he's taken enough both on the field and off.

"When you get hit the way he got hit," another team source said, "there were some quarterbacks that wouldn't have made it through the season."

But others think their QB is being coddled by the organization.

"They see the organization babying him," said the source.  "They see him with a sense of entitlement.  He's been given all this and hasn't done anything.  They call him 'San-chise.'  They make him the face of the organization.  They gave him the captain tag.  He's not a captain.  He should have never been a captain."

Sanchez denies he is a victim being held accountable for failure after going to two AFC Championships and losing both.

"We hold ourselves to a high standard," he said.  "I don't want to feel like I'm a victim or anything like that.  We expect to win... I don't feel like we set the bar too high.  There is no way.  I don't feel like that."

"You go to back-to-back AFC Championship Games, and everyone thinks , 'OK, we'll get a little bit better and you are winning the Super Bowl," he told ESPN Radio.  "I don't want to make excuses at all.  That's not my style.  But we've been a victim of our success."

It all boils down to a lot of circumstances fro the Jets to land Manning.

Do the Colts draft Luck, does Manning heal, retire or does he even want to come to New York?

"I don't think he'll come here," a Jets source told the News.  "We have to change the perception of the Jets organization.  We're not the organization that players said they wanted to play for a year or two ago.  We're starting to come across a little flaky. We talk the talk.  We don't back it up. We're out of control.  There's no discipline.  It's a mess right now."

The NFL's biggest off-season story will be the Peyton Manning saga.

Just imagine though, Peyton and his little brother Eli sharing the biggest bedroom in the world— MetLife Stadium.

Who gets the top bunk?

Rex Ryan Gets Teary-Eyed During Team Meeting

Rex Ryan joined thousands of New York Jets fans who cried in their beers Sunday after the team's season came to a monumental halt.

The day after the Jets were officially eliminated from the playoffs, the once-boastful coach humbly stood in front of his team and tearfully told them: "We must become one again."

According to the New York Post, the Jets head  coach stood in front of his players at a meeting and "pleaded" for a return of team unity and got so emotional his eyes welled with tears.

"I'm Irish," he said after the meeting. "It's hurtful.  I'm extremely prideful.  I want to be the best.  I want to win.  Sometimes it comes out like that."

Ryan had lots of reasons to let the waterworks fly.

All the high hopes the bold Ryan tried to sell his players and fans before and during the season— after making the AFC Championship game two years running— fluttered away like a Mark Sanchez pass.

The "player's head coach" lost control of his team and it came to a head when Santonio Holmes— a team captain—quit on the team during the crucial last game and sulked on the bench during the final minutes of the 19-17 loss to division rivals the Miami Dolphins.

The image of Holmes moping on the bench sums up the Jets whole season.

Ryan seemed to realize his braggadocio did little to keep the team together in the end.

"Normally, I'm a guy that really has the pulse of the team," said the now-humbled Ryan.  "I don't think I had the pulse of our team the way I [have] in the past.  When I met with players [yesterday] that became clear to me.

Has losing the final three games of a season with high expectations finally quieted the dysfunctional Jets?

Not if you believe the Post.  According to the newspaper, Bart Scott gave their photographer the finger before storming out of the meeting uttering a stream of obscenities.

Surprisingly, the maligned Holmes showed his face and sprinted from the room too.

While Ryan has turned his boasting into contrition, it does little to explain the free fall of a group of players he called "the most talented team he has had."

The players themselves blamed team chemistry.

"We need to pull together as a team," said Matt Slauson.  "There were a lot of guys just playing for themselves, because we haven't been a team all year."

Ryan said that will all change.

"In my talk to the team what I said was from the heart, and we will have that team, because that's how you win in this league," he said.  "Every team has got talent.  That's what separates  from winning and losing is a team that truly believes in each other and cares about each other.  We're going to have 53 people that believe that way."

The head coach might not be the only one in the Jets locker room to shed any tears this week.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's job is on the line and the outlook for a few players returning doesn't look good either.

Giants Tuck: "We're Capable of Winning Super Bowl"

Justin Tuck had a little trouble Sunday night before finding his intended Gatorade target— Tom Coughlin— after the New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 31-14— but it sounds like the Giants defensive end plans on dumping a cooler of the juice on his head coach after the Super Bowl.

"We're capable of winning the Super Bowl," said Tuck after the Giants clinched their first playoff spot  since 2008.

Tuck finally did douse Coughlin with the Gatorade— with a little help from the coach's son-in-law Chris Snee—after the Giants handily beat the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.

Tuck's optimism is not unfounded.  After a lackluster performance against the Washington Redskins, the G-Men had relatively easy wins against two bitter rivals— the Cowboys and New York Jets.

The Giants defensive line is healthy for the first time this season and sacked Tony Romo six times and chased him all over the field.

Last week against the Jets, the Giants got to Mark Sanchez five times and forced three interceptions.

The Giants (9-7) run to the Super Bowl is a marathon and kicks off next Sunday in a wild card game against the Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at MetLife Stadium.

The Falcons might prove to be a bigger challenge than either the Cowboys or Jets.  Dallas came to New Jersey with Romo and his bruised throwing hand and the Jets were there with Sanchez and his black and blue ego.

The Giants now face a formidable opponent with another Ryan on their side.

After beating loudmouths Rex and Rob, they will face Matt Ryan— a quarterback who does his talking on the field.

Combine Atlanta's Ryan with running back Michael Turner, receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White and veteran Tight-end Tony Gonzalez and you have a multi-faceted offense that can run up the score.

Let's play devil's advocate and assume the Giants do beat the Falcons and the New Orleans Saints defeat the Detroit Lions, then they will have to play the Green Bay Packer at Lambeau Field.

The Giants almost beat the Packers in a 38-35 shoot-out on Dec. 4 at MetLife Stadium and did beat the Pack in the NFC Championship game in Green Bay on their run to their 2008 Super Bowl title.

Tuck isn't the only Giants player sipping the Gatorade.

"I think we're in the perfect position," said linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka.  " We didn't get here the way that we wanted to, but regardless of what happened during the season, we're in the playoffs, we won our division, we have a chance at the Super Bowl."

The Giants are the first NFC East champion to finish the regular season with less than 10 wins but in 2007 no one gave New York any chance of making the Super Bowl— never mind beating the undefeated— and 12-point favorites— New England Patriots.

Tuck, who has battled through a series of injuries throughout the season, says he is healthy now and—combined with Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul— give the Giants the best pass-rushing trio in the NFL.

Never one to be left out of the verbal mix, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs backed Tuck's bravado.

"I wouldn't want to face the New York Giants right now," said Jacobs.  "It's going to be tough to beat us in the playoffs."

Justin Tuck: "I Hate The Cowboys"

Just what Sunday night's do-or-die game between the Giants and Cowboys needs after a week of trash talking between the Giants and Jets— more recycled verbal garbage.  Aren't the Meadowlands swamps filled with enough rubbish already?

Yesterday, after the Giants huge win over same-stadium rivals the New York Jets, Giants defensive end Justin Tuck did his best impression of Rex Ryan and reiterated his deep hatred of the Dallas Cowboys.

When asked, Tuck told reporters he hated the Cowboys more than any other team— even more than the Jets.

Asked why Tuck plainly said," Just because I want to.  For me personally, I've been quoted many times saying I hate the Cowboys and that's still true."

Tuck has never been shy about expressing his dislike about anything Cowboy—including boots and buckles— so his remarks will be familiar bulletin board fodder leading up to the battle for the NFC East title and a spot in the playoffs at MetLife Stadium.

All it takes is the mention of "America's Team" to get Tuck wound up.

"They're what?" he sarcastically asked.

"I don't like the Cowboys and they don't like me, and that's the way it's supposed to be."



Maybe Tuck is still peeved that before the two teams last met on Dec. 11, Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware claimed Tuck had a secret desire to wear the silver star on his helmet.

All Tuck wants on his head next Monday is an NFC East Champions cap after the two 8-7 teams square off this weekend.

Tuck tempered his harsh words for his rivals with a dash of admiration.

"In the Dallas weeks, we probably trash-talk a little bit more," he said.  "But I think it has a lot to do with respect.  Those Dallas teams, they just seem to do it as close to the right way as we do... with their owner, their past championships and past [great] players."

"It's going to be fun— playoff atmosphere on a Sunday night, cold game with a lot of hard hits," Tuck said.  "You couldn't create a better circumstance going into the playoffs.  I know I'm going to be riled up."

Don't let Tuck's mushy sentiments lend you to believe he is getting soft on the Cowboys or is worried about firing up his opponents either.

"I didn't say a word," he smirked right before promising to add more fuel to the fire when he meets the press on Thursday.

And not one to leave anyone out of the fun, Tuck got the Giants' fans involved.

"I know our fans hate the Cowboys as much as I do," he said.  "So it will be fun.  There you go,  I just said it."

Victor Cruz's 99-Yard TD Key To Giants Win Over Jets

Paterson, New Jersey's own Victor Cruz tied an NFL record by scoring on a 99 yard catch and run pass from Eli Manning giving the New York Giants a 10-7 half-time lead over the New York Jets in today's crucial game in the Meadowlands.  Playoff hopes and jobs hung in the balance.

After 28 minutes of uninspired Giants football Cruz's catch invigorated the team with 2:12 left in the first half.  It was a second wind which carried over into the following thirty minutes.

The un-drafted Cruz sucked the air out of a pumped up Jets home crowd inside MetLife Stadium with his spectacular score after the Jets just let the inefficient Giants hang around.

Cruz became the 13th player in NFL history to have a 99-yard catch, subsequently, making Manning the 13th player to throw one.  The speedy wide-out is have a Pro-Bowl season and makes the loss of Steve Smith a long lost memory.

The stunned crowd could only watch in awe as Cruz raced down the field— after slipping free of the Jets Antonio Cromartie at the 12-yard line and hopping over safety Eric Smith— and turned what looked like a simple 11-yard gain into an additional 88-yard sprint.

The Jets secondary wasn't talking smack after that play.

Manning hit his new favorite target earlier in the game to get down to the Jets three-yard line where the G-Men settled for a field goal.

Up until Cruz's catch and sprint, the Giants looked flat and gained 83 net yards on the previous 25 plays.

Meanwhile, the Jets Mark Sanchez-led offense was riddling the Giants defense for 185 yards but could only muster a lone TD in first half.

After the break, the Giants came out looking a little more inspired than the Jets and scored a touchdown with :13 left in the third quarter to make it 17-7.

Ahmad Bradshaw scored the TD on a 14-yard run after Brandon Jacobs went outside for 28 yards and Cruz made an unbelievable 36 yard catch.

Cruz's third catch gave him the Giants most receiving yards in a season and eclipsed Amani Toomer's team record.

Sanchez started the fourth quarter by making a foolish throw to mid-field which was picked off by the Giants Kenny Phillips and returned 31 yards to the Jets 13.

The Giants turned the goof into a field goal for a 20-7 lead.

Then the Giants defensive line turned up the pressure on Sanchez.

After Plaxico Burress nullified a TD catch after pushing off a Giants defender, Sanchez looked like he was  sacked and fumbled at the Giants 40-yard line but, after a Rex Ryan challenge, it was ruled an incomplete pass.

Just when the Jets looked like they were going to make a game of it, on third-and-two,  Sanchez didn't get the snap from his center Nick Mangold and the ball rolled into the end zone where the Giants Jacquian Williams pounced on it for a touchback.

Not to make it to easy on themselves—and with only their running game going anywhere—Manning immediately threw a pass which was tipped by Darrelle Revis into the arms of a Jets linebacker David Harris who ran it back to the Giants 10-yard line.

On first-and-goal from the one, Sanchez scored on a naked bootleg to bring the Jets within six, 20-14, with 7:17 remaining in the game.

Giants fans waited for the inevitable collapse but, like a Christmas miracle,  things actually swung the Giants way.

There was a safety on Sanchez and a late score by Ahmad Bradshaw.  The only piece of coal in the stocking was  D.J. Ware being pushed out-of-bounds and into the hip of his head coach Tom Coughlin.

The win keeps the Giants playoff hopes alive and Coughlin might have saved his job as well—at least until next week.

Destiny is now in the Giants own hands.

On New Year's Day, the Dallas Cowboys come to MetLife Stadium.  A Giants Do-or-Die victory would give them the NFC East title and an playoff spot.

Jets Using Bloodied Photo Of Eli Manning As Playbook Cover

Eli Manning is the new cover boy of the New York Jets defensive playbook for this week's crucial game against the New York Giants. The photograph of Manning being sacked by the Jets— right before blood started dripping from a three-inch gash in his forehead— is being used to motivate the Jets defense by putting a subtle bull's-eye on the opposing quarterback's head.

The playbooks were handed out to members of the Jets defense on Tuesday by defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, according to the New York Daily News, and some may think the ploy is just a little short of putting an actual bounty on Manning.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan might slightly remember that his dad Buddy was accused by the Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson in 1989 of putting a $500 bounty on QB Troy Aikman and a $200 bounty on kicker Luis Zendejas before a Thanksgiving Day game.

Manning, who is having the best season of his eight-year career, probably remembers very well the August 2010 preseason-game against the Jets when the gruesome photo was shot.

On a busted play, the Giants signal-caller was cut on his forehead by Jets defensive back Jim Leonhard's face mask after getting crushed by Jets outside-linebacker Calvin Pace from behind which forced Manning's helmet to come flying off.

As Manning kneeled on the ground with blood gushing down his face, Giants fans couldn't help but recall the image of former-Giants quarterback Y.A. Tittle in the same bloodied position from an iconic b&w photo.

Manning would not return to that preseason game after doctors used 12 stitches to close up the nasty wound.

Pace was the first player to get the new playbook and said he remembers the hit on Manning.

"It was cool to see it again," he said.

Pace also knows Manning is a much different and better player now.

"You have to make him uncomfortable.  It's like his brother Peyton, man," said Pace.  "If you let him sit back there clean, he's the greatest ever, but if you get your hands in his face, I think it puts a little bit more challenge on him."

The Jets may be using red blood before this game between Big Blue and Gang Green to intimidate and motivate,  but Manning is a lot better quarterback now than he was back when he was knocked out of that game.

The photo of a dazed and bloodied Manning might be a motivational tool for the Jets, but the Giants, themselves, could use it as a reason to go after the Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.

An eye for an eye.