Rex Ryan Opens Up About Tim Tebow: 'He'll Get A Chance to Compete'
Tim Tebow, the 25-year-old Christian quarterback, is still being factored into the New York Jets' plans, according to the team's head coach Rex Ryan.
Ryan recently appeared at an NFL owners' meeting where he spoke up about Tebow.
"He's on the roster, and he'll get a chance to compete," Ryan said of Tebow. "We'll see how the offseason plays out, but right now Tim is on our roster."
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Although Tebow appeared in 12 games last season with the Jets, it was to appear in the team's wildcat formation instead of as a quarterback. Toward the end of the season, Ryan chose to play backup QB Greg McElroy instead of Tebow in place of starter Mark Sanchez.
After the team failed to make the playoffs last season, some fans and sports commentators questioned whether Tebow would stay on the team.
Marty Mornhinweg, the new Jets' offensive coordinator who was hired to replace Tony Sparano after he was fired at the close of the 2012-2013 season, recently spoke about Tebow's future on the team.
"I'm excited to coach all of our players, including Tim. We had a long discussion," Mornhinweg said during a conference call last week, according to USA Today reports. "He's got my thoughts on the situation, and he has some thoughts as well. If he's on this football team, which he is right now, I would do it a certain way."
During a speaking engagement at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., earlier this month, Tebow spoke about his priority being less about football and more about serving Jesus Christ.
"In the end, football is just a silly game," Tebow said, according to Liberty's News Service. "Greatness comes from serving."
He admitted that his future with the team was less than clear during another recent speaking engagement in Naples, Fla.
"I may not know where I'm going next, but I know what's guiding me," Tebow said.
