Greg McElroy Doesn’t Know Who’ll Start for Jets

Dec 2, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Greg McElroy (14) looks for a touchdown call during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Cardinals 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Many people have called for Tim Tebow to replace Mark Sanchez for the 5-7 New York Jets as they have underachieved this season. However, as fans prayed for Tebowtime and called for Tebowmania to wash over the Meadowlands and Metlife Stadium no one expected that when Sanchez was finally benched it would be Greg McElroy coming in and taking the reins. Tim Tebow was out with a rib injury and unavailable to come in.

Greg McElroy went on ESPN Radio in New York and told host Michael Kay that he was just as surprised as you were to see him come in the game.

“It was a bit of an adrenaline rush, to tell you the truth. I wasn’t expecting that and they told me to warm up,” McElroy said. “I got excited, grabbed my helmet and just started throwing it. I don’t think I’ve thrown it that hard in a long time, so it was a good feeling.”

And now this has created a quarterback controversy for the Jets, as if they haven’t been dealing with one all year. Who starts for the Jets when they take on Jacksonville next week: Mark, Tebow or McElroy? Apparently even the three quarterbacks don’t know.

“We have no idea,” McElroy said when asked who’ll start next week.  “Today I saw Mark and Tim and we just had a normal Monday. We just went in, worked out, watched film — all that stuff. And tomorrow will be the same.”

Somehow I think it wasn’t as normal as he makes it sound. That had a pretty tense room knowing that the quarterback position is essentially up for grabs. It’s shocking that with such a distracting quarterback controversy already in place that the Jets would add a third name into the mix.

“Somewhat, obviously,” McElroy said about being surprised that he has become part of the Jets quarterback controversy. “But you always have to prepare like you’re gonna be the guy.”

But nerves won’t hold him back if he gets the call next week.

“If I didn’t feel a little nervous then I probably wouldn’t feel comfortable,” McElroy said. “I had a lot of confidence in the people out there with me, and having Nick and those guys up front, and to have Shonn in the backfield, and everybody. When I have 10 great guys on my side like that, it certainly makes my job a lot easier. So I think just having confidence in them allowed me to play a lot more at ease, and I really put my emotions in check.”