NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

One NFL player you wish never played for your favorite team

By Randy Gurzi

22 Aug 1998: Quarterback Ryan Leaf #16 of the San Diego Chargers standing around talking before the pre-season game against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chargers defeated the Colts 33-3. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squ
22 Aug 1998: Quarterback Ryan Leaf #16 of the San Diego Chargers standing around talking before the pre-season game against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chargers defeated the Colts 33-3. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squ /
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2022 NFL
Jets’ Tim Tebow during a 2012 game.Indianapolis Colts Vs New York Jets /

New York Jets: Tim Tebow, QB

The Tim Tebow craze in the NFL was so weird. He did have some success with the Denver Broncos but anyone who was paying attention could see that the main reason the team was winning was simply their defense and the fact that Matt Prater was kicking 50-plus yeard field goals with ease.

Still, fans who loved him for his personality and philanthropy wanted him to have all the credit. For team president John Elway, it was going to be hard to move on and not have a riot had it not been for Peyton Manning.

Landing one of the best quarterbacks ever allowed the Broncos to easily move on from Tebow and the New York Jets were willing to give up a couple of draft picks to bring him in.

Oddly enough, it was their special teams coach who really wanted him as Mike Westhoff liked his ability to cover punts. As for head coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, they saw him as a gadget player.

But fans weren’t content with Tebow on the sidelines. While they didn’t buy a billboard as they had done in Denver, there were constant calls for Mark Sanchez to be benched for Tebow. That never happened but a team that had been finding success in recent seasons went in the wrong direction and some of the distraction caused by the presence of Tebow played a part.

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