Starting Tim Tebow would make life worse for Jets

We expected to see the flamboyant back cover tabloids in New York on Monday morning calling for Tim Tebow to start at quarterback for the New York Jets following Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers. We were pleasantly surprised.

The Jets were nearly ignored on the New York Post back cover. They barely got an inch in the New York Daily News because the best team in New York (the Giants) got all the attention.

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Inside the pages, things were more mixed. The New York Daily News and Newsday pointed out that the Jets have a lot more problems than just Mark Sanchez. He deserves some patience. The Post wrote a predictable column that Tebow should get a chance to start.

"Bring on Tim Tebow," Kevin Kernan wrote. "At this point Tebow, who saved the Broncos season last year, can't be any worse than the jittery Mark Sanchez. Perhaps the Jets will get some leadership from the most important position on the field."

And later, in the most New York Post-y sentence possible:

"Tebow might not be the answer, but a change next Monday night against the Texans might wake up Sanchez, who appears to be living in a dream world," Kernan wrote.

This was the exception, not the rule, on Monday morning. Things may change next week. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News said the Jets should give Tebow a crack in Week 6 if Sanchez struggles against the Texans next Monday.

But what are the odds of Sanchez not struggling? He's completed 44% of his passes over the last three weeks with four turnovers and two touchdowns. The Texans might have the best defense in the league.

"I just know in my heart that this is not the time," Jets coach Rex Ryan said Monday of a possible quarterback change.

The Jets have far more problems than Tebow could solve. (Or Aaron Berry, for that matter.) As much as we love providing content for the revolutionary Tebow Zone, starting Tebow would only make things worse for a team that can't throw. Something tells us the reaction after the Jets face the Texans won't be so subdued.

That's probably fine with Jets owner Woody Johnson. The only thing worse than losing in New York is being forgotten. Lose enough games at home by 34-0, and no one will care who starts at quarterback for the Jets.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.