Transcript of quarterback Tim Tebow's news conference in front of his locker after the Jets' Wednesday afternoon practice at the Atlantic Health Training Center:
On his reaction to Greg McElroy being named the starter…
Obviously, a little disappointed. You just try to handle it as best you can.
On if Coach Ryan and Coach Sparano gave him an explanation for McElroy being named the starter…
Not really too much of one. Just that's what they're doing and as a player you just, even though you might not agree, you have respect for them and the organization and you just do the best you can.
On if the Jets weren't genuine in calling him the backup quarterback all season and then making McElroy the starter…
Sometimes things just happen out of your control and obviously you might not be pleased with them or happy about it, but you just try to handle it as best you can.
On if he's baffled as to why the Jets wanted him…
Some things are hard to understand, but they're trying to do the best they can and I understand that.
On if the coaches ever told him what they wanted to see more of from him in practice…
No, sir.
On if he was given any explanation …
No, sir.
On if he tried to ask for more of an explanation…
It's not going to change their mind and I don't want that to.
On when he found out McElroy would be the starter…
Yesterday morning.
On if he feels passed over…
All you can ask for and all you want is a chance, a chance to go out there and play the game you love and help this team win football games. That's all I wanted.
On if it's fair to say he hasn't been given a chance…
I tried to make the most of every opportunity that I had. I would've loved to have more.
On if he is angry…
No, I don't know. Mr. T [Mike Tannenbaum] and Rex [Coach Ryan], they're all trying to do the best they can just like everyone in this building and they thought that was the best decision for this organization and I respect that. You might not agree, but I still respect it.
On if he wants to be a Jet next year…
I'll wait until after this season to talk about anything like that.
On if if he'll be a Jet next season is more open-ended now…
I'll just wait until after the season and look at everything then.
On if he feels that the Jets haven't lived up to their word…
I don't think anybody knew exactly what was going to happen. They just tried to do what was best in their mind and we just tried to work together as a team. Obviously, everybody's a little bit disappointed, how the season has turned out. We're just trying to do the best we can with these last two games and find a way to win and hopefully I can contribute and help this team.
On if he knew Monday night that Mark Sanchez was no longer the starter…
No, ma'am.
On if he knows what his role will be Sunday…
You'll have to ask Coach Ryan. He's in control of that and he'll be the one controlling it on Sunday.
On if he regrets coming to the Jets…
No, sir, I don't have regrets. I believe everything happens for a reason and it's a learning opportunity for me. There's a lot that I've learned, good and bad, and I still appreciate the opportunity to come be a Jet.
On if he feels deceived…
I don't feel deceived. I just appreciate the opportunity that I've had here and I'm going to make the most of these last two weeks.
On if he ever thought he could've been passed over when he's never been given a chance…
Every opportunity you get you want to make the most of, and I'd have loved to have more of an opportunity to just play quarterback. And obviously, that's my goal. I'll just make the most of these last two weeks and see what happens after that.
On if he sees himself as just a Wildcat quarterback…
No, ma'am.
On what he sees himself as…
As a quarterback.
On if he has any regrets about playing personal protector…
It was something that they felt I could do to help this team and I just try to put the team first and if I could've helped this team, hopefully I did help them as a PP. That's something that they thought I should do, so I wanted to help this team.
On if he would've been more a part of the game plan had he not suffered his rib injury…
I'm not sure.
On if he finds it odd that the one game Sanchez was benched was the one game he was inactive for…
Could just be unlucky.
On if he thought he'd play Monday if Sanchez struggled…
I wasn't sure. They told me I'd have a chance to get in a few possessions, so I didn't know when that would come exactly but I was just trying to do something with those opportunities.
On if he's ever considered that if he didn't have his rib injury, he could have played at Arizona instead of McElroy and potentially been named the starter this week…
Well, I don't like looking back and having regrets so I don't have regrets about anything. That was part of what happened and part of God's plan and I'm not going to regret not being healthy. There was nothing I could do to control that, so no, I won't look back with regrets or anything like that.
On if this season has sabotaged his career chances…
No, sir.
On why he doesn't think this season has sabotaged his career…
I've always, since I was a young boy, believed in myself and the abilities that God has given me and I just look forward to having an opportunity to try to show those again. I'm pretty positive and I look forward to the future and what's going to happen.
On if he was told he would play a few possessions on Monday…
I wasn't sure, it was just what was told to me.
On if it's hard to believe what has changed since last year…
There's always ups and downs and it's not about how you handle the ups, it's about how you handle the downs. That's the true test of your character. For me it's trying to have a great character and work ethic, and putting this team first and trying to do what's right and do my best and treat others the way I want to be treated. And that's been my philosophy since Coach [Craig] Howard taught it to me my first year at Nease [High School in Jacksonville, Fla.] and that's not going to change.
On if he's told anyone at the Jets that if he doesn't get a chance to play that he wants to move on…
That's something that we'll talk about after this season.
On if he has said that if he doesn't get to play that he'll move on…
We'll look forward to that after the Buffalo game, talking about it.
On if he'll talk to the media or the front office…
Who knows? [laughter]
On if today is his toughest day as a Jet…
I'm not sure. It's a good question.
On if he's disappointed…
Obviously, as an athlete, as a competitor, you want to be out there helping your team, fighting for victories. I think it's fair to say that I'm a little disappointed.
On if he believed that he would get the opportunity to be the starting quarterback when he came to the Jets…
I just believed that I would get an opportunity to try to compete as a quarterback and get opportunities, just doing whatever I can to help this team win, and that's been my goal since I got here and it'll be the goal for these next two weeks.
On if he feels that this season has stunted his progress in the NFL…
No, sir, I feel like I've improved, put in a lot of work, and look forward to trying to show that some time. There are always ups and downs in life and for me it's not about those ups, it's about the downs, how you handle them, your character, your strength, your honor, and for me that's how I'm trying to approach every situation and I think it really shows what you're made of, too.
On if he's frustrated that he's been the backup quarterback but McElroy is starting…
Well, I'm going to be rooting and cheering for Greg and supporting him and helping him anyway I can. Obviously we're all competitors, we all want to play and I would love to be out there on the field helping this football team. But when it's my opportunity, then I'll try to make the most of it. This is Greg's and I'm happy for him, although I'd love to be out on the field competing, helping this team win.
On if he's asked for a trade…
I have not. We'll talk about that after the season, though.
On why he hasn't made as much of an impression on the coaches when he and McElroy have similar college wins…
Well, I'm not going to try to compare me and Greg. That's not fair. For me, it's just whenever I get an opportunity, try and make the most of it, and I was hoping I would be given one for these last few games. But I'm handling that as best I can and supporting Greg and supporting this football team and trying to be a great teammate and help out however I can.
On how he would describe this season…
I think it's had its ups and downs, a lot of learning opportunities, good and bad, a lot of things I will take from it and try to better myself as a person and as a football player. Also a lot of great relationships that have been made in this locker room.
On if he wishes he didn't come to the Jets…
No, sir. I really believe everything happens for a reason. God brought me here for some reasons and I have had a good time here, built a lot of great relationships, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a Jet.
On if he thinks he could've helped more, looking back on the season…
I'm a competitor and I love playing this game of football and as a competitor, you believe in yourself, you believe that you can make things happen. So if given an opportunity, I would love to compete and help this football team and who knows what would happen.
On if he sees himself as a Jet next year…
I'm not sure, but it's something that we'll talk about after this season ends.
On how he feels about the quarterback change…
Well, I'm a competitor and I want to be out there and I want to play and I want to help this team. You don't necessarily get that opportunity, but that doesn't mean that I would turn my back on my team or this organization. I'll be the best teammate that I can, try to help this team and be the best scout team quarterback I can and do whatever I can to help this team. That's all I can control and that's what I'm going to do.
On if he still believes he's a starting quarterback...
Yes.
On if he thinks he'll be given the chance to be a starting quarterback… I believe one day, yes.
