Transcript of quarterback Tim Tebow's news conference in front of his locker after the Jets' Thursday afternoon practice at the Atlantic Health Training Center:
On his ribs…
They're getting better. They're healing up, so they're getting better every day.
On the discomfort level from his ribs…
It's definitely getting better. Everything, from running, to exercising, to throwing, it's all getting better. Slowly, but it's getting better.
On being able to fill a variety of roles…
It's all good for me. I'm ready to do whatever I'm asked to do. I'm excited about any role I have. I'm doing everything in practice, so it's really all I can do.
On if it is easier for him to throw…
It's definitely getting a lot better.
On if he feels as much pain when he throws…
It's definitely getting better to throw, a lot easier.
On Coach Ryan's comments…
You take everything in stride and try to handle everything the best you can. Obviously, it hasn't gone exactly how we wanted, starting off the year with just wins and everything as a team. Sometimes you have ups and downs, and you just try to deal with them the best you can. They're all learning opportunities, and when you believe everything happens for a reason, it makes it a whole lot easier. Honestly, you try to find the good in every situation.
On if he has felt tested this season…
Maybe in some ways, but I think every situation is, a little bit, and how you handle it, whether it's good ... when you get too much praise you don't really deserve it and vice versa. You just try to handle everything in stride, try to handle it humbly and just be thankful for the opportunity that you've been given.
On how it looks like he is gazing on the sideline…
I don't know if that's true.
On what he thinks about on the sideline…
It's a 3½-hour game. I'm thinking about a lot of things throughout a game [laughter]. I just think you try to stay focused on the game, however you can help. This past week, being ready to go at any time, try to stay focused, try to stay somewhat loose, and however you can help any of the offensive guys, encourage the defensive guys, talk to Mark [Sanchez], whatever you can do, really stay focused.
On helping the team…
I'd love to help this team in any way, whether that's running, throwing, whatever I can do, however I can do it. I'm excited about any opportunity I get to help this team. You definitely want to be out there helping the team however you can. I'm just trying to heal up and be as ready as I can for any opportunity that I'm given.
I think we did a great job running the ball this past week and we made plays in the air when we needed to, especially at the end of the game to Jeff [Cumberland]. I think we just have to start out a little faster and be a little more consistent with it. I was definitely really proud of the way the offensive line and the running backs played.
On running more of the basic offense than the Wildcat with his injury…
I don't know. I think either way, before or now, would probably be just the regular offense. It's not something we practice, doing a lot of that other stuff. We try to just run the offense.
On the perception he plays best as a read-option quarterback…
That doesn't concern me. It's funny, everybody thinks the whole time in Denver we had this read/triple-option. I started with no read plays. Two weeks later, it was one, maybe two, maybe three. Then you have a few option plays, but that was maybe 10 percent of our game, max, so we did a lot of other plays from under center and shotgun that were just normal football plays, so it wasn't just the read-option. I can do other things than just read a defensive end.
On if the notion he can only run the read-option frustrates him…
No, it's OK. It's just something that you try to deal with. It really doesn't bother me.
On what he meant by saying "earlier in the season"…
I wasn't saying earlier in the season, I'm just saying in general. Sometimes you have to handle everything in stride. It's never as bad as it seems, it's never as good as it seems. It's always somewhere in the middle and that's how you have to approach it, mentally and just as a person.
On if he thinks ESPN was giving the Jets a lot of attention…
Seeing how they were at every training camp practice, maybe.
On the Titans defense…
They're a good defense and they're getting a lot better. The last three weeks, they've been really good on third down. I feel like they've been getting better as a team, as a defense and doing some things that are very good.
On playing on national television…
I think it's a great opportunity, but we just have to look at it as one more game, find a way to win. Last time we were on national TV, it didn't go so great for us, so this is an opportunity to show what the real New York Jets are about.
On if they are past their last nationally televised game…
Definitely.
On handling some of the setbacks from this season…
I think you try to just handle everything in stride and count your blessings. I really try to do that. I'm thankful and blessed to be a New York Jet and just trying to handle it as best I can.
On Coach Ryan's comments on Monday…
Yes, I heard that's something he said. We haven't talked about it. We have a great relationship. We've talked about a lot of other stuff besides that. [I am] just trying to handle it as best I can. Obviously, some things don't go exactly the way you planned them, but that's life, and you learn how to deal with the good, deal with the bad and handle it as best you can.
On his relationship with Coach Ryan…
Yes, we have a pretty good relationship.
On the relationship between him and Broncos head coach John Fox…
I'd say Coach Fox and I had a great relationship, especially as the year went on. It was a fun relationship we had.
On the relationships between him and Coach Ryan and him and Coach Fox…
Different relationship, one, because they're different people. I've been in different roles for both of them. It's different. It's hard to compare any relationship. Just because they're two head coaches I played for doesn't make them similar. They're very different people and their relationships are different as well.
On if he feels like he can play on Monday…
Yes, I feel like I'll be able to play and I'm getting healthier every day.
On if he has taken hits to the ribs…
I've taken a few [laughs]. I'm just kidding.
On if he could take a hit…
Yes, I think I would be OK. I think they'll be good.
On if he is looking forward to getting hit…
I'm looking forward to it [joking]. I feel like I've said that before [laughter].
On the Titans…
They're a good team and a good defense. They've been getting better the last few weeks. You look at what they've done on third down. Overall, as a defense the last few weeks, they've been doing well and getting better, have won some big games. Playing at home, playing on Monday Night Football, they will definitely be ready to go, so we'll have to be ready to go as well.
On if his rib injury has been frustrating…
It's definitely been somewhat frustrating because you'd like to be healthy. The opportunities you get, you would think that for one of them, kind of crazy. It gets a little frustrating, but you try to deal with it as best you can and have a good attitude.
