Transcript of quarterback Tim Tebow's afternoon news conference in front of his locker following the Jets' Thursday afternoon practice at the Atlantic Health Training Center:
On practice this week …
I feel like it's been a really good week. I feel like we've done some things really well. We've gotten better every day. I feel like as we're getting ready for this game against Carolina, we'll be prepared to go out there and execute and hopefully do some good things.
On the change at right tackle…
Austin [Howard] has been doing a really great job throughout camp. Wayne [Hunter] has done a great job at times. Both of those guys have been competing hard and I'm proud of both of their efforts.
On if it is hard knowing Mark Sanchez will play more against Carolina…
No, it's not difficult. You just know your role and you try to do it the best you can. When you get opportunities you make the most of them.
On Jeremy Kerley…
I've had a chance a little bit to throw with him, to get a little timing down. He's a very explosive player. I think his 40 time was about as fast as he plays on the field. He's quick getting in and out of cuts, in and out of breaks. Some guys just have a knack for that and he really does. He's just a great athlete. You can tell, I think he got drafted in baseball, that he can throw the ball well. He runs around. He can catch. He's just smart. He's just a football player and I think that's a big time compliment you can give someone. He's just good at playing the game of football.
On if Kerley will make a difference…
I think overall for us, it's just about executing on the same page. I think he's someone that's a big time weapon. I think he can be used a lot of different ways. He's an explosive player as well.
On if he would like to run the Wildcat during the preseason…
It's OK. We've run that play before. It doesn't matter. Whatever I'm asked to do, I'll do. I'm fine either way.
On spending time in the offseason working with other people…
That's a good question. I definitely did work outside of here in our break time, working with Noel Mazzone and Tom House. I'm really just trying to continue to work on my fundamentals, getting better. I really feel like I made some strides there. I feel very comfortable with that. Those are things you continue to have to work on every day. I do work out with Coach Cavanaugh and Coach Sparano, when you get individual time to work .
On if communication is important…
Yeah, you definitely have to have communication. I think that helps. You could choose not to, but I definitely choose to have open communication to let them know what I'm working on and why I'm working on it. Anyway I can get better and that's been a great relationship so far.
On if the coaches encourage him to get outside help…
They don't necessarily encourage it to go out and do it, but encourage by meaning it's great you're going out and working. They know how comfortable I am with it too and those guys, so it helps.
On if he thinks too many people are trying to help him…
No, not really. I think you just have to have the main voice and that's definitely Coach Cavanaugh. Everybody can provide something new. You can learn from everyone. A quote I've always loved is, "In a multitude of counselors there is wisdom." You can take wisdom from a lot of different people and find exactly what works for you.
On having fans at practice…
It's feels good to be able to have practices that fans can come out to. That's always great for the fans. I think there's definitely a line where you want to work on some stuff. You also want to be open to the fans and let them be involved. It's definitely been fun having them out there. Also, it'll be interesting to see the dynamic when that changes.
On having to be ready to play at any moment…
I feel like I do that sometimes in practice, so I guess that gives you a little bit of reps at that. Also, I've done that a lot in my career. I did that my freshman year of college back and forth a lot, and my rookie year into the beginning of last year.
On if not starting poses a challenge when it comes time to perform…
I think it poses a challenge to make sure you're always ready on the sideline. You have to continue to warm up and throw, loosen up and make sure you're always ready. I have to continue to work on the sideline but that's fine with me.
On learning the new offense…
I feel like it's something we have down now. The more reps you can get in real live situations, the better it is. The communication between quarterback and receiver, running back and offensive line, the more reps you get in more live situations to see how everybody reacts is always great too.
On if he studies less compared to when he first got here…
It's hard to say. Obviously, in OTAs it was something that was obviously very fresh for us, it was nonstop looking at it. Now, it's more of trying to get the fine details, fine points, audibles, and checks. It's always probably the same amount of studying. You went from regular math to now algebra as Coach Sparano talks about.
On if he wanted a live rep with the Wildcat play this preseason…
It's fine. We had a few live reps in practice, but I've run that stuff before so I've had reps in my life at it.
On if he thinks the game plan should remain a secret during preseason…
Yeah, I just think we continue to work on it in practice when we need to. We can get good reps in practice. I don't think it's something you have to do in a preseason game.
On why he went on Boomer Esiason's show…
I went on it because Bruce [Speight] and the PR department told me to.
On Esiason's show…
I don't have any problem with Mr. Esiason or them. That's his opinion, everyone has their opinion and that doesn't change my perspective of the show or him as a person. I wouldn't be afraid of going on.
On what he thinks about Esiason's comment that he should be cut…
Everybody is entitled to their own opinion and that's his opinion. I guess you could say it's a little fuel to the fire but not really. I've heard a lot of negativity my whole life and I don't really let that get me too high or too low. I just want to be the same person and have a smile on my face. I never change based on one person's analysis of me or how I play. I think the better thing you could say was when he said he wouldn't mind having me as a son-in-law. I'd rather have that compliment than him thinking that I'm a quarterback.
On if he takes Esiason's comment about being a bad quarterback but a good guy as a compliment…
I would rather be known as someone with good character than a good football player but I do want to be known as a good football player as well.
On if he will get some reps next week against Philadelphia…
I have no idea.
On how the change at right tackle affects him…
I mean, just as far as feeling it, it's a little bit harder to feel being my blind side. Both of those guys have worked hard in camp and just competed well. Austin has done some good things and Wayne has done some good things. I'm just proud of their effort.
On his communication with Howard…
I think you just want to be clear with your calls and everything. It's new for everybody so you want to be exciting and clear but for him, he's done a good job. He's gotten everything down. It's just having confidence in your guys.
On continuing to grow from last year…
I think you just continue to work on your fundamentals. You continue to try and get better at the little things. When you get opportunities, try and show that. I think at times I've been able to show some of those things. I just continue to get better and when you get opportunities, try and make the most of them.
On if he has to adapt to his new role…
I don't think so. For most of this training camp, OTAs, minicamp, I've been just a regular quarterback. I've been training as a quarterback. When I'm going to be in the game for a lot of that, yeah, there will be chances of running, chances for options, reads and things like that but you're still a quarterback. You still have to read the defense, make reads and make checks. A lot of thinking, a lot of thought process, a lot of decisions go into that, and ultimately at quarterback, what you do is you make decisions. That's what I'm trying to do back there so you're still being a quarterback even though people might look at it differently.
