Transcript of quarterback Tim Tebow's news conference in front of his locker following Thursday's midday OTA practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:
On how everything has been going for him…
I think it's fine. It's been going pretty well, having a lot of fun, learning a new offense, getting to know everybody here in the locker room and the coaches, so it's going pretty well I think.
On Mark Sanchez inviting him to Jets West…
Yeah, I know it's pretty much open to everybody on the team and I think that's great so hopefully we will be able to improve and get a little bit better and also get to know each other well.
On if Sanchez extended a personal invitation to him…
Just the same he did to everybody else on the team.
On if the quarterback situation influenced his invitation…
I don't think so. I think we just have a great relationship and I think we both want to get better as football players, as quarterbacks and find a way to help this team win football games and that is what it's about. Also our friendship outside of this locker room, outside of this facility has been great and I think that is important as well.
On if he enjoys playing on special teams…
I have fun playing football. We will mess around with different things and have fun. Some days we will be doing it and some days we don't, so whenever I am on there I go as hard as I can and have fun with it and we have a good time.
On if he has worked on the Wildcat offense…
We are just learning the offense right now, trying to improve on the base offense and get everything down. We are still installing stuff every day. Obviously that is cutting down now. We have got pretty much everything installed and now it is just getting everything refreshed.
On what the biggest adjustment has been…
You have to know the offense. So its understanding that and then going against a great defense, one of the best in the league really. [You have to identify the] Mike, understand hot [routes] and sights, and get the ball out. Then it's getting the timing right with these receivers on some of their routes. It might be line of scrimmage but it might be the first time you've hit one of these receivers on that route. Sometimes that can be a little bit off but that's something we're working on. I feel like every day we're getting a little bit better at.
On Coach Sparano's style…
I like it. He loves the game of football. He's just passionate about it. Some mornings when we'll have off, he'll come up here at four in the morning just to go over more ball. He's just passionate about it. He loves it. That's what you want out of a coach. Is a coach that loves the game, is passionate about it and is also creative. It's not that it's got to be the same as it's always done. He's creative he wants to come up with new stuff, new ideas, and I think he's very bold in that way, he's not worried about what other people think. He's just worried about whatever works.
On how he's faring in Coach Sparano's Q&A segments during meetings…
I feel like I'm doing OK [laughter]. I feel like I'm doing OK. No, I'm doing all right. I try to hang in there. But it's fun. I think he does a good job of interacting with the players in offensive meetings and sometimes putting them on the spot but it's great because we've got to get to know each other, understand the rules, understand red zone philosophy, understand scramble rules, when he calls you out on things. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat and wanting to study more so when you get called on you know what you're talking about.
On the defense having a good day…
I think it's always competitive every single day. You always want to up the other one. It's very competitive and then Bart makes it even more competitive with how much he's talking out there which we have a lot of fun doing. Today was a third down day and that's definitely something that our defense really likes is to get into some of their different personnel, some pressure, stunt, move fronts, and they do a great job at that. So it's awesome as an offense to be able to go against that, see all those fronts, see all those blitzes, see all those secondary movements. We've seen everything in practice, so when we get to a game hopefully we've pretty much seen it all.
On if there's a difference between being a quarterback in New York and elsewhere…
I mean, I don't know. I'm still getting used to this market. I think being a quarterback, you just have to be who you are wherever you are. I think that's the best way to handle it and that's how I've tried to handle it is just to be myself. Obviously this market's a little bit different than most. There's probably a little bit more scrutiny and a few more eyes watching you here in this market. But I think the way to handle that is just to be yourself, don't let that change you, don't let other people change you, just go have fun and enjoy what you do.
On how much can be accomplished at Jets West…
Well, I think several things. I think one is to continue to develop timing with receivers, with tight ends, with running backs, with full backs, and then also to develop the chemistry off the field. When you have a better chemistry off the field it's going to correlate to how you play on the field. I think that's huge and it's something that I think will be good for this team.
On getting used to his new role on this team…
For me, it's honestly just trying to learn this offense. Trying to get better every single day, trying to understand what my role is, and try to improve that role, and try to handle that role as best I can every single day.
On what his current role is…
Right now it's just to learn the offense. Go out there and compete every day. Do my best. And when I get in there, try to lead this offense and score points.
On if he feels more comfortable on the punt team…
I get more comfortable every day, whatever it is. At quarterback, or running down there on punt team, I have fun with it.
On Nick Mangold's shirt referencing Lolo Jones…
I heard about it. I did hear about it. We had some laughs in the training room. I didn't actually see it in here. I was already working out.
On if he feels more accepted knowing that they can joke with him…
I hope so. We have a good time going back and forth and have some laughs. Nick is good at a lot of jokes, too, so he tends to make everyone laugh.
On if Mangold is a good matchmaker…
He thinks so [laughter].
On if he's expecting any initiation at Jets West…
I don't think so. I think we'll just be there to get to know each other and be a little better.
On what led to the partnership with Chipper Jones on the gym in Florida…
Well, D1 is something that's always been a lot of fun for me. It's been exciting. It's where I trained getting ready for the combine. I've been back there on my offseasons training and to be able to be a part owner of quite a few of them is exciting for me with a bunch of great athletes including Chipper Jones, who in Jacksonville is definitely an icon and I think in a lot of different places. It'll be a lot of fun to be partners with him and hopefully it'll do well and hopefully more than anything we can just help some kids try to develop and go out there and try to reach their dreams.
On if he knows Chipper Jones…
I have never met him. I look forward to it though.
On if it's tough to be a leader as a backup quarterback…
I think sometimes you can let some of the stigmas get in the way. When maybe you are a backup or you're not out there all the time. But I think if you're just yourself you can kind of not really let that bother you and just be who you are and then I think you're leadership abilities can kind of take back over and when you are in there, be yourself, encourage guys, be excited, even if you're not in there, still encourage guys, and be someone that hopefully can be a coach on the field, someone that can be encouraging guys, someone that knows everything that's going on. That's something that I try to strive for.
