FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- If being surrounded by dozens of cameras and scores of media members made him nervous, the New York Jets' new backup quarterback didn't show it.
Tim Tebow was cool and calm -- exactly how he looked during those hair-raising comebacks last season with the Denver Broncos. His message: I'm here to help, not to create another Jets controversy.
"It's an honor for all of you to show up to hear me say a few words," a grinning Tebow told a pack of more than 200 reporters.
Asked what he thought about the media crush, he said: "I really don't think it will be much of a distraction because, honestly, I will try not to pay too much attention to it."
Tebow spoke for more than 30 minutes at a news conference held in the team's indoor practice facility because the media turnout was so massive, it couldn't be accommodated in the normal press room.
Tebow, who used the word "excited" more than 40 times, went out of his way to say he believes he and incumbent starter Mark Sanchez can co-exist despite all the skeptics.
"I think the exciting thing is me and Mark have a great relationship," Tebow said. "We have had a great relationship for the last three years, I think. We've been friends. We text back and forth. We talked already, and we're going to have a great working relationship. I think we'll have a lot of fun together."
The two do have a bit of shared history. Sanchez hosted Tebow on his recruiting trip to USC. Sanchez didn't watch the big news conference because he was working out, but he also isn't worried that Tebow could take his job.
"We're adding another player, and we're not replacing anybody," Sanchez said. "I mean, he's here to help us, and I'm confident in my abilities. I know the team feels the same way about me. They have belief in me.
For anyone who wondered why such a circus-sized event for a backup quarterback, Tebow had an answer: just following orders.
"I have bosses, too, and they wanted me to stand up here and talk to you all," he explained, "so I can blame it on them because they made me do it."
Coach Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson missed Tebow's news conference because they were attending the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. No teammates were there, either, although Tebow said he has spoken with several of them.
Tebow briefly spoke about his strong Christian beliefs, something that has made him more than just a football star. He said his faith is the most important thing to him, but he didn't want that to be the focus Monday. The quarterback did think it's funny so much has been made of "Tebowing" in the last year.
"I'm pretty sure I'm not the first athlete who has gotten on a knee and prayed, but it's known as 'Tebowing,'Â " he said. "I'm not sure why."
He also touched on the Jacksonville Jaguars' interest in trading for him.
He and Ryan share the same agent.
"I've always watched him," Tebow said. "I got to see `Hard Knocks,' see how he coached, and that was fun. From our conversations that we've had the last few days, I think he's just excited that I'm here. I think it's a day-by-day process to see what happens and how well, you know, the Wildcat is working."
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
