Like a junior high school principal who books Justin Bieber to play at assembly, then tries to ban girls from screaming, the New York Jets are taking measures to control the effects of Tebowmania.
Citing league sources, the New York Daily News reported Sunday that the Jets have decided to limit some of Tim Tebow's "outside" endeavors, including weekly radio spots.
"That could change," a source said. "If Tim becomes the starter, the radio thing could happen."
Ostensibly, the intent would be to prevent Tebow being asked for 17 consecutive weeks if he believes he should be the Jets' quarterback over incumbent starter/wounded deer Mark Sanchez.
Mixing Tebow speculation with contracted weekly appearances can be laborious business. Just ask Broncos executive John Elway, who probably hated Monday mornings more than anyone alive after he unwittingly agreed to a 2011 season of Tebow interrogations with a Denver radio station. In some of those spots, Elway sounded like he was reading a hostage note. "Tim Tebow is a good football player. Kyle Orton is safe and will not be harmed."
But back to Gang Green. This is a wise move by the Jets. Tebow graduated magna cum laude from The Derek Jeter School of Banal Jock Speak, but putting the quarterback in the position to answer weekly questions about Sanchez is just asking for trouble. All it takes is one slip of the tongue, and the local media will go on a rampage of epic proportions.
Of course, one could make the argument that simply trading for Tebow was asking for trouble, but that ship has long since sailed.
