"It's my decision ... and I'm choosing to go with Greg."
With that quote from Rex Ryan, the Tim Tebow era with the New York Jets essentially ended before it ever started. Ryan chose 2011 seventh-round pickGreg McElroy to start Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers over Tebow, who the team acquired via trade in the offseason. McElroy potentially has a future in New York. Tebow apparently does not.
Ryan would not discuss the future on Tuesday. He doesn't even know who will backup McElroy on Sunday.
"I think it's where we are right now and I think that's what's best for our team," Ryan said, via the New York Daily News.
Ryan sees Tebow in practice every day. Always known as a terrible practice player, it shouldn't be a big surprise that Tebow hasn't impressed. But the Jets coach is paid a lot of money to make his lineup decisions, and he clearly has no interest in playing Tebow.
Mike Freeman of CBS Sports wrote Tuesday that he hears Tebow is not happy about the decision. That's hardly a surprise. Tebow reportedly feels the Jets misled him when the team essentially recruited Tebow to come to New York via trade instead of Jacksonville.
It's hard to imagine the Jets keeping Tebow next season. If they don't trust him to play now, they never will. It's also hard to imagine Sanchez returning, despite all the guaranteed money he's due. Sanchez gave the team no choice.
Ryan didn't even need to sleep on it before telling Sanchez last night that he was making a change at quarterback moving forward. Sanchez told Ryan he respected the decision. Even he knew.
McElroy probably won't be a candidate to start next year, but he's the best bet of their current quarterbacks to be on the roster next season. That's why he's starting.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
