Tim Tebow waived by New York Jets after one season

The Tim Tebow error in New York finally -- mercifully -- is over.

The New York Jets announced Monday morning that Tebow was waived after one season with the team. NFL.com's Albert Breer and Ian Rapoport reported that Tebow was told face-to-face by new general manager John Idzik and coach Rex Ryan when Tebow arrived for phase two of the Jets' offseason program.

Idzik insisted on keeping Tebow through the 2013 NFL Draft in case the Jets could find a trade partner or use for him. After selecting West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith in the second round, Tebow -- not Mark Sanchez -- is the odd man out.

Tebow threw only eight passes as a Jet and rushed the ball 32 times, without great effectiveness. Despite awful quarterback play in front of Tebow, Ryan and offensive coordinator Tony Sparano never wanted to use Tebow as a starter. And they had no idea how to use him as a backup. The Jets wasted a fourth- and sixth-round pick in exchange for Tebow in a trade last offseason that smacked of ownership involvement. 

Jets owner Woody Johnson wanted headlines; he got them. He just didn't get a lot of victories. Ryan threw one, last useless verbal bouquet to Tebow on his way out the door.

"We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow," Ryan said in a statement released by the Jets. "Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we all had hoped. Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this offseason. We wish him the best moving forward."

Rapoport has reported all weekend that the Jets plan to bring Sanchez to organized team activities and let him compete with Smith for the starting job. It costs a lot to cut Sanchez, and it appears he will remain on the roster this season.

Tebow, on the other hand, is cast out into the wilderness at just the wrong time. It's going to be hard for him to get a job at this stage, much less one with a realistic shot at playing time. Tebow will go through waivers and it's very likely he won't be claimed because of his salary. After he clears waivers, Tebow will be free to sign with any NFL team. 

Even if Tebow ever rises again, his stay in New York will go down as a huge career setback. Otherwise, his stay with the Jets will be remembered as the beginning of the end of his quarterbacking career. 

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.