and what was he traded for?
Tim Tebow traded to New York Jets; Broncos get two draft picks - The Denver Post
"Tim Tebow, who made the Broncos arguably the biggest NFL story in 2011, will bring his athleticism and fervent followers to New York. Finally.
The Broncos traded their star quarterback with the polarizing skill set, and a seventh-round draft pick, to the New York Jets in exchange for a fourth- and a sixth-round pick, according to an NFL source.
The trade gives the Broncos seven picks in the seven-round 2012 NFL Draft — one in the first, second and third rounds; two in the fourth round, one in the fifth, one in the sixth and none in the seventh.
Earlier Wednesday, the trade hit a snag and Jacksonville entered as a possible destination for Tebow. But New York won out in the end.
The Broncos and Jets will split the difference on advance salary in Tebow's contract, with New York reimbursing Denver $2.53 million, according to an NFL source.
That money had caused the Jets some pause earlier in the day. They learned about the contract clause — which would have required New York to pay Denver more than $5 million — after annoucing the trade.
The trade also sends the circus that was Tebowmania to a city big enough to handle it.
Perhaps more than any player since former Jets quarterback Joe Namath in the rebellious late-1960s, Tebow is an NFL star who crossed over to become a cultural icon.
With Namath, the popularity was about sex appeal. He helped bring the female audience to the NFL. With Tebow, it's about his strong Christian convictions, All-American persona — and ability to pull off remarkable comeback victories despite pronounced flaws as a passer.
The interest in the Jets was not a surprise. Jets' coach Rex Ryan and Tebow have the same agent in Jimmy Sexton. Ryan's offense in 2011 also seemed to badly miss Wildcat weapon Brad Smith, who became a free agent after the 2010 season and signed with Buffalo.
And Ryan wound up needing paramedic treatment after Tebow beat his Jets, 17-13 with
a 95 ½-yard drive that culminated with the quarterback busting through a blitz sack of safety Erik Smith and running in for a 20-yard touchdown with 58 seconds remaining.
Afterwards, an emergency medical service (EMS) unit from the Denver Fire Department was sent to Harry B. Combs Parkway near the Denver International Airport where the Jets' charter plane was preparing to take off.
Turns out Ryan was suffering from indigestion brought on by a postgame meal which, combined with the lap-band surgery he had in March, 2010, didn't sit well.
His stomach hurting on the team bus ride to the airport, paramedics were called to meet the team at the airport as a precaution.
When paramedics arrived, one of them asked Ryan
how he was doing.
"I was doing fine until (bleep-bleep) Tebow had that (bleeping) 95 yard drive," Ryan said, according to sources.
If the Jets acquire Tebow, he would first be used to help the team's sagging running game. Tebow is arguably the best 2-point conversion and Wildcat weapon in the NFL.
Ryan is a defensive-raised head coach and defensive coaches tend to appreciate Tebow more than offensive coaches because the quarterback adds physicality, toughness and energy to a team.
The Jets recently extended the contract of incumbent quarterback Mark Sanchez, but better believe Ryan will feel pressure to play Tebow during the 2012 season.
The Jets, too, are forever in competition with the New York Giants for
Tim Tebow delivering the Mile High Salute after scoring the winning touchdown to beat the New York Jets last season. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)
the back pages of the New York tabloids. The Giants are the defending Super Bowl champs. The Jets have Tebow.
Advantage, Jets?
Tebow took a Broncos team that was 4-12 in 2010 and 1-4 at the start of 2011 and led it to the AFC West title thanks to a magical run of six consecutive victories.
Tebow, 24, also lifted the Broncos to a first-round playoff win against the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers with an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime.
The quarterback was quickly placed on the trade market, though, because the Broncos signed prized free agent Peyton Manning. Although, Broncos' front-office boss John Elway and head coach John Fox believe Tebow can be a successful starting quarterback in the league, the feeling was there was not a tent big enough to handle a circus that would feature both Tebow and Manning.
Trading away Tebow hands the keys of the Broncos' franchise to Manning, whom the team just gave a $96 million contract with $18 million in full guarantees and $58 million in guarantees other than if he suffers a neck injury.
Tebow was a controversial first-round draft choice of then Broncos coach/front office boss Josh McDaniels in 2010. New regimes, though, always lead to roster turnover. Elway believes a team cannot win a Super Bowl without an elite passing attack. For all of Tebow's strengths in terms of will, competitiveness, athleticism and leadership, his 46.5 completion percentage ranked 34th in the 32-team NFL.
Even McDaniels himself had changed his mind about Tebow, giving incumbent starter Kyle Orton a contract extension months after drafting the former Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Florida.
Tebow was to receive a base salary of $405,000 in 2011. But five days after the start of the league season — which turned out to be Aug. 6, 2011 because of the lockout — the Broncos exercised a $6,277,500 advance in guaranteed salaries.
The $6,277,500 million in advances came from salaries of four seasons: 2011 ($1,213,750); 2012 ($1,425,000); 2013 ($1,691,250) and 2014 ($1.92 million).
The Broncos paid their 2011 advanced portion (and got their money's worth as Tebow led them from a 1-4 start under Kyle Orton to the playoffs)."
