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          New York Jets

          Tebow gives Cromartie a break

          • Jane McManus, Reporter & Columnist, espnW.comMar 30, 2012, 06:37 PM ET
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              Jane McManus (follow her @janesports on Twitter) has covered sports since 1998 and began covering football just before Brett Favre's stint with the Jets. Her work has appeared in Newsday, USA Today, The Journal News and The New York Times.
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          Tim Tebow has learned the first rule of joining a new team, turn your enemies into friends. The backup quarterback started by addressing Antonio Cromartie’s comment before the trade last Wednesday, where he said the Jets didn’t need Tebow with starter Mark Sanchez in house.

          “He was sticking up for his quarterback and good for him," Tebow said.

          Tebow said he had already spent some time with teammates like Bart Scott, D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Matt Slauson, continued his media tour in New York by speaking on The Michael Kay Show on 1050 ESPN Radio. Hosts Michael Kay and Don La Greca asked Tebow if his goal was really to be the backup quarterback.

          “My plan is to go in there and try to be the best quarterback that I can be,” Tebow said, “is to try to improve every single day, to try to be someone that can help this New York Jet football team. To try to win football games, however that is, and reach my potential, be the best quarterback, the best teammate, best football player that I can be and just add something to that locker room.”

          Kay later noted that Tebow never said backup.

          Tebow reflected on the circumstances that took him out of Denver after winning a playoff game, and Tebow said he bears no ill will toward the Broncos.

          “I know that everything happens for a reason,” Tebow said. “I’m not someone that looks back or asks why or anything like that. I just look forward and figure out how to make the most of every opportunity and how can I make the most of being a New York Jet.”

          He maintained that the Broncos ultimately chose New York, but that he was excited (Tebow joked that he was using that word an awful lot) to play for the Jets after a Wednesday morning conversation with general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan — who stressed how much they wanted him.

          “That was definitely something that was meaningful to me,” Tebow said.

          Tebow said in the offseason he has been working on improving reads, drops, fundamentals, being a more accurate passer. This summer he has worked with UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone.

          How does he feel about the city of New York? Tebow referred to the 44 or 45 times he used a certain word in his first press conference last Monday.

          Tebow said: “I guess, to go to No. 46, It’s exciting.”