Unusually quiet in recent weeks, the New York Jets shattered the calm Wednesday by completing a trade for polarizing quarterback Tim Tebow.

The Jets sent two picks — a fourth-rounder and sixth-rounder in 2012 — to the Denver Broncosin exchange for a seventh-round selection.

Tebow, a former first-round pick, went on the trading block Monday when the Broncos secured free agent Peyton Manning, who signed a five-year, $96 million contract.

Several teams expressed interest, including Tebow’s hometown Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Jets — perceived as a sleeper at the outset — pulled off the splashiest trade of the offseason.

Tebow — he has three years remaining on his contract, with a base salary in 2012 of $1.1 million — will join a cast of backups behind incumbent Mark Sanchez, but his presence could ignite a quarterback controversy. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie tweeted before the trade that “we don’t need Tebow,” expressing his confidence in Sanchez and the current roster.

Asked on Tuesday what he thought it would be like to play with Tebow, Sanchez told FoxSportsRadio in Los Angeles, “I think Peyton (Manning) will do great, I think Tim will do great no matter what happens. He’s either going to get a great chance to learn from one of the best quarterbacks to ever play, or he moves on somewhere else and he uses his skills at another ballclub. He definitely has talent. He knows how to win, he knows how to inspire players.”

The timing of the trade is curious.

CONTINUED at ESPN New York. Video at link.

Peyton Manning, the Colts’ quarterback with four MVPs, a Super Bowl win and a perfect throwing motion, will be released by the team, according to an ESPN report. It ends a 14-year marriage in which he started 208 consecutive games and was recognized as probably the best quarterback of his era. All of this meant little when his $28 million bonus came due, just as nostalgia and gaudy numbers haven’t meant much for a platoon of NFL stars before him. We don’t know how Manning’s story will end up. He could throw for 50 touchdowns in a Dolphins or Browns or Seahawks uniform next year, or he could decide to spend the rest of his life fishing and doing above-average commercials. But what we do know is that he’ll be judged against all the other elite quarterbacks who raced against age to stay great. Here’s a look at potential models for how Manning’s ending will play out:

CONTINUED at the Wall Street Journal.

When Donovan McNabb isn’t pondering his own football future, he’s endorsing Tom Brady as the best quarterback. Ever.

“I’m going put him as the best of all-time,” McNabb told NFL Network on Wednesday. “I say that because, obviously, the Super Bow wins. Two, if you compare Joe Montana and Tom Brady and the athletes that (they’ve) played with on the outside, as well as the tight end position and the run game, (Brady) stands out because he had less talent. Three, Tom has just been consistent all the way through.”

It’s difficult to make a case against Brady, who has the records, the wins, and the Super Bowls. He’ll join John Elway as the only QBs to start five Super Bowls, and with a win would tie Montana (4-0) and Terry Bradshaw (4-0) as the only QBs with four wins.

“When it comes to being elite, it’s about winning Super Bowls,” McNabb argued.

The lack of a clear-cut winner makes the conversation even more compelling. But at least McNabb doesn’t harbor any ill will toward Brady, whom he lost to in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Source: NFL. Video at link.

Just when you thought Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow was down; like a phoenix, he rises from the ashes.

Tebow and the Broncos were last seen Saturday night walking off the field after getting shellacked by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

The former Florida Gators quarterback couldn’t muster any offense in the game and was outclassed on the field by Brady.

But, Tebow has been a ratings draw for CBS and now, the network wants to get Tebow in the studio this Sunday for the AFC Championship game.

According to USAToday.com, CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said CBS has had conversations with Tebow’s people and are waiting to hear back from the popular quarterback.

McManus said CBS is hoping to hear from Tebow by midweek.

Source: CBS Miami.

My Two Cents: Love him or hate him, Tebow either successfully uses the “power of prayer” (if you believe in that sort of thing). Then again, the Vikings suck worse than my last gf’s bj’s. Sorry Jesus, gotta side with the Vikings current level of suck on this one. End Two Cents.

If there’s justice, Tim Tebow just clinched whatever it was he was supposed to clinch.

After another sensational late-game performance, Tebow lifted the Broncos to a 35-32 victory Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

“I’ve definitely seen that a couple times from No. 15,” said Vikings receiver Percy Harvin, a former Tebow teammate at the University of Florida whose terrific 175 yards from scrimmage, two-touchdown effort was spoiled by Tebow leading the Broncos to 28 second-half points. “When I hear all those ESPN commentators say, ‘He can’t do this,’ I laugh. After the game, I whispered in his ear, ‘Let ‘em keep hating. Keep ‘em hating on you.’ ”

Having lifted a team back from a 1-4 record and seemingly in contention for the future quarterback likes of Matt Barkley, Landry Jones or Robert Griffith III, Tebow, and his Broncos, are now in control of their own playoff destiny.

By virtue of his 6-1 record as a starter that has moved the Broncos (7-5) from last place in the AFC West to a tie with Oakland on top, Tebow has become not just the man of the hour, or the Broncos’ quarterback of the year.

CONTINUED at Denver Post.

We come not to buryDonovan McNabb, but to praise him. Sort of.

The veteran quarterback –waived unceremoniously yesterday by Minnesota — has had one heck of a career.

He’s a six-time Pro Bowl player with 37,227 passing yards (17th all-time), 234 touchdown passes (No. 22) and 3,170 completions (No. 14). And let’s not forget that he also was a rambling-scrambling man, running for 3,459 yards.

Will that be enough to get him to the Hall of Fame? He hasn’t won a Super Bowl, but he did get to that game once.

But he isn’t exactly going out in a blaze of glory. He was a non-factor with the Redskins and was only 1-5 as a starter for the Vikings before getting benched. What do you say. Does McNabb make it to Canton?

Source: USA Today. Poll at link.

*Taken from NBC Sports.

Our night wouldn’t be complete without one more Peyton Manning update.

Despite an unsubstantiated report on Indianapolis radio that Manning already underwent a third neck procedure, SI’s Peter King reports that it hasn’t happened.  Yet.

“Peyton Manning has not had a procedure on his neck, I am told reliably,” King wrote on Twitter. “Manning could have a procedure. He and team still investigating options. But it has not happened yet.”

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