NEW YORK // Tim Tebow is coming to New York. Really.
After a big false start, the New York Jets have pulled off a Tebow-like comeback, getting the quarterback who turned the Denver Broncos from an also-ran into a play-off team last season and became the NFL's most talked-about player - for a fourth- and sixth-round draft pick.
Now, Tebowmania is opening on Broadway.
And, there is sure to be plenty of drama - just as there was from the moment the Jets pulled off the deal. Or thought they did, that is.
"I'm thankful they stuck with me through this whole crazy process," Tebow said.
Eight hours after initially agreeing to a trade, the teams completed it after it was hung up when the Jets baulked at repaying Denver more than $5 million (Dh18m) for a salary advance due Tebow.
The two sides agreed to split that cost, and Jets' general manager Mike Tannenbaum said the team was "comfortable with the compensation."
He said there was a disagreement about how to handle the salary advance after Denver received the papers.
"We knew what the contract was," he said. "We had read it. ... We felt it was one way; they felt it was another. Based on that, they were well within their rights to assess their different possibilities of what to do and their alternatives. And they did so throughout the day."
So the Jets waited and waited - and looked as if they had botched the big deal. Despite ultimately pulling off the trade, it was just another bizarre moment for the Jets, a team that has had its share of them over the years, conjuring memories of Bill Belichick's hiring as coach and his resignation one day later.
The deal also raised questions about the Jets' commitment to Mark Sanchez, who received a $40.5 million contract extension, with $20.5 million guaranteed, earlier this month.
During the last two days, Tannenbaum repeatedly referred to Sanchez as "our guy" and the team's unquestioned starting quarterback. "Mark Sanchez is, has been and will be our starting quarterback," he said.
But the Jets have opened themselves - and Sanchez - to what could be a season of added criticism from restless fans who are sure to call for Tebow to play at the first sign of struggles.
"We obviously know that Tim has a magnetic following," Tannenbaum said. "We understand the popularity of the backup quarterback, and this one is more unique than others."
Tebow said he had a "great conversation" with Sanchez, adding that they have been friends for several years.
Just a few weeks after "Linsanity" swept the area and the rest of the NBA with the Knicks' sensational Jeremy Lin, "Timsanity" now will take over New York.
"I'm just excited for him and to see what he does," Lin said in Philadelphia, where the Knicks beat the 76ers. "We'll see what happens next year. But I'm excited, obviously, that he's going to be in New York."
So was defensive end Mike DeVito, who likes the intangible qualities Tebow will offer. "You've got a tough player on the field, a leader in the locker room and a guy who shares the faith that I share," DeVito said. "So, I'm very grateful to have him on our team, and I feel it's going to really benefit us as a whole."
But not everyone's a fan. Another teammate, cornerback Antonio Cromartie, took to Twitter to express his confidence in Sanchez and the offence as structured before the deal was finalised.
"Y bring Tebow in when we need to bring in more Weapons for (at)Mark-Sanchez," Cromartie tweeted. "Let's build the team around him. We already signed to 3 year ext."
The Jets signed Drew Stanton last week to be their No 2 quarterback, ahead of Greg McElroy, the team's seventh-round draft pick last year. Tannenbaum said Tuesday that he was confident in the trio, but acknowledged that the team would assess that situation.
Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath, who led the Jets to their only Super Bowl title in 1969, was also among those who were unhappy. "I'm just sorry that I can't agree with this situation. I think it's just a publicity stunt. I can't go with it. I think it's wrong," Namath told 1050 ESPN Radio on Wednesday. "I don't think they know what they're doing over there."
