Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow misses the 'normal' life

Poor Tim Tebow.

When asked how he'd spend his day off Tuesday, the Jets' backup quarterback said he will likely include a light workout and watching some football film. Leaving campus, he added, didn't seem to be in the cards.

But Tebow said he longs for a more "normal" life, and the ability to go out for dinner or catch a movie.

"Sometimes it is [difficult] if you just want to watch a movie, 'Dark Knight' or something," he said Monday. "It's not that I get frustrated doing it. It's just sometimes you just want to relax and be normal because that's how I view myself.

Sometimes you'd like to be able to do more normal stuff and you can't," he added.

Tebow, who was traded from the Broncos after they signed Peyton Manning, said he's still getting used to the New York spotlight - and a constant tail of reporters.

"I try not to think about it or worry about it or pay attention to it," Tebow said of the media attention to him.

"I really just try to be myself and live as much of a normal life as I can without having any of this change who I am," he added. "It's something I take pride in, not changing, especially my values, my faith."

The Jets don't seem too worried about his ability to handle the pressure.

"Certainly there's more media coverage for this team than any other I've been on," coach Rex Ryan said. "I'm sure there's some adjustment."

That was driven home after Tebow's first practice, when he decided to doff his rain-soaked jersey before running off the field, creating an image that was instantly beamed around the world.

Tebow said he hadn't thought anything of it, and had done the same thing many times in Florida and Denver without giving it a thought and without it becoming a media sensation.

"My shirt felt like 20 pounds," he said. "I really didn't think y'all would be taking pictures."

Quarterback Mark Sanchez admitted he and his teammates gave Tebow "a hard time," but said, "it's all in fun."

Though Tebow said he won't change his demeanor on or off the field, he'll make sure to keep his shirt on in public from now on.

Said Tebow, laughing: "I can change that a little."