Drew Stanton: Tim Tebow trade hard on Mark Sanchez

To Drew Stanton, the Jets' acquisition of Tim Tebow has put Mark Sanchez in a tough spot.

Even though the two made nice yesterday, confidently indicating this whole scenario is going to work out, Stanton believes things won't be all that easy for Sanchez if a groundswell develops calling for Tebow to unseat the Jets' incumbent quarterback.

“I think it’s difficult because every move you make is going to be completely judged," Stanton told 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis. "As if you’re not under a big enough microscope already out there in New York — you have him, who is probably the biggest sports media darling out there right now that people look at, and it’s just hard.

"You saw the effects that it had on Kyle Orton, who is a great quarterback in this league, has won a lot of football games in this league. But the overwhelming cry for Tim Tebow when things start heading south, it can be difficult to deal with at times. And it’s nothing against Tim, because Tim’s a great guy. He’s earned a lot of the success that he’s had in this league. And the type of person that he is, he really is that good of a guy.

"But the whirlwind of media that follows him can be difficult.”

Stanton signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Jets on March 16, thinking he was going to be Sanchez's primary back up. But five days later, the Jets landed Tebow for two draft picks and Stanton didn't want to be the No. 3, so he asked to be traded or released.

The Jets shipped Stanton to the Colts a week after he initially agreed to his deal, capping his short stint. Stanton said knew he had to cut ties with the Jets after he found out they were pursuing Tebow.

“I think so, definitely," he said. "And as it started picking up steam and gathering more information about it I was trying to get in contact with people at the Jets. And I just didn’t like the whole situation or whatnot, and they were great about it. There was an open line of communication after the trade was going to go through, and trying to help me find a team. And I couldn’t be happier with the result.”

Stanton indicated there was some uncertainty on the Jets' part during the eight-hour hangup in the trade that ultimately led to the Jets paying Denver $2.5 million due to a clause in Tebow's pact, and him having to sign a re-written deal.

“Well I think there was a little confusion on their part, because the people that I talked to in the morning didn’t really know how it was going to go down," Stanton said. "They said there was talks . . . whether or not he was going to come in, but his role wasn’t clearly defined to me at that point. They said, ‘Well, we still want you to be the backup,’ and that’s something I would’ve been alright with. And then it kind of changed later.

"I talked to Mike Tannenbaum the next day and he said we want Tim to be the backup and we’re gonna try and trade you. They apologized profusely and said that this wasn’t their intent initially. I understand circumstances change and whatnot, so it was time for me to move on, and they did that very willingly and helped me get to a team that I’m very excited to be on.”

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The Jets announced they've re-signed WR Scotty McKnight, Sanchez's best friend. McKnight was placed on practice-squad injured reserve in November after suffering a torn ACL in practice.

McKnight is going to have to choose a new number. He wore No. 15 this past season, a number that belongs to that guy named Tebow now.