Jets to take 'hard look' at Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow looks on as he warms up before a game against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium. (Oct. 8, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- As he prepared for his team's bye week, Rex Ryan vowed to take "a hard look" at the Jets' use of Tim Tebow. But when asked Monday if he plans to use his backup quarterback more in the second half of the season, the Jets' coach was -- not surprisingly -- noncommittal.
"I don't want to get into specific things," he said of Tebow, who is averaging only seven offensive snaps a game. "I guess we'll see . . . Really, it's more about how we're using everybody."
With the Seattle Seahawks (5-4) on the horizon and the Jets facing an uphill climb in the AFC standings, Ryan maintained that his focus is on fielding the best team. "Understand that we will do what it takes to put our team in the best situation to try to win games," he said.
During his weekly spot on ESPN New York radio, Ryan denied the Tebow trade was engineered and supported solely by Jets owner Woody Johnson. "That's definitely not the case," said Ryan, who reiterated that he still thinks Tebow can help the team win games.
Crowd control
Loud. Crazy. Noisy. That's how the Jets described the "12th man" atmosphere of Seattle's CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks are 4-0 at home, thanks in large part to the intimate game-day feel of the stadium. "The 12th man is pretty crucial out there," safety LaRon Landry said. "But it all depends on the player who it intimidates. No problem for me."
Jet streams
The Jets, who still have two 53-man roster spots available, signed running back John Griffin and former James Madison linebacker D.J. Bryant to the practice squad. Griffin (5-11, 208 pounds) was signed as a reserve / future free agent in January and spent training camp with the Jets before being waived in August . . . Running back Bilal Powell (shoulder), safety Eric Smith (knee), nose tackle Sione Po'uha (back), tight end Jeff Cumberland (wrist), right guard Brandon Moore (hip) and Landry (heel) were limited in practice. Nose tackle Kenrick Ellis (MCL sprain), linebacker Bart Scott (toe) and running back Joe McKnight (high ankle sprain) did not practice . . . The Jets will fly back to New Jersey from Seattle and practice at their home facility next week before making the trip to St. Louis.
