Report: Jets Work Out QB O'Connell; Let The Tebow Speculation Begin -- Again
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Jets never fail to surprise us.
Rex Ryan & Co. worked out former third-string quarterback Kevin O'Connell on Tuesday, according to the New York Daily News.
There is "no deal imminent," tweeted reporter Manish Mehta, but the Jets are "keeping him in mind for emergency."
Of course, we're talking about the Jets -- so let the speculation begin. Could there be a shift in strategy brewing at quarterback?
There was talk in September about whether Tim Tebow would ask for a trade this offseason due to his part-time role. Tebow has insisted he's happy playing for New York, and Jets owner Woody Johnson said in a recent interview that his club would keep the wildcat specialist through the remainder of his contract.
Some think the Jets would be better served with a traditional backup -- perhaps one with a lower profile -- for Mark Sanchez, like current third-stringer Greg McElroy. With the Oct. 30 trade deadline fast approaching, O'Connell's visit could raise some eyebrows.
Meanwhile, Patriots coach Bill Belichick praised Tebow ahead of New England's Week 7 matchup with the Jets.
"We saw him play last year. He quarterbacked that team to the playoffs in Denver, and in addition to some of the quarterbacking things, he's done a lot of other things for the Jets," Belichick said Tuesday. "Yeah, of course he's a valuable guy. There's no doubt about that."
"(Tebow) doesn't always line up at quarterback when he's in there on offense, so you have to be ready to deal with him at other positions as well," he added. "He's a good runner, he's a strong runner, very strong. He's mobile in the pocket, smart player, he can do a lot of different things. Different option plays and things like that, so you certainly have to be aware of him when he's in there."
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