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Reports: Jets Plan To Trade Or Release Tim Tebow

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Apparently you can have too much Tim Tebow.

The Jets plan to part ways with the high-profile backup quarterback this offseason, according to multiple reports.

New York passed over Tebow on Tuesday when coach Rex Ryan named third-stringer Greg McElroy his starter for Week 16. Tebow, who was mired in a quarterback controversy with Mark Sanchez for the better part of 2012, admitted he was "disappointed" with the decision.

The former first-round pick, who was acquired from Denver last March, will request to be traded or released after the season if McElroy starts the final two games, according to the New York Daily News.

It looks like the divorce will be mutual.

First reported by ESPN, the forthcoming split was confirmed by Manish Mehta of the Daily News on Thursday.

"Tim Tebow's request to be traded/released after season is only half the equation. The Jets will, indeed, look to trade him, per source," Mehta reported via Twitter. "So, the Jets and Tim Tebow will have a mutual parting of the ways after this season in the form of a trade or release, per source."

The team's trade-or-release plan was also reported by the New York Post.

"Rex and Tony (Sparano) had no idea how to use him," a source told the Post.

Asked about his future with the team on Wednesday, Tebow said he'd talk about it "after the Buffalo game."

It's a stunning turn of events for a team which seemed on the surface to be so enamored with the 25-year-old going into the season.

"I think you can never have too much Tebow," Jets owner Woody Johnson famously told CNBC in August, just weeks after WFAN co-host and former pro quarterback Boomer Esiason implored the franchise to cut him.

Less than two months later on the same network, Johnson said New York would "absolutely" keep the quarterback through 2014, the final year of his contract.

Used primarily as a personal punt protector on special teams, Tebow has thrown just eight passes this season, completing six of them for 39 yards. He's also rushed the ball 32 times for 102 yards.

He hasn't scored a touchdown as a member of the Jets.

"Every opportunity you get you want to make the most of," said Tebow. "I would have loved to have more of an opportunity to just play quarterback."

The Jets also plan to explore the trade market for Sanchez, according to the New York Daily News, though Pro Football Talk reported "no decisions have been made."

Wow. How could it go so wrong? Sound off in the comments...

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