Jeff Garcia: Tim Tebow is not going to compete for Jets quarterback job

What are the New York Jets waiting for? That’s what former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia and countless others are wondering regarding Tim Tebow. Garcia, who has become a personal mentor for Mark Sanchez, feels that the team is simply distracting Sanchez from reaching his potential by keeping Tebow around.

“If there’s going to be competition at the position, it’s not going to come from Tim Tebow,” Garcia told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. “Having Tebow there (last season) just became more of a distraction, more of a circus show. Obviously, it’s their decision. But from an outsider looking in, having Tebow there doesn’t bring anything positive. It just brings distraction.

“For Mark, the main competition is going to be with David Garrard and Greg McElroy.”

Last month, Jets GM John Idzik the Jets are keeping Tebow to increase quarterback competition across the board. After what happened last year, we all know Tebow has no shot of earning the Jets starting quarterback job during the offseason. So is he really helping to increase competition?

“When you’re a quarterback, you don’t need artificial competition,” Garcia said. “And it’s not fair to Tim to put him through all that. If there’s a place for Tim that gives him a chance to be a contributor in an offense with another team, let him go be that guy.”

Garcia played under new Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers. He has been working with Sanchez to teach him how to handle the West Coast offense and says Sanchez has done a “great job” so far. Clearly, Garcia has no reason to believe Tebow is pushing Sanchez to become a better player.

In reality, the Jets are probably holding out to see if they can get some sort of late-round draft pick compensation for Tebow on or around draft day. If that doesn’t happen, they would be stupid to keep him around.