Tim Tebow reportedly will ask Jets to trade or release him

Tim Tebow will ask the New York Jets to trade or release him after the season assuming Greg McElroy starts at quarterback for the team’s final two games, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports.

Mehta’s report, which he calls the “next domino” in the Jets’ quarterback situation, comes after coach Rex Ryan named McElroy the starting quarterback for the team’s Week 16 game against the San Diego Chargers.

Though Mark Sanchez has struggled most of the season at quarterback, Tebow, whom many belived to be the backup quarterback, never got a shot at the job. Not only has McElroy passed him on the depth chart for Week 16, but when the Jets first benched Sanchez in a game this season, it was against the Cardinals in Week 12 when Tebow was out with a rib injury.

Mehta’s report makes plenty of sense given the report we shared earlier in the day from Mike Freeman of CBS Sports, who says Tebow is “not happy” that McElroy is getting a shot to start while he isn’t. Tebow reportedly also believes the Jets misled him about his opportunity to play quarterback for them.

Tebow came to New York thinking he would challenge Mark Sanchez for the starting quarterback job. He’s ended up third on the depth chart and mostly contributed via special teams or as a quarterback on rushing plays.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were the other team interested in Tebow when the Broncos traded him in March. They also were said to be interested in Tebow prior to the trade deadline this season.

Photo: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE