New York Jets finally release QB Tim Tebow

The New York Jets have finally waived quarterback Tim Tebow.

Just over 13 months after sending a fourth- and sixth-round draft selection (along with $2.53 million of a salary advance) to the Denver Broncos for Tebow’s services, the Jets have officially to cut him loose for no return.

Tebow was completely ineffective during his one year in New York, carrying the ball 32 times for 102 yards and completing 6-of-8 passes for 39 yards in the 12 games in which he saw action. However, his inability to serve as a playmaker for the Jets was hampered both by offensive coordinator Tony Sparano’s lack of creativity and head coach Rex Ryan’s continuously diminishing trust for the former Florida Gators signal caller.

“We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow,” said Ryan in a team release. “Things did not work out the way we all had hoped. Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this offseason. We wish him the best moving forward.”

Once it became apparent that New York did not see Tebow in its future, the team ruined any opportunity it had to trade him and receive some value back for the player by making it well known that he was not in the Jets’ plans going forward.

Multiple reports of him being cut at the start of free agency on March 13 surfaced and no team in the league had a desire to part with any form of compensation for a player it could theoretically get for free.

That is now a possibility, though it may be unlikely.

New York did Tebow no favors by waiting to the conclusion of this year’s draft to cut him. Aside from undrafted free agents being added to fill out rosters, most teams have their starting quarterback and reserves in place. There are fewer open roster spots now than have been all offseason.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on the air Monday that the Jets had granted Tebow permission to seek a trade in the offseason, but he refused to discuss the possibility of moving to tight end, an offer supposedly made by a number of franchises.

Tebow has been working all offseason to improve his throwing motion in hopes that a franchise gives him the opportunity to compete as a reserve. His quarterback coaches – and supposedly bystanders like Steve Young – have been impressed with the improvement he has made.

Tebow originally chose to play for New York rather than play for his hometown team, Jacksonville, which made a trade offer that Denver also would have accepted. He, his agent and his family decided that he would have a better opportunity to see the field and succeed with the Jets.