Tim Tebow

Each time Tim Tebow steps on the field for the Jets, defenses will know what to expect. The unexpected, of course. The versatile quarterback was acquired Wednesday from the Broncos and will give the Jets' offense a boost - for at least a few snaps a game. "Instead of a team just preparing for our base offense, they will have to prepare for what we do and what we may do," coach Rex Ryan said at LSU's pro day Thursday in Baton Rouge, La. Tebow won't start as he did in Denver, not with New York committed to Mark Sanchez.

Peyton Manning's two biggest targets are a pair of promising young receivers who have already made their mark in the NFL despite spending lots of time on the sideline. Neither Demaryius Thomas nor Eric Decker has put together a complete season in the NFL — or, for that matter, a full offseason. Both missed much of the lead-up to their rookie year in 2010 with foot injuries. Last year there was the lockout, plus another injury for Thomas. Decker shined for two months last season but faded after Tim Tebow took over at quarterback for Kyle Orton.

By Chad Finn, Globe Staff If football were his sole priority, Tim Tebow would have to consider Sunday a lousy day. The Broncos' second-year quarterback, who became a national phenomenon by orchestrating improbable comeback victories while sparking debate over both his unorthodox passing style and his openly religious personality, had arguably his worst game of the season yesterday during the Broncos' 45-10 loss to the Patriots in an AFC...

Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and three other players suspended in the NFL's investigation of New Orleans's cash-for-hits bounty system challenged their punishments Monday. Vilma, named by the NFL as a ringleader of the operation, appealed his season-long suspension while the NFL Players Association notified the league it was reserving the appeal rights of Saints defensive end Will Smith and those of ex-Saints Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita . All four players and the union argue that no appeal should be heard before NFLPA grievances are resolved...

By Christopher L. Gasper, Globe columnist There is a segment of the football-following public who would like to see Tim Tebow brought to his knees for a reason other than his faith. The Patriots don't usually have a lot of fans outside of New Englanders and members of the Boston sports diaspora, but you can bet this Sunday, when they take on Tebow and the Denver Broncos, they'll be some NFL fans rooting fervently for them to end Tebow's turn as a Cinderella signal-caller. Regardless of whether you believe in Him, err, Tim or not, it's hard to deny there is something special happening with...

Tim Tebow fielded questions on a conference call this afternoon with his Broncos set to face the Patriots this weekend. By Julian Benbow, Globe staff FOXBOROUGH -- Tim Tebow's his own media universe at this point. He handled questions during a press conference this afternoon with relative poise, although one about whether his faith has grown stronger since going through his first two NFL seasons caught him off guard. Some quick hits from the teleconference.

DENVER - One of the most storied NFL playoff teams ran into a rejuvenated Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. Sorry, Pittsburgh Steelers. The magic is back. Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas on an electrifying 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime and the Broncos defeated the stunned Steelers, 29-23, in the AFC wild-card game yesterday. Wild doesn't begin to describe it. The play took 11 seconds and was the quickest ending to an overtime in NFL history.

DENVER - Tim Tebow already had been proclaimed as the Mile High Messiah weeks before Christmas, so it wasn't as though a Hallelujah chorus soared above the Rockies Sunday after he threw the one-pass knockout that staggered the Steelers. Tebowmania may have sent the TV ratings soaring and Twitterdom tweeting but the Broncos signal-caller still has managed to remain outside of the hurly-burly. "I've either been at my house or been here and that's pretty much the way it's been for me most of the season," Tebow said yesterday as he and his overachieving colleagues prepared for...

Tim Tebow didn't win the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback job as much as Kyle Orton lost it. Regardless, Tebow has ditched his cap and clipboard and is now the starring attraction in Denver. Coach John Fox made the switch official Tuesday, announcing Tebow will start against the Miami Dolphins when the Broncos return from their bye week. He supplants Orton, who has struggled ever since winning the job with a spectacular training camp. "Well, I think 1-4 has a lot to do with it," Fox said.

Curt Schilling stood at the back of the mound and prayed, pressing his cross pendant to his lips. David Ortiz points to the heavens each time he blasts a home run. Football players hold hands in prayer circles and soccer players make the sign of the cross. But quarterback Tim Tebow, with his kneeling prayer after each touchdown and other overt displays of faith, has captured the imagination of the nation - and stirred some controversy - in a way that none of the others have.

Each Thursday, the Boston Globe hands out its weekly golf award, goes inside the numbers, and looks at the week ahead on the tours: PLAYER OF THE WEEK Louis Oosthuizen. What's the best way to recover from the sting of a bitter loss in the Masters? Well, winning the US Open two months later by eight shots, like Rory McIlroy did last year, remains the leader in the clubhouse. But flying to the other side of the world a day after a playoff loss at Augusta National and capturing the Malaysian Open by three shots is impressive just the same.

The nation won't have to wait long to see Peyton Manning in a Broncos uniform. Manning's first game as Broncos quarterback will come in prime time as Denver hosts Pittsburgh on the opening Sunday of the NFL season. The four-time MVP was released by Indianapolis after missing the 2011 season following neck surgery. After conducting a four-city lottery for his services, Manning landed in Denver, which hasn't won a Super Bowl since his new boss, John Elway, was behind center. "We're excited about that.

Tim Tebow drew a crowd of about 15,000 to an outdoor Easter church service Sunday, telling the gathering it's important to be outspoken about faith while admonishing athletes about not being better role models. "In Christianity, it's the Pope and Tebow right now," Celebration Church pastor Joe Champion he said. "We didn't have enough room to handle the Pope. " Tebow — devout Christian, backup NFL quarterback and cultural phenomenon — has a flock of admirers drawn as much to his religious leanings as his Heisman Trophy skills.

The Jets' decision to trade for Tim Tebow may have appeared to be a rash, shoot-from-the-hip decision by coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum. But from listening to Ryan last week at the NFL meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., it was clear that this was a calculated football decision. Ryan has a clear plan on the field for Tebow and realizes the potential for problems off it - specifically, fan reaction if starter Mark Sanchez struggles. Last week, Ryan had all the right answers, and you could see how, in his mind, this move will improve the...

NEW YORK - New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow has already been introduced to fans, but they will have to wait until Tuesday to meet his official NFL jersey. US District Judge Kevin Castel granted Nike Inc. a temporary restraining order late Wednesday, finding "sufficient reason" to block sales of Tebow merchandise created by Reebok International Ltd. after March 1. Nike has a five-year contract to be the NFL's exclusive provider of on-field apparel, including game uniforms and sideline apparel.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin wasn't exactly gloating. Well, maybe he was. Asked at the NFC coaches breakfast about all the attention the New York Jets have been getting with their trade for Tim Tebow and contract extension for Mark Sanchez — in other words, their budding quarterback controversy — Coughlin simply smiled and said: "You know who won the Super Bowl even if we're not on front page. New Yorkers know. " Coughlin also says he doesn't believe in rotating quarterbacks.

By Matt Pepin, Globe Staff ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow played through "considerable" pain Saturday vs. the Patriots. According to Schefter's report , obtained through an NFL source, Tebow was injured in the third quarter and suffered torn cartilage in his ribs, a bruised lung and had fluid buildup in his chest. He had difficulty sleeping over the weekend, and had an MRI on Monday. On Monday, Broncos chief of football operations John Elway said Tebow is the team's starting quarterback heading into training camp next summer.

Tim Tebow laughed a few times, smiled steadily, and stayed polite and composed. If being surrounded by dozens of cameras and scores of media people made him nervous, the New York Jets' new backup quarterback didn't show it. He was cool and calm - exactly how he looked during those hair-raising comebacks last season with the Denver Broncos. His message: I'm here to help, not to create another Jets controversy. "It's an honor for all of you to show up to hear me say a few words," a grinning Tebow told a pack of more than 200 reporters.

FOXBOROUGH - Rob Gronkowski remembers taking Dunkin' Donuts orders from his Patriots teammates when he was a rookie two years ago. On Tuesday, he found himself on coffee detail again, serving average Joes their daily cups of joe. On Monday, Dunkin' Donuts announced that the Pro Bowl tight end had signed a two-year sponsorship contract with the Canton-based company. As part of the deal, Gronkowski was on hand - in a walking boot - at the Main Street location in Foxborough to serve unsuspecting customers their morning coffees.

PALM BEACH, Fla. - Bill Belichick met with reporters Tuesday for the first time since Super Bowl XLVI, taking part in the AFC coaches' breakfast at The Breakers resort, where the annual NFL meetings are being held. Initially, Belichick's comportment indicated that he'd rather be anywhere else, with no fewer than a dozen reporters waiting for him. It perhaps didn't help that the first question came from a New York reporter who wanted his thoughts on Tim Tebow being traded to the rival Jets.