Transcript of quarterback Tim Tebow's news conference in front of his locker after the Jets' Wednesday afternoon practice at the Atlantic Health Training Center:
On his reactions to the newspaper article…
I didn't even read it, but I definitely heard about it. For me, I just try and be the best teammate I can and to work as hard as I can to get better and improve every single day. I give my heart and soul every time I step on that field. I honestly feel like I have a great relationship with a lot of guys in this locker room. I appreciate all of the guys in this locker room and I think it's an ongoing process of trying to build relationships and trying to work hard and grow together as a team.
On if there are any issues in the locker room…
It doesn't really make me worry. Negative things being said about you always can be a little frustrating or saddening, but at the same time you're always motivated to go out there and keep working. I've had to deal with a lot of negative comments and criticism in my football career, so it motivates me and pushes me to try and get better.
On the anonymous comments…
That's not for me to say. I think I just try and be the best teammate I can be. I appreciate all the guys in here. I think we have to do a better job of growing closer together. That comes with time and it comes with games together, practicing together and going through things. You just try to handle things the best you can.
On if he has received support from teammates about the comments…
Absolutely.
On what type of comments he received from teammates…
They've been great. They've all been very supportive from the coaches and everybody. It's been great.
On if it's hard to trust teammates after the anonymous comments were made…
No. You build relationships with everybody in this locker room and everyone is a little bit different. I have a lot of great relationships and a lot of great friends in this locker room and a lot of people I really care about. I really care about being a Jet and being a part of this organization.
On Coach Ryan's comments about the anonymous statements…
I don't really have one. I just try and set the best example I can with my actions, my words and how I go about carrying myself. I try and do that with character.
On what he would say to the unnamed sources…
I don't necessarily have anything to say. I just try and be the best teammate I can be and try to be great to everybody in this locker room. I try and work my hardest at helping this team try to win football games. I give my heart and soul to doing that every single day.
On if he has been frustrated by his role…
To be honest, I didn't necessarily know what to expect. I think, saying that, there's been some good things and obviously some things that I would have liked to do better, be able to do some better things with my role, try to expand that. The most frustrating thing is losing football games as a team. Not individually but together as a team. You go out there and you play to win football games. We have to do a better job of coming together to try to win those games.
On the impact of the story...
You can't control a lot of things and this is something I can't control. I can control my attitude, my effort and my work ethic. Those are the things that will never change based on what anybody says.
On if he is surprised people would criticism him as they did…
I don't know. I've had criticism somewhat playing football my whole life, so you try to do your best at handling it and understanding on one side you just try to make it motivate you. At the same time, it always has somewhat of an effect on you. You're human and it's not always fun to have people say negative things about you, but you try and be stronger from it. It always has made me stronger in the past and it will continue to make me stronger.
On his reaction to the article…
I didn't read it. I just heard about it. For me, it's not necessarily having too much of a reaction or letting it affect me, too, if that makes sense. It's just OK, it's a little disappointing, but you try and go about your business and improve, get better and not let this affect you negatively at all. If anything, it should make you work harder.
On what makes him a polarizing figure…
I don't know. It's hard to answer.
On if it's tough walking into a locker room and not wonder who said the comments…
That's not who I am. I'm more secure in who I am as a person, as a football player than that to look and wonder why. I have a bunch of great relationships in this locker room. There's a bunch of awesome dudes in here. We have a lot of great times and we're continuing to bond as a team and improve as a team.
On his talk with Matt Slauson this morning… It was great. He's an awesome guy. We have a great relationship.
