Updated, 7:32 p.m. ET
Transcript of Jets quarterback Tim Tebow's news conference in front of his locker in the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center following Thursday's midday OTA practice:
On how everything has been going for him…
It's good. It's been a lot fun. Obviously, everything is new for me learning a new offense but it has been great. We have a few days of work so far. We've had a lot of fun out there. I feel like we have improved. Every day we are getting a little bit better, getting a little bit more comfortable and having a lot of fun while we are doing it.
On coordinator Tony Sparano…
He's been great. He is someone that loves football. He's always coaching, he's always helping you. That's what you want from a coach.
On working with Mark Sanchez…
It's been a lot of fun. We're out there every day working extremely hard, trying to push each other, trying to have fun. Greg [McElroy]'s been doing a great job, Matt [Simms] and G.J. [Kinne] have been working hard. We've been enjoying it.
On Coach Urban Myer being here…
It was fun having him here yesterday, going to dinner with him last night and having him at both practices, to watch me and to also encourage me, hang out. To just be able to hang with someone that I am very close with, a father figure. And also Coach Mickey [Marotti], my strength coach at Florida, is here as well. That was fun to see him. I know they had a good time talking to the Jets coaching staff.
On if Coach Myer gave him any advice…
Not really. He's done so much of that in my career. I pretty much know the things he's going to tell me.
On the Bart Scott Interception…
That was a man coverage where he was the free player and he did a good job. It was one of the first times I ran that play and I was still kind of getting used to that timing. It's an option the tight end has breaking across the middle. It's just something we have to be more on the same page. Ultimately, it was my fault. Bart made a good play.
On if his situation with the Jets is much different than his situation in Denver…
Obviously it is different, a different environment, different people. But as far as going out there and having fun and making the best of every opportunity, I mean, that is very similar. I'm just trying to enjoy it. I love playing the game of football and I am feeling very blessed to do so.
On the last time he made a tackle on special teams…
I would have to say never.
On if making a tackle on special teams would be a first…
It will be.
On if he's worried about blocking on special teams…
Not really. I don't think it will be too bad. Kind of get out of the way and run down there. It probably won't be too hard.
On everyone learning a new offense together…
I think it's good because we're all on the same page. We are all learning every day, installing new things every day and all trying to help each other grasp this new offense and trying to execute it out there. It's new for everyone. We're all trying to understand it. I think it helps, because all of us are on the same page with things.
On his goals coming in…
My number one goal, first and foremost, is to just learn the offense and be able to execute it as a quarterback — to be able to understand it, to be able to go out there and be able to run our offense regardless of what is called. So that is my goal.
On getting use to the media attention…
I really don't pay that much attention to it.
On the ribbing from his teammates…
No, that's just fun. If they didn't, then it means they didn't care. It's awesome, because they give me a hard time about it and that's great. If they didn't, that's when you have to worry.
On if the locker room is divided…
No, not at all. I think everybody is very much on the same page. I feel like it is a great locker room. Everybody gets along very well. They take care of each other in practice and we have a great time out there.
On if practice had a competitive vibe…
Absolutely, it had a competitive vibe. It was a lot of fun. I feel like we have a very good pace, getting in and out of the huddle and getting a lot of plays off, which is something that Coach Sparano stresses. So we want to have a good tempo. I feel like we were very competitive. We were trying to make plays, trying to execute. A lot of guys are learning the offense for the first time. It's understandable if some of the different flaws or mistakes or mental errors here and there because it is the first time a lot of us have ever run these plays. It'll constantly just get better every time.
On if his two interceptions were frustrating…
It is definitely frustrating. But it is 7-on-7. Both of those plays, it was the first time I ran them. So I'll learn from it and that is it. It won't bother me again. When you make a bad play, just put it behind you and move on. I feel like I did. I went out there the next team period and felt like I did OK. Again, you just have to remember where you are and what you're doing and that was 7-on-7 and the first time we were running those plays. It was a good play by Yeremiah [Bell] and Bart [Scott]. I'm sure I'll hear about it a lot from Bart.
On if Coach Sparano said anything after the interceptions…
Oh, yeah. Both times he was saying, "You have to take your checkdown. It's right there in front of you." That is obviously a learning point for me that I didn't learn the first time.
On the first week of OTAs…
I thought it was great. I thought it was a lot of fun. I think as an offense people are trying to come together, everybody is trying to learn the offense together and helping each other out. I feel like there was a really good vibe. I felt like players cared a lot and they are really trying to understand and push themselves. They were not just going through the motions but really trying to execute and play well.
On running down on punt coverage…
You know it is definitely something that I am trying to get used to. It is unique. But it is fun and I have a good time out there.
On if he has ever covered a punt on any level…
No, I haven't.
On if Coach Ryan or Coach Westhoff approached him about playing on special teams…
They both did.
On his reaction to playing on the punt team…
I'll do whatever I can to help the team.
On if today's practice was the first time he worked on the punt team…
No, Monday.
On if he's practiced on special teams since the start of OTAs…
Yes, I have.
On worrying about being injured playing special teams…
No, when you start thinking about injuries, then that's probably when you're going to get injured. I just go out there and have fun and try to do the job to the best of my abilities, whatever I'm asked to do.
On if he is eager to get the Wildcat package installed…
Not really. I'm just trying to understand this offense and be able to run this offense as a quarterback, be able to execute and get our team in and out of the huddle and look OK doing it.
On Mark Sanchez's performance during OTAs…
I think he's doing a good job. He's trying to understand the offense just like all of us. I feel like he's doing really well and I feel like we're pushing each other. I think we're trying to get better every single day.
On Darrelle Revis' comments that he was "passionate"…
I heard something about that, but not fully. I'd say not to read too much into those reports [joking].
On his thoughts on comments that he's passionate…
I feel like that's a compliment because that's just how I live life. I want to be passionate, I want to be someone that shows passion, I want to be someone that loves what he does. And it's not because of the money, it's not because of the fame, because people know your name. It's because you love what you do. And when you really love what you do, you're going to be passionate about it. When you're passionate about it, that's the only way to become your best.
When you come out here and you just go through the motions, you're going to be whatever. However much talent God gave you, that's how good you're going to be. But if you're passionate about it, I feel like you can continue to get better and become your best. I feel like every day I want to be someone that's passionate about what I do, about the life that I live. Then I feel like I will be able to live life to the fullest.
On the threat with him playing on the punt team…
How we look at it is it's another offensive play. Depending on what look we get, depending on how they line up, we want to be able to take advantage of it. I feel pretty excited about it.
On his confidence that he could gain 1 or 2 yards in those situations…
I feel like we have a lot of good blockers in front and we'll figure out something to do.
On Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and his staff visiting practice today…
It was fun and he's great. To be able to see him and hang with him and Coach Mickey [Marotti], our strength coach who was at Florida, who is now at Ohio State as well, it was great to be able to hang out with those guys and to be able to catch up a little bit.
On how long Coach Meyer and his staff were in town…
They came in yesterday and watched practice. We were able to grab some dinner last night and they came back today and now they're flying out.
On if it is easier for him to win respect in games than it is in practice…
I don't know. I feel like games, it's different. We don't have pads, we're just going out there and we're running plays, and that's important, but obviously everything is a little bit different in games. I think regardless, you have to go out there and you have to perform to the best of your ability. For me, it's obviously about earning guys' respect, but I thinks that's how you carry yourself and how you prepare and how much you care and that's everything. That's from in the weightroom to on the practice field to in meetings. It's kind of everything that we do.
On how the strength program at the Jets compares to the University of Florida's program…
Coach Bill [Hughan] does a good job with our strength program. I think we've be in it for five weeks and I feel like a lot of guys have made good strides in it. I feel like it was a good time for all the guys on the team, especially me, to get to know a bunch of guys. We do some fun things going out there and competing, some races, things like that. That was really fun for a lot for the guys, breaking up into teams and competing every week. That was kind of a good bonding for our team.
On if he always tries to win in those competitions…
Every now and then [laughter].
On if competing in the offseason strength program illustrates how competitive he is…
I don't like losing. When there is competition, I'll pretty much do whatever it takes to win. I'm pretty competitive. But you also have to be smart and sometimes it's hard to know when to cross that line and when not to.
On if the team falling behind early in games would limit how he's used…
I don't know. I think that depends on our game plan and what we're trying to accomplish. I think, depending on the score and where you're at in the game, whether you're ahead, whether you're behind, all that plays into it. But it's also what we're trying to accomplish as an offense. How are we trying to attack the defense? What are they giving us? What is the defense playing? So a lot of different things go into that.
On if he's seen any improvement working on his mechanics…
Really, Coach Cav [QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh] right now is just working on a lot of footwork, drops, especially under center with play action, having the right rhythm that will match up with the routes. That's something that I'm OK sometimes and then I will shorten my drop or I will get too quick, and it's about not just the steps but the rhythm and feeling and timing of those drops. That's something that we're really focusing on.
On the high school student that "Tebowed" at a graduation…
Someone mentioned something to me about that. I don't really know all the details. What happened?
On his reaction to the student "Tebowing" and having his diploma withheld…
I don't think his diploma should be withheld. I think it was probably something a lot of people laughed at. I don't know that it was necessarily appropriate, but I definitely think he should be able to graduate. Let him graduate [laughter].
On the student having to clean the gym as punishment…
I think it was all about the intentions that he had. If it was for a bet, maybe [laughter].
