Yes, that mighty Bills defense spent $100 million on free agent DE Mario Williams and their top draft pick on CB Stephon Gilmore of South Carolina – whom I’ve said is not a great cover guy and best suited for zone defense – the same defense that can’t stop anyone a month into the season. So it turns out that it was the Bills D that broke down…not the Jets’ offense that took off.

No, the Jets’ scoring output has been on a low ever since. They put up 10 against the Steelers…not unheard of especially playing in Pittsburgh, but 10 points won’t win you many games…especially when the offensively-challenged Oakland Raiders put up 34 on the same team the following week.

The Jets then managed 23 in overtime in Miami against a defense well-built to stop the Jets’ offense by happenstance, but the Dolphins don’t exactly help themselves or their defense with their lack of offensive punch.

Then came last week. 60 minutes, zero points against the best team in the NFC if not the NFL in the San Francisco 49′ers. Niners’ CB Carlos Rogers says the Niners’ players were talking on the sideline during the game about how the Jets’ defense ‘quit playing.’ While it may seem like a cheap shot after the fact, the Niners aren’t known to be a high-octane offense. They put up 37 and coasted in the 4th quarter and the talk persisted.

Interesting.

Sept 23, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) seeks medical treatment during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Has Rex Ryan lost control of this team?

They lost Darrelle Revis for the season during the Miami game. If that weren’t enough, they lost WR Santonio Holmes for the season with a Lisfranc foot injury against the Niners. Their best defender and best offensive threat – gone and gone. Yes it hurts, but injuries are a part of the NFL and always will be. Both players got injured on non-contact plays so that can’t be blamed. Human bodies are imperfect and can and do get injured every day in every occupation.

As Albert Breer pointed out on the NFL Network, the Jets weren’t the most talented team at the WR position anyway BEFORE the injury; now they may be forced to look outside the organization. Perhaps Chad Johnson should stay close to his phone – even though the Jets have the relationship with Plaxico Burress. I think Johnson’s the one that is hungry enough AND hasn’t lost the ability to play…with the right team. But what about the immediate future?

The question now has to be asked: Is this a team whose make-up is now molded for Tim Tebow to shine?

Yes, we’ve been inundated with Tebow, Tebow, Tebow ever since he signed. But now are the ‘lack of stars’ aligning to run the University of Florida offense? Oddly enough, that’s the direction everything seems to be pointing – even if the Jets ultimately don’t go there.

Think about it: they’ve lost their top WR and need to protect a defense that suddenly seems vulnerable. What’s the ‘bestest and cheapest’ way to do that? Answer: with a good running game to eat the clock.

The Jets drafted Stephen Hill from Georgia Tech in the second round…knowing he came from a triple-option offense, but looking at his upside down the road. He’s a grand physical specimen close to the “Megatron” mold but raw and unheralded as an actual threat at the position yet. So…what did he do in college? Answer: he made a great if overqualified run-blocker at the WR position.

Sept. 30, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) reacts as he is carried off the field after an apparent injury against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half at MetLife Stadium. 49ers won 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Who did the Jets sign to coach the offense? Tony Sparano, architect of the resurgence of the Wildcat in Miami a few years ago. It’s the ‘single-wing’ formation from the 1950′s fad fame…along with the hula hoop and frisbee. ‘Ground and Pound’ it’s called. It’s what he was hired to do – take the Jets back in time to when football was 3 yards and a cloud of recycled prescription athletic turf shavings. Ehh…you get the idea.

The Dolphins also drafted West Virginia QB Pat White with the 8th pick of the second round – the idea being he could be a dual threat QB from the Wildcat in an attempt to extend and evolve the single-wing into the 21st Century, but it never panned out. White was south of 200 pounds and couldn’t take a hit so he left the league the year after he was drafted. End of experiment…or is Dr. Frankenstein being paged?

Tim Tebow was a first-round pick and the Jets caused a QB controversy in trading for him. Now, with Sanchez not producing (again), the injuries they’ve had AND the personnel they have left? It just seems that it’s more likely than not that Tebow will take the field in a Wildcat or Wildcat-like offense…or perhaps some version of the “T-Bone” offense he ran for John Fox in Denver last year.

Folks, this isn’t gonna go away quietly…not with the situation so seemingly molded to Tim Tebow’s wheelhouse…and getting there more and more every day.

Tebow is a fullback wearing a QB’s number. Rookie Stephen Hill is actually the “grizzled veteran” at blocking for the offense, or some close variant of it so he fits right in. Sparano’s got as much experience with “trendy” run-driven offenses as anyone and he isn’t afraid to experiment. Sanchez isn’t getting any semblance of a “regular” offense going and the injuries are putting a collar on what they can do.

It just seems like everything is pointing to some Tebow Magic down the road. After all, if he’s not there for contingency plans of some sort, why did they get him in the first place?

Stay tuned and don’t say you weren’t warned when you start seeing Tim Tebow on SportsCenter against the top-rated Houston Texans’ defense.

Jan 31, 1988; San Diego, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Washington Redskins quarterback (17) Doug Williams in action against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII at the Jack Murphy Stadium. Williams was named the games most valuable player throwing for 340 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Redskins defeated the Broncos 42-10 to win their 2nd Super Bowl title. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons- US PRESSWIRE Copyright Malcolm Emmons

The dust hasn’t even cleared from the biggest trade in NFL history yet and already the permutations with the other QB-needy teams are starting. With Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn, and now Ryan Tannehill looking to be the 3 top-tier QBs remaining and 6 teams needing a Quarterback, someone is going to be left out in the cold. Those six teams are Cleveland, Miami, Seattle, Denver, Arizona, and Kansas City to a somewhat lesser extent.

Cleveland seems to have no luck. THAT pun is not intented but seems to be the history of that franchise. It’s been about 23 years or so since they were actually a really good team, when they had sidearm-throwing Bernie Kosar and a pair of punishing running backs named Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner. Their nemesis was John Elway’s Broncos. I still recall Jeremiah Castille causing Mack to fumble as he was inside the 5 yard line, apparently en route to a game-winning touchdown. Another 8 years before that, the “Cardiac Kids” had several last-second victories to get into the playoffs, but Brian Sipe’s magic ran out once they got there. Before that? Probably the Jim Brown era.

The upshot? If they stay at 4 overall, they’ll likely not draft stud RB Trent Richardson or Tannehill as the 4 overall is a bit high for either one. They didn’t re-sign Peyton Hillis and claim they’re happy with the backs they have. Um, okay, if they say so, but owners and front office people love the ole misdirection ploy heading into a draft. They’ll have plenty to choose from, but if Colt McCoy stays the starter, they’ll likely go after either Blackmon at WR or possibly a Morris Claiborne, who would give them one of the better CB tandems in the league with Joe Haden on the other side. With 2 first-round picks in 2012, they have the most nimble draft footprint of any team – including the Patriots.

All eyes are looking at Denver today. Peyton Manning would be such an upgrade over fan-favorite Tim Tebow it isn’t even funny. While it’s doubtful you can find a better team-first player and all around great role-model than Tebow, the kid cannot complete half his pass attempts. For now, he’s an overgrown running back (thanks, Brian Urlacher) that can throw it every bit as well as Ronnie Brown running the Wildcat, and his game has vast room for improvement. Adding Peyton Manning would instantly transform them into a Super Bowl contender, based on last year’s overall team play. John Fox had that defense playing well in the second half of the season and they aren’t lacking for high-end pass rushers with Miller and Dumervill attacking. They led the league in rushing and even if you take Tebow out of that equation, they’ve still got a hard-nosed power running game to support Manning. If they do sign him, they’ll look to sign another WR (either through the draft or the “Wayne Package”) and some help on the interior defensive line.

If Miami can’t sign Manning, they may turn to Matt Flynn. With only 2 starts (albeit it very very good ones), he’s still a question mark as the “second coming of Kolb” comparisons and questions will emerge. The upside here is that the Dolphin coaching staff is very familiar with not one of the in-demand QBs but two. Miami HC Joe Philbin knows exactly what Flynn can and cannot do since he was the Packers’ Offensive Coordinator last season. Philbin’s own Offensive Coordinator is Mike Sherman, who coached Tannehill at Texas A&M and has spoken very highly of him. Many consider Flynn a West Coast “system” QB and Sherman claims Tannehill would be confident and able to run ANY system. I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall when the Dolphin brass is discussing and comparing the two players. It now appears Tannehill won’t slip past the Dolphins’ 1st round pick at 8 overall if they cannot land a QB in Free Agency. Since Manning lives in the Miami area (and so does Reggie Wayne), I think he wants to at least wait and talk to Bobby Ross, Jeff Ireland, and Joe Philbin before he makes a final decision. A reader pointed this out to me and although I knew Peyton lived in Miami in the offseason, I didn’t go that deeply into all the reasons he might like the Dolphins outside of on-field and organizational issues. What Dad wants to uproot his family and move halfway across the country and put his children in a new school with no friends? That has to be a consideration as well.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks are both aware of these facts. KC picks at 11, Seattle picks at 12, and both also know that the Bills may not be content with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Therefore, if the Dolphins sign Flynn, they might be more willing to trade back the 3 or 4 spots to either team, should one of them want Tannehill. Things are SO fluid this time of year it’s hard to say with too much confidence exactly how things will unfold, but when you look at KC and Seattle, KC has the better QBs but a horrid offensive line. I think they need to hit it hard, early and often in the draft (FA signings pending of course).

Seattle has the better Offensive Line, has fewer holes overall, and can better afford to trade up to 8 for Tannehill. They have McGahee in the backfield to take some pressure off their QB, and if (BIG “if”) Sidney Rice can stay healthy for the entire season and Mike Williams picks up his game a bit, they’ll have some weapons in place as-is. They can use remaining picks to augment their pass rush and front seven in general.

Arizona has an outside chance of signing Peyton, but I think he’ll either sign with Denver over the weekend or wait until he talks with the people in Miami. Probably the latter, but with Elway being a HOF QB, he could possibly sway him before he leaves town – presumably with Arizona next on the list. I’m assuming Peyton waits to talk to everyone right now. Remember, the Cardinals need OL help too and their LT Levi Brown has a $17 million cap hit this season. While the Cards will certainly restructure his deal, they have to fill other holes on the offensive line and, money permitting, would probably love to have they Manning/Wayne package. Early Doucet just ain’t gettin’ it done opposite Fitz, but with clever cap manipulation, a couple of modestly-priced but solid interior offensive linemen in Free Agency or the draft, if everything comes together with Manning and Wayne they could be a potent offense with Fitzgerald already there. It’s an intriguing possibility for Manning to consider.

Things could change in 5 minutes at this time of year, but here’s how things look at the moment:

Indianapolis Colts —- Andrew Luck (double DUH)
Washington Redskins — Robert Griffin III (DUH)
Seattle Seahawks —— Ryan Tannehill (along with Miami and Denver, a playoff contender with better QB play)
Miami Dolphins ——– Peyton Manning (one of the teams closer to playoff contention among the groups aside from Denver)
Kansas City ———– Matt Cassel (OL woes – they couldn’t keep younger, healthier QBs from the hospital)
Arizona Cardinals —– Kevin Kolb (too many negatives – iffy OL, Kolb’s contract, Brown’s contract, cap woes in general)
Denver Broncos ——– Matt Flynn (Flynn is used to playing in cold weather outside, the redundant “frozen tundra” at Lambeau)
Cleveland Browns —— Colt McCoy (Cleveland rarely catches a break – why start now?)

I’ll be shocked if I’ve got 4 of 8 right at this point and the first 2 are set in stone.

One of the most overused quotes in the history of quotes yet it is so fitting in describing the end of Tebowmania and the Denver Broncos, well at least if you consider Tebowmania a good thing (I am still uncertain at this point) , as the Patriots absolutely destroyed the ‘white bronco’ last night, winning 45-10.

It was a magical run for Tebow this season, he somehow lead countless comebacks in the forth quarter, throwing what has to be the ugliest ball in the world, he managed to get the Denver Broncos into the playoffs, he started his own national trend and he did what most Panthers fans would have believed to be the impossible,  make John Fox change his offensive system. And he did all of this while being thrown right into the center ring of the national spotlight.

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