Greg

McElroy

“I was angry about it,” Ryan said. “I never agreed with all the statements he made. ... Our football team is a little closer than people give us credit for.” Asked if the Jets were focused on upgrading to a quarterback who will push Mark Sanchez, Ryan quipped, “Well, with McElroy’s comments, absolutely.”

McElroy’s roster spot is safe after “angering” coach Rex Ryan with public comments about a “corrupt mindset” with “extremely selfish individuals” in the locker room. “He’ll learn his lesson,” said Tannenbaum. “I’m glad he’s on the team. We’ll move forward with him.”

After a surprisingly effective preseason, McElroy spent his rookie year on I.R. with the thumb fracture, which required surgery. He restarted throwing in November, but suffered a setback. In four 2011 exhibition games, McElroy went a combined 36-of-59 for 335 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He will likely be the Jets’ third-string quarterback in 2012.

"(There) were people within our locker room that didn’t care whether we won or lost, as long as they got their...they really had good games individually,” McElroy said. “That’s the disappointing thing, and it’s going to take a lot to kind of come together.” McElroy’s analysis is likely spot-on, but it’s fair to wonder if it will land him in coach Rex Ryan’s doghouse. By nearly all accounts, Ryan enabled the more fractious members of his locker room this season. A seventh-round pick last spring, McElroy has three years left on his rookie deal after spending 2011 on injured reserve.

McElroy spent all of 2011 on injured reserve and created a stir earlier this month when he called the Jets’ locker room “not a fun place to be,” but will apparently get another shot at locking down New York’s third-string job. The Jets are still expected to sign a veteran free agent to back-up Mark Sanchez. That is, if they don’t acquire Peyton Manning.

“Case closed,” added the reputable Cimini, who pointed out that coach Rex Ryan made it clear that there’s “no way” McElroy would get the nod over Tim Tebow. McElroy had a strong preseason, but the 2011 seventh-round pick has yet to take an NFL snap. He’ll spend the season as a developmental third quarterback.

If Sanchez went down, the Jets would have to change their entire offense. Through three preseason games, Tebow struggled mightily as a drop-back passer, completing 36.1 percent of his passes with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He can’t play the position in a conventional manner. Greg McElroy is the No. 3 quarterback.

McElroy rolled right off boot-action to find TE Jeff Cumberland wide open in the end zone on what ultimately proved the game-winning score. McElroy isn’t much of an athlete and lacks arm strength to throw the ball downfield, but it’s fair to wonder if he’d be a better option than Sanchez to manage games going forward. We’d still bet on Rex Ryan going back to Sanchez for Week 14 at Jacksonville.

“I’m not ready to say. I want to talk to everybody to make sure I get a sense that I’m making right decision.” Ryan said. He did allow that Tim Tebow’s ribs have been medically cleared and he is in the mix to start against the Jaguars even though he’s not 100 percent. Mark Sanchez, who was benched Sunday but is due $8.5 million in 2013, is also a candidate. Third-stringer Greg McElroy guided the team to an ugly 7-6 win a relief role. Fantasy owners in need of a plug-n-play option at quarterback should stash Tebow and wait on Rex’s decision.

One source called it 65-35 that McElroy would be under center against the Jaguars, and Gang Green’s coaching staff liked the “improved pace and verve” of the offense in the roughly 20 minutes of game time with McElroy in. Ryan is set to meet with GM Mike Tannenbaum on Monday night to discuss the matter. McElroy is certainly not the long-term answer in New York, but he gave the team a definite boost. Tim Tebow is not considered a candidate for the job. Sanchez is due $8.25 million in guarantees in 2013, so he’s likely not going anywhere. We’ll have plenty of updates on the situation throughout the week. McElroy would not be a fantasy option.