With the internal criticism, Tebow seems unlikely to supplant Sanchez. Associated Press

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.—The Jets woke up Wednesday morning to the sort of bombshell story that shouldn't surprise them anymore, considering their fondness for courting controversy. In a 762-word article in a New York tabloid, several players and team officials, quoted anonymously, criticized Tim Tebow in harsh terms, arguing that the Jets' acquisition of Tebow was a gimmick and that he wasn't a good enough quarterback to help the team win games. The story compelled coach Rex Ryan to call a team meeting and led to an inevitable media swarm at the team's practice facility here.

It was also the oddest of ways to validate Mark Sanchez's standing as the Jets' starting quarterback.

Three days after Sanchez unfurled one of his poorest performances of a season that by most indications has seen him regress as a passer, the notion that Tebow would replace him seemed far-fetched at best. Instead of answering questions about how Sanchez completed just nine of 22 passes, lost a fumble and threw a backbreaking interception in a 28-7 loss to the Seahawks, the Jets spent Wednesday reaffirming that, while Tebow was a good teammate and versatile football player, he would not supplant Sanchez in the lineup.

"We never brought him in here to be the starting quarterback," Jets coach Rex Ryan said. "We already have a starting quarterback in Mark Sanchez. I thought I was clear on that from the day we brought Tim in here."

For the moment, then, Sanchez's hold on the job has never seemed more secure—no small irony given the reaction and subsequent conventional wisdom that grew out of the Jets' trade for Tebow in March.

The Jets had finished 8-8 in 2011, losing their final three games, and in the wake of that collapse, it was Sanchez who had been the target of unattributed criticism from within the locker room. A similar article, appearing just after the season, quoted some of his teammates' calling his leadership into question.

"I've been in those shoes," Sanchez said Wednesday. "So if anybody knows what [Tebow] feels like, it's me."

More, because Tebow had gone 8-5 as a starter and guided Denver to a first-round playoff victory—and, frankly, because Tebow is so popular among the public—Sanchez might have initially felt his place as the Jets' starter was tenuous. In a different situation, his play this season—a completion percentage of 52, a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 10-9—would have him on the bench. But even with the Jets at 3-6 and a possible postseason participant in mathematical terms only, Tebow has played and produced so little that he's posed no threat to Sanchez's starting spot.

If the story is to be believed, many of Sanchez's and Tebow's teammates recognize as much, though not every player was eager to discuss it. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who after Sunday's game said that anyone who suggested Sanchez shouldn't start could "kiss my a--," declined to speak to reporters Wednesday. Sitting in his locker, Cromartie turned up the volume on his laptop stereo system, then left the room.

Guard Matt Slauson, the only player quoted in Wednesday's story by name, stood by his comments. "I feel Mark is our quarterback," he said. "That's how I feel."

Tebow and Slauson did clear the air in the training room Wednesday morning, both said, and Tebow smiled his way through a lengthy series of questions, laughing when someone pointed out that he had directed a fourth-quarter touchdown drive to beat the Jets last year.

"I've had criticism somewhat playing football my whole life, so you try to do your best at handling it," he said, referring to his unorthodox style of play. "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 to be stronger from it."

Sanchez said that he didn't regard the story as a "backhanded compliment" to him in any way. It bothered him, he said, that players would disparage one of their teammates under the blanket of anonymity. "Guys know that I'm the starter. That's nothing new. The team has said that. Other players have said that," he said. "At the same time, you don't have to go overboard and blast the guy. He works his butt off. Just be supportive of all of us."