Jets totally messed up Tebow time: Westhoff

Mike Westhoff says he wants to get a job as an NFL TV analyst. He made a pretty compelling audio resumé tape Friday morning.

The Jets’ former special teams co-ordinator called the team’s handling of Tim Tebow on offence in 2012 “an absolute mess” in a radio interview, although he backed away from those comments in other interviews later Friday.

“It was an absolute mess,” Westhoff said on WQAM-AM 560 in Miami. “You can say it however else you want, it was really a mess. I was very disappointed.”

Westhoff, who used Tebow as a punt protector on special teams, made it clear throughout the season in interviews that he liked and respected Tebow very much, although he always declined to address his lack of usage on offence when asked about it.

But this time, he did not hold back, saying the Jets didn’t make a commitment to Tebow and the Wildcat offence he was to run.

“I know we didn’t practise it,” Westhoff said of the Wildcat. “We didn’t practise it in training camp. We were going to unveil it. Well, I’m still waiting for the unveiling. And it didn’t happen.”

He said the whole situation “was a distraction and really a shame, because that’s a hardworking young man if you ever saw one.”

He also took a thinly veiled shot at fired GM Mike Tannenbaum’s handling of the salary cap.

“Sometimes if you don’t budget your team well,” said Westhoff, who retired at the end of the season after guiding the Jets’ special teams for 12 years, “you can destroy the middle and the bottom of your football team. And that’s what happened to us. ... If you’re playing a handful of guys (who are) 40 per cent of your salary cap, what the hell are you going to do with the rest of them?”

Westhoff backpedaled somewhat later talking with WFAN-FM 101.9 and ESPN-FM 98.7.

On WFAN, he said he pictured a “multifaceted role” for Tebow and “it never quite materialized for whatever reason. It’s disappointing, because I like that young man and see how hard he worked.”

On WFAN, he contradicted what he said on WQAM, saying, “I never saw (Tebow’s presence) as a distraction.”

On WQAM, he indicated he believes struggling QB Mark Sanchez needs more talent around him to succeed, and the amount of talent on the Jets’ offence dwindled, especially last season.

“All of a sudden the burden was thrust on Mark and that’s just too much for him, in my opinion.”

Westhoff did take a shot at the play-calling of fired offensive coordinator Tony Sparano on ESPN, saying, “I’d like to see (Sanchez) get out of the pocket (more). I thought he was good at that.”

He told WQAM Tannenbaum’s firing “was an owner’s decision. We’re in a very accountable business.”