New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan announced quarterback Mark Sanchez will be replaced by Greg McElroy as the starter for the game against the San Diego Chargers Sunday.
"I think it's best for our team, and for this game," the Associated Press quoted Ryan as saying.
Ryan took the decision following Sanchez's continual dismal performance this season, which eventually led to the Jets ending their chances of making the playoffs.
The Jets lost at Tennessee 14-10 Monday night with Sanchez, who has been Jets' starting quarterback since 2009, tossing four interceptions to mark an awful performance.
Ryan did not announce who the backup quarterback will be for the game at home Sunday night. Officially Tim Tebow is listed in that position, but in the new scenario, with Sanchez benched, he may be the backup.
If that indeed is the case, it further casts doubt on Tebow's future with the Jets, with New York trading for the quarterback amid much fanfare at the start of the season.
The decision to make McElroy the starter, clearly shows Ryan's lack of confidence in Tebow.
"I have to look at what I think is the best for the team and not necessarily the individual," Ryan said. "I'll say this about Tim and I've always said it: I know he wants to help this team be successful in the worst way and there's no doubt about that."
Two weeks back, Ryan had given Sanchez a second chance to improve his game, but the results and performances did not show any signs of improving.
Sanchez's woes were compounded, when a fan, who was disappointed by Jets' continued poor performance, sent him a series of death threats on social networking website Twitter, following the defeat to the Titans.
League spokesman Greg Aiello clarified their security staff were assisting the Jets on the death threats.
Ryan revealed Sanchez had taken his decision to bench the quarterback on the chin. "He respected my decision," Ryan said. "That's not easy, that's for sure."
Later on Tuesday, Ryan officially announced that McElroy would be the starter.
"This is my opinion, and I do believe that it's best for our team that Greg is our quarterback," Ryan said. "I'm the guy that's making this decision. Every decision I make is based on what I believe is the best decision for the team."
Ryan did not give a specific reason on why he chose McElroy over Tebow.
"I can answer this question a million ways, frontward, backward, sideways, anything else," Ryan said. "It's my decision and I based it on a gut feeling or whatever.
"People can speculate anything they want. Obviously, as a football team, we're 6-8 and nobody's happy about that and ultimately, I'm the one accountable."
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