Jets Owner Woody Johnson on Tuesday made his first appearance at the team's training camp and said that he has been "surprised at the amount of media attention surrounding the franchise" since the team acquired QB Tim Tebow, according to Tim Bontemps of the N.Y. POST. Johnson said, "I think the enormity of the coverage kind of surprised me a little bit. I knew there would be press, (that) there would be plenty of interest. But, even by our standards, this is pretty amazing.” Johnson did admit that he is "happy to see the Jets being on the tips of everyone’s tongues." Johnson: "We’re in a media business. We want to give our fans an insight, and the fact that they’re interested, I think, portends well for us. We’d rather have them interested, rather than apathetic and not paying attention” (N.Y. POST, 8/8). However, members of the N.Y. media were skeptical of Johnson's comments. The N.Y. Daily News’ Bruce Murray said, “This is exactly what they paid for. ... Can he really sit there and say, ‘I didn't know he'd get this kind of attention?’ Did he ever turn on ESPN last year for five seconds? This is a shock?” The N.Y. Daily News’ Anthony McCarron: “I can't believe that he said that. It's astonishing. (Tebow) was one of the biggest newsmakers in the NFL last year. If he didn't believe he would have some sort of impact on the coverage of the Jets, he’s not paying any attention.” SportsNet N.Y.'s Michelle Yu: “In the beginning when this all happened, (critics) said it was a publicity stunt to start with that the Jets are doing it, and now he's saying he’s surprised?” The N.Y. Daily News’ John Harper: “Maybe they didn't anticipate ESPN living in Cortland for what it looks like the whole month of August" ("Daily News Live,” SportsNet N.Y., 8/7). SportsNet N.Y.’s Sal Licata: "He loves this. Who is he trying to kid? This is why he got (Tebow). Woody has wanted attention since day one” (“The WheelHouse,” SportsNet N.Y. 8/7).
