Tim Tebow’s New York Jets jerseys were on sale at a New York Modell’s on Friday. (Mary Altaffer / AP) The New York Jets insist the trade for Tim Tebow isn’t a marketing ploy. It isn’t a pathetic cry for attention, n attempt to steal the front and back pages of the tabloids from those staid all-they-do-is-win-Super-Bowls Giants.

“Our mission is to win games, pure and simple,” owner Woody Johnson said.

But...but...Tebow went to see “Wicked” on Broadway on Saturday night! There’s a Jockey billboard welcoming him to New York outside the Lincoln Tunnel! On the Jersey side! And there’s a press conference, to be covered live by ESPN at noon EDT! (When’s the David Carr presser, ESPN?)

“He liked my performance. I hope I like his performance, P.J. Benjamin, who plays Oz in “Wicked,” told the News.

No pressure. None whatsoever.

Tebow’s billboard. (Courtesy Clear Channel Outdoor) “Tim is going to be a major contributor to our football team,” Coach Rex Ryan said Sunday. “With the Wildcat specifically, the great thing is you don’t know if we’re going to run it one snap a game or 20 snaps a game — you have no idea.  Every week it could be different.  That’s some of the preparation problems he gives you.”

Ryan may be pushing him as a player and not a “quarterback” because of what many see as deficiencies in his game. Already, Jets past and present are having none of it.

“How many times has a backup quarterback had a press conference?” Damien Woody, now an ESPN analyst, said (via the New York Post). “How many times have there been helicopters to meet a backup quarterback at the airport? The organization is saying he’s the backup quarterback. Well, then why do you feel like you have to have a press conference? Why not just do a conference call and call it a day? It’s a marketing ploy.”

But ... it’s working. At least for now. (And, yes, please check back here for new updates from the press conference.)

More from Washington Post Sports:

Controversy follows Tebow to NYC

Tebow traded

Tebow trade hits snag

Tebow, Demaryius Thomas give Broncos a playoff win

Peyton Manning makes his pick

Elway commits to Tebow...as far as training camp

Credit John 3:16, John Elway and John Fox

The real Tebow: ‘Everything you see is true’

Elway to Tebow: ‘Just pull the trigger’

Tebow on a roll: No shortage of belief or miracles