FLORHAM PARK, N.J. _ Eric Decker isn't sure how much success former Jets quarterback Tim Tebow will have in his fledgling baseball career.
But on the day Tebow signed a minor league contract with the Mets, Decker said he doesn't believe it's for publicity _ at least not from Tebow's side.
"I believe Tim's got a big heart and he's a good person," Decker said Thursday after Jets practice. "I think his mindset is that he's such a competitor that this is an outlet to him. But from the outside I could see how it looks as a publicity stunt. ... But I think it's just him being competitive and wanting to get that fire back."
Decker and Tebow played together for two seasons in Denver, before Tebow came to the Jets. Decker, who played college baseball, knew of Tebow's baseball past.
But cornerback Darrelle Revis, who played with Tebow during Tebow's only Jets season in 2012, was surprised to learn of his baseball career.
"If that's what he wants to do, that's on him," Revis said with a laugh. "We were teammates a few years ago and he's a good guy. I didn't even know he played baseball, obviously, in high school. So some ball clubs want some service, so it's good to have him back in New York."
What's interesting now is whether Tebow's teammates will feel the same way.
As Decker and Revis know, wherever Tebow goes, a massive media magnifying glass follows.
"He brings a boatload of people with [him], whatever he's trying to do," Revis said.
"There's going to be mixed emotions, I'm sure," Decker said. "And you hope that you can just kind of talk about it prior to him showing up and so guys have an understanding of what to expect, and this is what we're going to have to go through to eliminate distractions."
Even worse, some players may resent him. In a minor league baseball clubhouse, where some of the players have been working their entire lives to be a professional baseball player, his unearned attention might not be looked upon kindly.
But Decker believes he'll win his teammates over.
"He's going to be a good teammate," Decker said. "He's going to be very respectful. So that's the biggest thing, he's not going to come in with a chip on a shoulder or 'he's Tim Tebow, here's the red carpet.' He's not that type of guy from my experience. So I think guys will respect the work ethic and just him as a person.
"I think regardless guys are going to have to respect what he's done in his tenure in the NFL and who he is, the college football player he was," Decker said.
Then comes the hard part, the baseball.
"We'll see how he does," Decker said. "And best of luck to him."
"I'm rooting for him," Revis said.
