Police: Idaho US Sen. Crapo arrested in northern Virginia, charged with DUI

U.S. Sen. Michael Crapo was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with driving under the influence in a Washington, D.C., suburb, authorities said.
Police in Alexandria, Va., said Sunday that the Idaho Republican was pulled over after his vehicle ran a red light. Police spokesman Jody Donaldson said Crapo failed field sobriety tests and was arrested at about 12:45 a.m. He was transported to the Alexandria jail and released on an unsecured $1,000 bond at about 5 a.m..
"There was no refusal (to take blood alcohol tests), no accident, no injuries," Donaldson said. "Just a traffic stop that resulted in a DUI."
Police said Crapo, who was alone in his vehicle, registered a blood alcohol content of .110. The legal limit in Virginia, which has strict drunken driving laws, is .08.
The 61-year-old Crapo (KRAY'-poh) has a Jan. 4 court date.
"I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance," Crapo said in a statement Sunday night. "I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me. I accept total responsibility and will deal with whatever penalty comes my way in this matter. I will also undertake measures to ensure that this circumstance is never repeated."
A Crapo spokesman declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Currently in his third term, Crapo has been in the Senate since 1998, and served for six years in the U.S. House of Representatives before that. He was easily re-elected in 2010, and won't have to run again until 2016.
In Congress, Crapo has built a reputation as a staunch social and fiscal conservative. It was expected he would take over the top Republican spot next year on the Senate Banking Committee. He also serves on the Senate's budget and finance panels. Crapo was a member of the so-called "Gang of Six" senators that worked in 2011 toward a deficit-reduction deal that was never adopted by Congress.
A Mormon who grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Crapo was named a bishop in the church at age 31. He is an attorney who graduated from Brigham Young University and Harvard Law School. He has five children with his wife, Susan, and three grandchildren.
The Mormon Church prohibits the use of alcohol, as well as caffeine and other mind-altering substances. The state has a significant Mormon population.
Crapo has told the Associated Press in past interviews that he abstains from drinking alcohol.

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Indian police shut down roads in heart of New Delhi to prevent more protests against gang rape

 Authorities have shut down roads in the heart of India's capital to put an end to weeklong demonstrations against the brutal gang rape of a woman in a moving bus.
Thousands of armed police and paramilitary troops blocked roads in central New Delhi on Monday to prevent protesters from marching to the presidential palace.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed for calm and promised that the government would take action to prevent crimes against women.
Singh said, "Anger at this crime is justified, but violence will serve no purpose."
There has been outrage across India over the Dec. 16 gang rape that left the young woman in critical condition in a hospital.
Police used tear gas and water cannons and hit protesters with batons during weekend protests.

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Russian leader Putin in India for talks focusing on trade, reinvigorating political ties

 Russian President Vladimir Putin is in India for talks intended to help cement Russia's position in the growing Indian market and reinvigorate political ties.
Following meetings Monday between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Moscow and New Delhi are expected to sign agreements on trade, science, education and law enforcement.
While the volume of Russian-Indian trade has risen sixfold since 2000 and is expected to reach $10 billion this year, the growth has slowed in recent years. And even though India remains the No. 1 customer for Russia's arms industries, Moscow has recently lost several multibillion-dollar contracts to Western weapons makers.
Russia and India have shared close ties since the Cold War, when Moscow was a key ally and the principal arms supplier to New Delhi.

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Afghan policewoman kills American adviser at Kabul police HQ

An Afghan police official says an Afghan policewoman has killed an American adviser at the Kabul police headquarters.
Kabul's Deputy Police Chief Mohammad Daoud Amin says an investigation is underway to determine whether the killing today was intentional or accidental.
It was not known whether the victim was a military or civilian adviser.
The NATO military command says it's looking into reports of the shooting but had no independent information.
At least 53 international troops have been killed by Afghan soldiers or police this year, and a number of other assaults are still under investigations.
NATO forces, due to mostly withdraw from the country by 2014, have speeded up efforts to train and advise Afghan military and police units before the pullout.

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Lawmakers worry 'fiscal cliff' deal elusive; some predict small-scale patch may be only option

With anxiety rising as the country lurches towards a "fiscal cliff," lawmakers are increasingly skeptical about a possible deal and some predict the best possibility would be a small-scale patch because time is running out before the yearend deadline.
Sen. Joe Lieberman predicted Sunday: "We're going to spend New Year's Eve here, I believe."
Even those who see the possibility of a deal don't expect a lot.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said she expects "it is going to be a patch because in four days we can't solve everything."
With the collapse Thursday of House Speaker John Boehner's plan to allow tax rates to rise on million-dollar-plus incomes, Lieberman said: "It's the first time that I feel it's more likely we'll go over the cliff than not," meaning that higher taxes for most Americans and painful federal agency budget cuts would be in line to go ahead.
"If we allow that to happen it will be the most colossal consequential act of congressional irresponsibility in a long time, maybe ever in American history because of the impact it'll have on almost every American," said Lieberman, a Connecticut independent.
Wyoming Sen. Jon Barrasso, a member of the GOP leadership, predicted the new year would come without an agreement, and he faulted the White House.
"I believe the president is eager to go over the cliff for political purposes. He senses a victory at the bottom of the cliff," he said.
Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was incredulous at Barrasso's assertion that 'there is only one person that can provide the leadership" on such a matter vital to the nation's interests.
"There are 535 of us that can provide leadership. There are 435 in the House, 100 in the Senate and there is the president, all of us have a responsibility here," he said. "And, you know what is happening? What is happening is the same old tired blame game. He said/she said. I think the American people are tired of it. What they want to hear is 'What is the solution?'"
President Barack Obama and Congress are on a short holiday break. Congress is expected to be back at work Thursday and Obama will be back in the White House after a few days in Hawaii.
"It is time to get back to the table," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., "And I hope if anyone sees these representatives from the House in line shopping or getting their Christmas turkey, they wish them a merry Christmas, they're civil, and then say 'go back to the table, not your own table, the table in Washington.'"
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said he expects something will be passed, but nothing that will solve the nation's growing financial problems.
"I think there's unfortunately only going to be a small deal," he said, but added "it's critical we get to the big deal."
Obama already has scaled back his ambitions for a sweeping budget bargain. Before leaving the capital on Friday, he called for a limited measure that extends George W. Bush-era tax cuts for most people and stave off federal spending cuts. The president also urged Congress to extend jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed that would otherwise be cut off for 2 million people at the end of the year.
The failure of Boehner's option in the House has shifted the focus.
"The ball is now clearly with the Senate," said Lieberman.
He said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky "have the ability to put this together again and pass something. It won't be a big, grand bargain to take care of the total debt, but they can do some things that will avoid the worst consequences going over the fiscal cliff."
It was only a week ago when news emerged that Obama and Boehner had significantly narrowed their differences. Both were offering a cut in taxes for most Americans, an increase for a relative few and cuts of roughly $1 trillion in spending over a year. Also included was a scaling back of future cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients — a concession on the president's part as much as agreeing to higher tax rates was for the speaker.

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NFL-Dysfunctional Jets spluttering toward disappointing finish

FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey, Dec 21 (Reuters) - The New York Jets looked like a team without a flight plan on Friday with rumors swirling about trading quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow and coaches leaving town.
Head coach Rex Ryan, whose 6-8 team had their playoff hopes dashed in Monday's ugly loss to Tennessee, maintained a cone of silence over the future, declining to even confirm his back-up quarterback for Sunday's game against San Diego.
"I'm not going to make that announcement now," Ryan, who named third-stringer Greg McElroy as the starter earlier this week, told reporters after Friday's practice.
"It's going to be a coaching decision and I'll go ahead and make that decision later. It's possible all three of those guys will be up. It's possible two will be up. I'm not going to make a decision on that yet."
A season that began with a highly-publicized trade for Tebow to back up Sanchez and inject variety into the New York attack, ended in shambles with the duo sent to the sidelines to watch 2011 seventh-round draft pick McElroy play.
Tebow, who led the Broncos to the playoffs last season before giving way to newly-signed free agent Peyton Manning in Denver, barely had a chance in New York.
He played only one full drive the entire season and was only sporadically used in the team's version of the Wildcat offense.
"We thought the Wildcat would probably be a little more efficient than it has been," Ryan said when asked if he thought Tebow had been given a fair chance.
"We had our starting quarterback, we're bringing him in to do other things, like the Wildcat, like the personal protector on the punt team, different things. He's done well at times (but) it hasn't been where I thought it would be."
Sanchez, who the Jets traded up to grab with the fifth pick of the 2009 NFL Draft as a potential franchise quarterback, was later dubbed "The Sanchize" after reaching the AFC title game in his first two seasons.
But he has regressed the last two seasons. Burdened with an injury-depleted receiving corps, Sanchez has an NFL-high 24 turnovers (17 interceptions, 7 fumbles) this season on a team ranked 28th in scoring.
'IT'S DISAPPOINTING'
All this has made it a longshot that offensive coordinator Tony Sparano will be retained, and some reports are suggesting defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has declined a contract extension offered by the club.
"We never discuss the contracts or any of that type of stuff until after the season," Ryan said.
The quarterbacks showed a bond of unity.
"I'm ready to play if they need me, preparing the way I always do and supporting Greg," Sanchez said. That's really the job this week, to get Greg ready to play and be ready myself just in case."
Sanchez admitted it was not exactly business as usual.
"As disappointing as it is, I'm excited for him if that makes sense," said Sanchez. "You never want to relinquish your job and just concede, but at the same time you root for your team, you root for somebody like Greg."
Ryan said it had been a trying season for everybody.
"It's been disappointing, without question," said Ryan, a shadow of the boisterous coach who boldly predicted Super Bowl titles for his team during their early successes. "I did have huge expectations.
"At the end of the season we will focus on the what-ifs. Right now, it's straight ahead, no fair dodging.

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Dysfunctional Jets spluttering toward disappointing finish

FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - The New York Jets looked like a team without a flight plan on Friday with rumors swirling about trading quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow and coaches leaving town.
Head coach Rex Ryan, whose 6-8 team had their playoff hopes dashed in Monday's ugly loss to Tennessee, maintained a cone of silence over the future, declining to even confirm his back-up quarterback for Sunday's game against San Diego.
"I'm not going to make that announcement now," Ryan, who named third-stringer Greg McElroy as the starter earlier this week, told reporters after Friday's practice.
"It's going to be a coaching decision and I'll go ahead and make that decision later. It's possible all three of those guys will be up. It's possible two will be up. I'm not going to make a decision on that yet."
A season that began with a highly-publicized trade for Tebow to back up Sanchez and inject variety into the New York attack, ended in shambles with the duo sent to the sidelines to watch 2011 seventh-round draft pick McElroy play.
Tebow, who led the Broncos to the playoffs last season before giving way to newly-signed free agent Peyton Manning in Denver, barely had a chance in New York.
He played only one full drive the entire season and was only sporadically used in the team's version of the Wildcat offense.
"We thought the Wildcat would probably be a little more efficient than it has been," Ryan said when asked if he thought Tebow had been given a fair chance.
"We had our starting quarterback, we're bringing him in to do other things, like the Wildcat, like the personal protector on the punt team, different things. He's done well at times (but) it hasn't been where I thought it would be."
Sanchez, who the Jets traded up to grab with the fifth pick of the 2009 NFL Draft as a potential franchise quarterback, was later dubbed "The Sanchize" after reaching the AFC title game in his first two seasons.
But he has regressed the last two seasons. Burdened with an injury-depleted receiving corps, Sanchez has an NFL-high 24 turnovers (17 interceptions, 7 fumbles) this season on a team ranked 28th in scoring.
'IT'S DISAPPOINTING'
All this has made it a longshot that offensive coordinator Tony Sparano will be retained, and some reports are suggesting defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has declined a contract extension offered by the club.
"We never discuss the contracts or any of that type of stuff until after the season," Ryan said.
The quarterbacks showed a bond of unity.
"I'm ready to play if they need me, preparing the way I always do and supporting Greg," Sanchez said. That's really the job this week, to get Greg ready to play and be ready myself just in case."
Sanchez admitted it was not exactly business as usual.
"As disappointing as it is, I'm excited for him if that makes sense," said Sanchez. "You never want to relinquish your job and just concede, but at the same time you root for your team, you root for somebody like Greg."
Ryan said it had been a trying season for everybody.
"It's been disappointing, without question," said Ryan, a shadow of the boisterous coach who boldly predicted Super Bowl titles for his team during their early successes. "I did have huge expectations.
"At the end of the season we will focus on the what-ifs. Right now, it's straight ahead, no fair dodging.

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Witten eyes record after spleen injury, slow start

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Jason Witten had nearly as many drops as catches through three games this season, back when his side still hurt just about every time he moved because of a lacerated spleen.
The Dallas Cowboys tight end dismissed any suggestion that the injury had anything to do with an uncharacteristic case of stone hands. The seven-time Pro Bowler didn't really even want to say how long it took to feel normal again once he decided to play in the season opener just 23 days after getting hurt in a preseason game.
Coach Jason Garrett puts it somewhere around a month into the season, which is about the time Witten started a career-best stretch so prolific that he has two games to get the six catches needed to break Tony Gonzalez's tight end record of 102 in a season. Witten could get it Sunday at home against New Orleans (6-8).
"You know, we talked about him saying, 'I'm playing in that Giant game,' after he had the lacerated spleen, and I'm thinking to myself, 'This guy's crazy,'" Garrett said. "He wasn't quite himself for probably three or four weeks after that. I think we all saw that. And then for him to kind of, 'OK, I'm feeling better now' and get back to what he's been doing, I think he's had a remarkable year."
Witten turned 30 in May, and once he made it through that opener against New York, it was easy to forget about the injury as he stumbled through two more games and reached Week 4 with five drops, four penalties and eight catches. Too old already? Hall of Fame career nearing an end?
Hardly. In the past 11 games, he has 89 catches for 847 yards and two touchdowns, including his first scoring hookup with Tony Romo in last weekend's 27-24 overtime win against Pittsburgh that put the Cowboys (8-6) in control of their playoff fate with two games left.
Witten reset his franchise record with 18 catches in a loss to the Giants in October, and a week later broke Michael Irvin's career Cowboys record of 750 receptions. With 793 catches, Witten is likely this year to join Gonzalez and Shannon Sharpe as the only tight ends with 800, and he's third behind those two with 8,832 yards. Gonzalez set the single-season mark for catches in 2004.
"I have so much respect for the game and this position," Witten said. "To be able to be even thinking about passing that kind of record that's stood the course for almost 10 years by the greatest tight end that ever played, to break that, no question it's special. I think you're more proud of the body of work over the course of 10 years than you are just one season."
Witten was part of Bill Parcells' first Cowboys draft class in 2003. He played in 15 games, with seven starts, as a rookie, and missed the only game of his career with a broken jaw. Barring injury, he's about to complete his sixth straight season of starting every game.
That streak was in serious jeopardy after he took a hard blind-side hit on a broken play in a preseason game at Oakland. It was easy to rule him out for the opener after the diagnosis because the Cowboys started the season three days earlier than everyone else and had 10 days to get ready for Week 2.
Witten thought otherwise, even with his old-school former coach whispering in his ear about taking it easy during a phone call.
"He was like my dad: 'Take care of yourself now. Be smart,'" said Witten, a bit bemused. "Remember, this guy, 10 years ago when I had the broken jaw, it didn't seem like that was the same response."
The Cowboys were just happy to have him on the field against the Giants, so some balky play and two catches for 10 yards didn't faze anyone. He four catches against the Seahawks, but had the same number of drops, then two catches again, this time for just 8 yards, against Tampa Bay.
Witten finally broke loose with 13 catches for 112 yards and a garbage-time touchdown from Kyle Orton in a blowout loss to the Bears.
"I've never thought, 'Well, I'm about to taper off here, let's see if I can hang on,'" Witten said. "It's always been it gets higher every year. And going into this year, that's what it was."
With or without a lacerated spleen.

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J-E-T-S went from Super Bowl contenders to M-E-S-S

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — From nearly Super to just plain stupefying.
That is what the New York Jets have become in a span of two NFL seasons.
From a botched trade for Tim Tebow before the season to a botched snap by Mark Sanchez that ended the season, Rex Ryan's bunch became a dysfunctional mess with no clear solution in sight.
The Jets are considered by many a laughingstock, one big circus which ranks up there with the Bronx Zoo Yankees, the Isiah Thomas Knicks and the late Al Davis' Raiders. At least those Yankees won a few World Series titles, and the Raiders took home three Super Bowl trophies despite all the madness.
Woody Johnson's flawed franchise could be headed for a total teardown before things get any better.
"Being in this market for six years, I've seen the ups and downs," defensive lineman Mike DeVito said. "You get used to it after a while. You see the good stuff and the bad stuff."
Lately, it's been all bad.
The Jets are a team whose owner craves attention, and gets it — always for the wrong reasons, it seems. Two years ago, the Jets were a win away from the Super Bowl, just as they were the previous year.
Both times, they fell just short of ending the drought that began after Joe Namath delivered on his guarantee in 1969 for the franchise's first and only title.
But there was hope for the future.
Ryan was a brash and bold coach who didn't back down from anyone and said what was on his mind, predicting Super Bowl wins before the season even started, a refreshing departure from the tight-lipped three-year tenure of Eric Mangini. He had a dominant defense, led by All-Pro Darrelle Revis, and a young, promising quarterback in Sanchez.
And most of all, the Jets were winning games.
Those positive feelings all seem like a distant memory as the Jets (6-8) play out the last two games of the season and head into a winter of uncertainty with a second straight year out of the playoffs.
"If you look at it, right now, I'm not looking further than this game against San Diego and (then) we have one more game," Ryan said. "We'll see what happens. My focus has to be with those two games and that's it."
That's because Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum don't know for sure if they'll even be back beyond the final game of the season.
Tebow will be out the door less than a year after coming to New York and saying he's "excited to be a Jet." Sanchez could be a goner, too, although his hefty contract could keep him put — but as the former face of the franchise instead of the next Namath.
Tired of getting into arguments with fans for wearing Sanchez's No. 6 jersey this season and fearing the incidents could escalate, the Jets' most famous supporter, Ed Anzalone, hung up his helmet last month and "retired" from being Fireman Ed.
So, there are no more J-E-T-S chants led by him. Still, the Jets insist they are far from the muddled M-E-S-S they are perceived by many to be.
"I certainly don't feel that," Johnson said earlier this season. "We are deadly serious about what we do here, trying to win games and trying to represent our fans in a way that they expect us to represent them."
But perception often is reality, and the Jets have provided plenty of fodder to feed into that during the past few years.
There was Ryan at his opening news conference nearly four years ago, talking about how his team would soon meet President Barack Obama as champions.
He came with plenty of other guarantees, too, that made him one of the most confident — and as a result — disliked sports figures New York has seen.
Most Jets fans loved his approach, though, and bought in.
They're some of the same fans who now hope for a change in leadership, tired of Ryan's empty promises and the distractions that have marked his tenure as coach.
And, there is a lengthy list: the Ines Sainz locker room incident, the foot fetish videos reportedly involving Ryan and his wife, the assistant coach who tripped an opposing player from the sideline during a play, the prime-time exposure on HBO's "Hard Knocks," to name a few.
Tannenbaum has also produced some big-time winners on draft day in his seven years as GM, including Revis, Nick Mangold, D'Brickashaw Ferguson and David Harris.
But there have also been some major duds along the way, such as Vernon Gholston and Vladimir Ducasse. All three of his picks from 2009 — Sanchez, Shonn Greene and Matt Slauson — could all be playing their last games as Jets.
Key locker room presences have also gradually been cut, traded or allowed to become free agents, well-respected players such as Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, Kris Jenkins, Alan Faneca, Damien Woody and LaDainian Tomlinson.
While Sanchez's ability to read defenses and adjust is one major problem, the team did little to provide him with continuity on offense with constant change in the skill players around him.
"There's been a little bit of turnover, but at the same time, you have to work with what you have," Sanchez said of the various receivers he had to work with the season.
This past offseason began with a brief flirtation with Peyton Manning, and then came the most stunning move of them all: the trade for Tebow in March. It had most people scratching their heads then and now has even the popular but little-used backup quarterback wondering why he even came here in the first place.
"I tried to make the most of every opportunity that I had," Tebow said. "I would've loved to have more."
Everyone expected more, even Ryan, who acknowledged that the Tebow-powered wildcat-style offense that was kept so under wraps in training camp up in Cortland, N.Y., never developed into what the team had hoped.
Now, the Jets will either try to trade Tebow or release him by the time the NFL's free agency period begins in March.
The lasting image of Tebow's tenure will be his shirtless jog off the practice field in the rain during training camp — when ESPN was broadcasting live shots of Jets practice for a week.
Fans and media kept waiting all season for the quarterback controversy they were sure was to come: Sanchez vs. Tebow. Turns out, it was third-stringer Greg McElroy, a seventh-round draft pick last year, who took Sanchez's job in Week 16.
The Jets have three quarterbacks who came to the NFL with impeccable credentials: Sanchez a top-5 draft pick from Southern California, Tebow a two-time national champion at Florida and a Heisman Trophy winner, and McElroy a former Texas high school state champion who led the University of Alabama to a national title. But New York will go into this offseason not knowing if it even has its quarterback of the future on its roster.
Given everything that has gone on with the franchise, it was only fitting that a week after Braylon Edwards — then with the Seattle Seahawks — called out the Jets on Twitter by saying that fans should blame "the idiots calling shots" for Sanchez's struggles, he was brought back to New York by the same people he criticized.
Johnson could opt to clean house completely by firing Ryan and his coaching staff. He could do the same to Tannenbaum, or possibly re-assign him within the organization.
Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, brought in to boost the running game and get Tebow involved, could also be gone. Or, they could all be back for one more twirl.
Either way, Johnson's team is sure to consistently make splashy headlines this winter. Just the way he likes it.

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Benched QB Sanchez mum on future with Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Mark Sanchez knows he won't be the New York Jets' starting quarterback this week.
Beyond that, the one-time face of the franchise won't say whether he thinks he'll be back with the team next season.
"I really haven't even thought about it," Sanchez said Friday. "Honestly, I'm a Jet. That's all I've known."
Sanchez struggled mightily Monday night in a 14-10 loss at Tennessee, throwing four interceptions and losing the football on New York's final offensive play as the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention. Coach Rex Ryan decided Tuesday to give Greg McElroy the start Sunday against San Diego at MetLife Stadium.
Whether Sanchez has played his final snap for the Jets remains to be seen. A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday that the Jets will consider all of their options regarding Sanchez and backup Tim Tebow. Trades in the offseason cannot be ruled out, but the person, who requested anonymity because the team's personnel plans are private, told the AP that the Jets have not made any determinations involving Sanchez or Tebow.
"I'm focused on this game and the game next week," Sanchez said, declining to address any trade rumors. "We'll assess all that stuff at a later date."
Ryan also would not comment on the futures of the quarterbacks, and wouldn't announce who McElroy's backup will be against the Chargers.
"Quite honestly, it's going to be a coach's decision and I'll go ahead and make that decision later," Ryan said. "I've said there's a possibility all three guys will be up and there's a possibility two will be up. I'm not going to make that decision just yet."
Ryan added that it's possible that "maybe" he has decided already and just won't say.
Either way, Sanchez will not be under center at the start of the game for only the second time in his career, and first for something other than an injury. McElroy took the majority of the snaps with the first-team offense throughout the week, making for a somewhat strange scene as both Sanchez and Tebow watched.
"I wouldn't say it's been normal," Sanchez said. "In that way, it's different, but at the same time, you have to be a pro, do the right thing, help Greg and prepare him like I always do."
The Jets will likely be hard-pressed to trade or cut Sanchez, who is due $8.25 million in guarantees next season after having his contract extended last offseason. He would cost the Jets a $17.1 million salary cap hit next season if he is cut, but New York could spread that amount over the next two seasons if he is released after June 1.
The salary cap hit would still be a costly $8.9 million if the Jets do find a willing trading partner. That could be further complicated by the fact Sanchez has turned the ball over an NFL-leading 50 times since the start of last season.
Tebow, who will be traded or cut before the NFL's free agency period begins in March, has two years remaining on his contract. But it would cost the Jets only a little more than $1 million against the salary cap if they cut him.
Meanwhile, McElroy will be making his first NFL start on Sunday after he made his first appearance three weeks ago against Arizona and helped New York to a 7-6 win after coming in for a benched Sanchez. The former Alabama star said friends asked him if he was excited the world didn't end, as the Mayan calendar predicted for Friday, before he got out there against the Chargers.
"Yeah, I'm glad that we're still around," a smiling McElroy said. "I'm glad that everything's OK. I wasn't really worried about it."
McElroy, who was 5 of 7 for 29 yards and the game's only touchdown against Arizona, hasn't felt any awkwardness among his fellow quarterbacks, considering he's starting for the former fifth overall draft pick in 2009 and leapfrogged Tebow on the depth chart.
"They've been extremely helpful and I'm very grateful for that," McElroy said. "I'm just thankful to have such great guys in the (quarterbacks) room with me."
The biggest change during the week, McElroy said, was the number of interviews he had to do once Ryan named him the starter.
"I'm probably getting sunburnt from the lights," the fair-skinned and freckle-faced McElroy said, laughing. "That's about it."
NOTES: TE Dustin Keller (sprained ankle) and DB Aaron Berry (hamstring) are doubtful and unlikely to play Sunday. ... Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, a close friend of Ryan, turned down a contract extension during the season, according to the Daily News. That means he could opt to leave for a similar position or head coaching job elsewhere. Ryan wouldn't comment, but said he thinks there isn't "any doubt" Pettine could be an NFL head coach. ... Antonio Cromartie, who has filled in admirably for the injured Darrelle Revis as the team's top cornerback, was selected by teammates as the Jets' MVP.

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