When the New England Patriots signed Tim Tebow earlier this year, I said at the time, and so did a few others, apparently, that the Patriots would be well-served shifting the Heisman Trophy winner from quarterback to tight end to address a glaring need. It didn't happen, and Tebow was cut a week ago. Tebow then tweeted that he would continue his pursuit of becoming an NFL quarterback. Apparently, Tebow didn't get the message.
On Thursday, NBC & Sports Illustrated pundit Peter King reported that an unnamed NFL team wanted to sign Tebow and try him out at----wait for it----tight end. Tebow turned that offer down. Yahoo! labeled him as stubborn, unwilling to accept the fact that NFL owners don't see him as a quality QB after 3 seasons in the league with Denver and the Jets. He would've been carrying a clipboard behind Tom Brady & Ryan Mallet in New England had he stayed.
While I respect Tebow for his faith as a brother in Christ, let's look at this realistically.
In the last three seasons, NFL defenses exposed the flaws in Tebow's game. He wasn't fully developed as a quarterback in Florida, where he won the Heisman. Yes, he can run, but so can Cam Newton, another Heisman-winning QB from the mighty SouthEastern Conference (SEC), the big difference being that Newton, despite the attendant scandal in his senior season at Auburn, was fully developed as a QB. Of course, there's also that size differential to consider. Teams now look at Tebow as a novelty, a flash in the pan who caught a lucky break at the end of his run in Denver, only to have the Patriots expose him in so many ways, although they lose points for running up the score like a bully would.
Tebow turned down the option of exploring offers from the Canadian Football League. What made me laugh was that an American rugby league was interested in him, too. They would only do that for their 15 minutes of fame, mind you. Tebow has to look at this logically. No team is going to take a chance on him as a QB again, so if he wants to remain in the NFL, he has to understand that QB is going to be a secondary position going forward. Take Brad Smith, for example. Now a kick returner/wide receiver with Buffalo, Smith was a QB at Missouri when he was drafted by the Jets, but only used at the position in the "Wildcat" formation when he wasn't catching passes or returning kicks, which he does very well. If Smith can make the adjustment, so can Tebow. He just has to accept the fact that his legs are what will make him the most money, not his arm. For now, as a Yahoo! blogger suggested, Tebow should look in the mirror and see why the NFL doesn't see him as a QB any longer. The Dunce Cap is headed his way, blessed with holy water.
2 comments:
I'm not sure Tebow deserves that dunce cap!
I don't know too much about football - but based on what I'd been reading from those who do follow it thoroughly, Tebow is a victim of discrimination.
According to bluecollarphilosophy.com, Tebow had broken Bronco darling, John Elway's record for passes: 185 yards on 5 completions. That was just in the first half. Denver bosses didn't like that because Elway is after all a legend and to have some upstart kid do so well so soon couldn't be allowed. Next thing Tebow knew he was dumped. I wouldn't be surprised if they put an asterisk next to his name like they did with Roger Maris beating Babe Ruth's homerun record (he himself was shunned because he broke the record, not media darling, Mickey Mantle).
I also think the sportswriters are actively against him. He's a Christian, and openly admitted his love and devotion to God. He's been homeschooled and became a poster boy for pro life groups because his mother was advised to terminate him in the womb, but refused. All of these things to a predominately progressive group like sportswriters makes them itch!
He caught all those passes in his last game for the Patriots yet they still saw fit to cut him loose. He barely had any time to prove what else he could do.
Plus there is that Heisman Trophy. They don't just give that out with every box of Cracker Jack. I know not all college players can successfully make the transition to the pros but Tebow seems to be capable. However, if he chooses to ditch the NFL altogether, he could still do other things.
Despite everything, Tebow has been nothing short of a good sport and behaved above all this pettiness.
I handed Tebow the Dunce Cap because he's not seeing the handwriting on the wall. As good as he is, he can't get past the discriminatory perception you speak of, and won't make a position change to earn himself another NFL job.
What I think is the solution is that Tebow, after appropriate consultation through prayer, could land another gig that would allow him a chance to be a QB, but not as a #1. At least he's had a chance to succeed, unlike other Heisman winners (i.e. Gino Torretta of Miami) who quickly washed out and disappeared into obscurity.
Tebow has handled things with dignity, class, & respect, yes, but a compromise won't hurt him in the long term. Too bad fellow Christian Aaron Rodgers didn't give him a call........
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