New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) waves to fans before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in December.(Photo Kevin Hoffman USA TODAY Sports)
Crossroads time for Tim Tebow.
The man poised to become the highest profiled free agent in the NFL waived by the New York Jets on Monday has to determine whether to abandon his vision of having a long career as an NFL quarterback and take a new approach.
Like as an H back. Or in the Canadian Football League.
Count me among the doubters that a team will claim Tebow and the attached circus that comes with him. But stranger things have happened. And all it takes is one team.
I think there's a market for Tim Tebow an NFL general manager told USA TODAY Sports on Monday. The teams that have established quarterbacks aren't going to mess around with him. But I could see somebody with a specific plan bringing him in.
Really
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The GM who spoke on the condition of anonymity for competitive reasons added he had no interest in signing Tebow a sentiment echoed by two other NFL general managers contacted by USA TODAY Sports.
He took a team to the playoffs and won a playoff game the GM added referring to the Denver Broncos' first round overtime shocker against the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2012. I think there's some value in that.
So often in the NFL established relationships can lead to opportunity.
Yet I can't see Tebow reuniting with the coach who drafted him in the first round with the Broncos three years ago. Josh McDaniels is back with the New England Patriots as offensive coordinator but for all of Bill Belichick's out of the box thinking the notion of taking the ball out of Tom Brady's hands for even one gimmick play is absurd.
On the other hand new San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy was the Broncos' offensive coordinator during that improbable run to an 8 8 division crown in 2011. He helped create some Tebow magic. And new Chargers GM Tom Telesco showed guts in drafting Manti Te'o. Philip Rivers Oh.
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Marc Trestman has a track record with Tebow. The new Chicago Bears coach tutored Tebow when he came out of Florida. I'd love to be in the room to get Jay Cutler's reaction if the Bears took a shot on Tebow.
The team that takes a flyer on Tebow must have two prerequisites a willingness to handle intense media attention and a scheme (as the Jets initially intended) to incorporate Tebow as a niche player.
Tebow is one of the best red zone short yardage quarterbacks that ever lived said former Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage now executive director of the Senior Bowl. He runs like a fullback he can lower his shoulder and run through you.
In theory that's not bad but the question the general manager has to ask is 'Is it worth the headache '
Tebow's persona is a blessing and a curse when it comes to his NFL prospects.
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You'd think a team with a read option component to its offense such as the Washington Redskins San Francisco 49ers or Seattle Seahawks could use him.
Savage mindful that the Redskins recently signed Pat White can envision Tebow reducing the risk in red zone situations for Robert Griffin III who is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. But I can't see the consistent passing from Tebow with a career completion rate of 47.9% to make that work. And read option schemes in the NFL have yet to be proved viable over the long haul.
I think he's going to have to change positions another NFL GM who also requested anonymity for competitive reasons told USA TODAY Sports. I don't think anybody's looking at him seriously as a quarterback anymore.
It's one thing to flourish at quarterback with a unique style. But Cam Newton Andy Dalton Matt Schaub Colin Kaepernick and Peyton Manning to name a few even with their different styles all possess the ability to throw. Pocket passers and mobile passers alike need basics with their mechanics and skill to thrive on the NFL level.
If he hasn't improved his technique enough to this point it's doubtful any team will invest the time to develop him as a quarterback even with all of the intangibles Tebow brings as a class act winner.
Tebow's best option Embrace a hybrid position maybe a combination H back fullback tight end role.
The commercial megastar needs to realize sticking in the league will likely come down to letting go of his lifelong dream of being a starting NFL quarterback.
That can't be easy.
Tebow who gets six figures for spiritual speaking engagements built his platform as a quarterback who won a pair of college national championships not as a complementary H back.
And just imagine the testimony if Tebow could rise from these depths and take a team to a Super Bowl as a quarterback.
Then there's Canada. The Montreal Alouettes own the rights to Tebow in the CFL but he would have to develop there too as a backup. With a wider field. Prove himself in Canada as Warren Moon and Jeff Garcia did then maybe Tebow can manage another crack as an NFL quarterback.
That too seems like a long shot.
One thing for sure This is a serious reality check for Tim Tebow.
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