Tim Tebow will now enjoy quarterback tutorials from two time NFL MVP Tom Brady right.(Photo Stew Milne USA TODAY Sports)
FOXBOROUGH Mass. The coach barely entertained reporters' questions.
The owner quietly walked off the field after practice declining to make any grand statements to the media.
And Tim Tebow the newest member of the New England Patriots fielded no questions offering a 36 second statement that ended with his standard God Bless as he walked away.
A little more than a year ago the New York Jets did everything but hold a parade following their trade for Tebow. There was a press conference in the Jets' facility and soon enough owner Woody Johnson was proclaiming one can never have too much Tebow. Turns out Johnson was wrong really wrong and it's clear Bill Belichick intends to show everyone the right way to handle the Tebow sideshow.
By stomping it out along with his players.
You just worry about playing football. Each player's caught up on striving to their personal goals and trying to get where they want to be as an athlete said tight end Aaron Hernandez Tebow's teammate in college at Florida. A lot of that other stuff you don't really notice or pay attention to but from the outside looking in it looks like a big mess.
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Hernandez added The media's going to be around and if you let the media become a distraction that's your fault. Obviously in this program we don't let that happen. We just play football and take care of ourselves.
Therein lies the real story line in Tebow's signing a two year deal with the Patriots on Tuesday.
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Last SlideNext SlideIt's not so much about whether Belichick signed the 2010 first round pick and Heisman Trophy winner to spite the Jets or reporters who wrote that he didn't like Tebow as a player. It's not even about whether Tebow will be a quarterback a utility player or both. It's about this being Tebow's best (and maybe last) chance to have the noise that follows him blocked out by Belichick and this franchise's ability to often handle potential distractions and win in spite of them.
Tebow's presence might very well be the biggest challenge to Belichick's no distraction mandate since Spygate. Through one day at least everyone complied including Tebow.
First and foremost I just want to thank the Patriots for giving me an opportunity. I'm very thankful said Tebow who has been assigned No. 5 since third year backup quarterback Ryan Mallett wears Tebow's familiar No. 15. It's such an honor to be a Patriot and play for Coach Belichick and for Coach (Josh) McDaniels to learn under Tom (Brady) and be a part of this great franchise a part of a very successful franchise. I found that out first hand. I lost to them several times.
It's going to be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to working hard every single day getting a lot better and learning under some great people.
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With that along with a promise that I'm sure we're going to be talking a lot more soon Tebow was gone.
That short session with reporters came after he had limited reps in the first of the team's three minicamp practices. Brady and Mallett took most of the snaps with Tebow getting the bulk of his work during the individual portion of practice.
Tebow was wearing a red jersey and worked solely as a quarterback. Belichick is crafty and open minded about schemes and players so expect that to change at some point during the regular season if Tebow is still on the roster. If Tebow's being groomed for any kind of role apparently it wasn't evident Tuesday.
There's a reason he's here. I don't know the reason yet Hernandez quipped.
But expect Belichick who cut off the line of Tebow questioning when he was asked if he'll have an issue with his new quarterback Tebowing after a big play to refuse to entertain the sideshow even though he did smirk at the cameras when he entered his press conference.
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Last SlideNext SlideAnything we do is in the best interest of the team Belichick said. Tim's a talented player that works hard so we'll see how it goes.
Hardly a pitch to sell seats right there. Just an attempt to once again control the message something that could set up nicely for Tebow's hopes of ever being a legitimate player in this league once again.
Definitely cornerback Kyle Arrington now in his fifth year with the Patriots said when asked if he thinks Belichick and the Patriots can keep Tebowmania in check better than any other team. We'll give it a shot and see how it goes.
If it doesn't go well Belichick will cut ties with Tebow as quickly as he got rid of Albert Haynesworth and Randy Moss when their situations turned sour. But those players had reputations as head cases. The issue with Tebow on the other hand isn't behavioral but rather a potential problem with the attention he brings.
Belichick tried to quip his way around that question by saying to the assembled media Hopefully there will be more (people) than this at the games on Sundays.
Bland as he might be Belichick has been a consistently successful coach who knows how to minimize distractions. He'll try to do the same for Tebow while showing the Jets and the rest of the NFL whether refusing to embrace and promote Tebowmania works.
If it does he'll once again look like a genius. If it doesn't there's nothing gained or lost.
Except maybe Tebow's NFL career.
Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter mikegarafolo
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