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.
Pictured: 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)
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?
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.
SOURCE: Jarrett Bell
USA TODAY
USA TODAY
Comments