So much for the power of wishful thinking. My furtive hopes of a Mallett trade have been dashed. With that said, here's my analysis on opportunities for Tebow right now:
On the List
- Jaguars: As I wrote yesterday, Jacksonville has run out of football reasons to avoid Tebow. If they genuinely want to win games, they will sign him, even if only as a red zone battering ram. Unfortunately, I am increasingly convinced that GM Dave Caldwell believes his job is to understand the value of losing. If that is the case, signing Tebow is the worst thing he could do, because Tim may win just enough games to lose the number one draft pick. If it is going to happen, this is the week.
- Rams: Did you watch the last 4 seconds of Monday Night Football last night? Enough said. Give Jimbo Fisher two more games to confim that Kellen Clemens ain't got it, then see what he does on bye week.
Off the List
- Browns: Jason Campbell played well enough in his first start for Cleveland to stick with him.
- Eagles: They have too many QB's already. Chip Kelly lacks the statute to thumb his nose at league wisdom and is not yet shaky enough to make desperation moves.
- Raiders: Pryor just set the NFL record for longest ever TD run by a QB. He will not be replaced by another running QB.
- Bills: EJ Manual should be about halfway through recovery. Thad Lewis is performing adequately.
- Bears: Cutler may return earlier than expected.
- Texans: They see enough promise in Case Keenum to stick with him for now.
Watch
- Tampa: Schiano is shaky enough to make desperation moves, and he seems to love giving conventional wisdom the finger. Glennon is playing well enough to keep the job but not well enough to win. The Glazers have owned an NFL franchise long enough to realize they are running a business, not a Shaolin Temple of Football Purity. There are a lot of empty seats in Raymond James Stadium and a LOT of Gator fans in Tampa.
- Patriots: I am not letting go of this, dammit! If they keep losing players to IR, they may have room to bring Tim back as a developmental player. If Brady keeps getting hammered in the pocket, they may decide they need more depth. Belichick may still decide he wants a read option package as a late-season or playoff surprise. It could happen.
The Patriot signing was another set up, like the Jets. For some reason the NFL does not want Tebow. They figured if BB cut him that everyone would believe that he was given a fair chance, HAHA. I wonder if it is, all the beer companies that buy ads for the games and NFL network and ESPN. Someone on ESPN made the statement that Tebow was TOO good (morally) for the NFL. Sad state of affairs, when someone is TOO good of a guy to play in NFL.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree at all. Josh McDaniel's affection for Tebow is readily apparent. Bill Belichick is a cyborg who does nothing not in the interest of his team. I do not believe for a minute he would waste practice reps and preseason game time on Tim if he intended to cut him regardless of performance.
DeleteAs for the rest of the NFL, I believe Hanlon's Razor applies: "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."
Hanlon's Razor is too gross of a generalization in this case. It's pretty apparent what's been done to Tebow, for those who have eyes anyway.
DeleteEd: Very disappointed that Mallet was not traded today. I as well had harbored hope that it would happen. Still I believe the Pats will give Tim an opportunity at some point. It is difficult for Tim's fans to stomach another wasted season but it may be ours & Tim's only alternative at this point. Going back to the Pats is the best way for Tim to return to the NFL with all his dignity still intact. As much as I would like to see Tim on the Jaguars, I would prefer for him not to sign there soley to be a red zone battering ram. (He deserves much better than that & the Jaguars do not deserve any of it.) Your right he probably would win enough games for them to lose the number one draft pick. And this time there is no Peyton Manning waiting in the wings. So where would that leave them? Going to the Jags as a battering ram even if he were to be successful would only serve to reinforce the notion that he is nothing more than a power runner. Besides why give the Jaguars a life raft when they are so determined to sink on there own. In due time Caldwell will understand the value of losing (after he loses his job). I agree with the rest of your column. Excellent as always.
ReplyDeleteI am disappointed too, but in retrospect it was a false hope. After all, no player of any consequence got traded by any team.
DeleteI also still like the Patriots option. It will not be a wasted season for Tim if he drills and drills his new throwing motion until his accuracy limitations are a thing of the past. Then he can compete as a passer, while still retaining the scrambling and power running capability when he needs it.
My hope for the Jags is a leap of faith that Tim would eventually be given the ball and would produce positive results. I think he has the leadership and athleticism to do that, even on a weak team like the Jags. I think he is especially suited for a situation like the Jags because they can toss the rule book out the window and go with what works.
This year is a freebie for Caldwell. He has convinced everyone that the team needed to be blown up, and now post-blow-up they lack talent. Next year he is on the clock. If they still stink in 2015 he is toast. Poor Gus Bradley may not survive an 0-16 season this year, and it's not even his fault.
"It will not be a wasted season for Tim if he drills and drills his new throwing motion until his accuracy limitations are a thing of the past."
DeleteExactly! It will be far better for Tim to wait and fly like an eagle when it's his time than to sign to a lose-lose situation and then really be done in the NFL.
The ESPN comment about him being "too moral" is further proof that their is indeed some amount of collusion within the NFL and media to keep Tebow out of the league. It's getting more and more obvious. But when will it become obvious to those of you who laugh at conspiracies?
DeleteThere are forces at work here, folks, that most don't understand or want to understand....
Ephesians 6:12