Being a Tebow fan is an exercise in frustration. Two years and seven months ago, we were riding high. Tim had just completed one of the most exciting NFL seasons ever, John Elway declared he had earned the starting QB job, and fans everywhere eagerly anticipated watching him play again. Three seasons later, we are still waiting to watch him play again.
The most maddening aspect of the experience has been watching quarterbacks who are clearly worse than Tebow get signed to backup roster spots. Take Blaine Gabbert. By any objective measure Gabbert is worse than Tebow. His career QB Rating is 66.4, while Tebow's QBR is 75.3. Yet the 49ers traded for Gabbert to be their backup QB. That is just one example.
It is tempting to conclude that teams are avoiding Tebow for non-football reasons. Indeed, many Tebow fans believe he has been blacklisted, possibly for his beliefs. This makes no sense. General Managers and coaches make decisions according to their best interests, and winning is the sole enduring interest in the NFL. Few professions are held as directly accountable for their performance as NFL head coaches.
All organizations analyze choices by weighing pros and cons of available options. The NFL is no different. There must be some powerful con that dominates the pros where Tebow is concerned. I believe there are two reasons that deter teams from considering Tebow for backup positions1:
- Bad System Fit. As John Elway said when they traded Tim, no team can afford to implement two offensive systems.2 A backup QB must fit the existing system. Most current offensive systems are based on traditional play-action or West Coast Offense principles, which require a quarterback with pinpoint accuracy and quick release. Tim has repeatedly struggled in such systems. He proved in Denver that he can succeed in a non-traditional offensive system built on read option runs and a deep vertical passing attack, but only a few teams currently use such an offense.3
- Destabilizing the Starter. The role of the backup to an established starter is to support and strengthen him, not supplant him. In both Denver and New York, Tebow's presence and popularity destabilized the starting QB. When Orton and Sanchez struggled, Tebow chants started, billboards popped up, and sportswriters started every press conference by asking when Tebow would start. In the end, both Orton and Sanchez crumbled under the pressure of playing in front of him. No GM or coach invested in the success of his starting QB is going to risk a repeat of that scenario.
Tim's conundrum is that either of these reasons is enough for a team to decide not to pursue him. To consider him as a backup, a team must be a good system fit and have no concerns about undermining their starter. Unfortunately, that combination does not currently exist in the league. The few teams with quarterbacks secure enough not to be threatened by Tebow (Brady, Brees, Manning, Rogers) all play in traditional play-action or West Coast Offense systems. The few teams with non-traditional offensive systems all have young franchise QB's who still have the potential to struggle and regress in their development, and thus need to be protected from outside pressure.
Look at a few recent situations where Tim has been passed over:
Patriots - Poor system fit, but zero potential to destabilize Tom Brady. Tebow's popularity wasn't a threat, so they were willing to give him a fair shot. Unfortunately he struggled because his skills were not a good fit for the Patriots' precise play-action system.4
49'ers - Partial system fit, but potential to destabilize Colin Kaepernick. He is the future of the franchise, and they are not going to risk added pressure if he hits a bump in his development. Gabbert, while clearly possessing less ability to win games than Tebow, is a good system fit and poses no threat to Kap.
Browns - Good system fit, but potential to destabilize both Hoyer and Manziel. Kyle Shanahan loves mobile quarterbacks, but injecting Tebow into an already potent QB controversy could cause the entire club to implode from media attention.
Bills - Good system fit, but potential to destablize EJ Manuel. Orton's popularity isn't going to destabilize anyone.
Rams - Partial system fit, and potential to destabilize Shaun Hill. The Rams use a passing system based on the old Air Coryell system, which uses deep and midrange passes and power runs. Since the Rams are a run-first team, it could be adapted for Tebow similar to the way Denver did in 2011. However, for now the Rams have declared that they are fully behind Hill as their starter for the season. Case Keenum was brought in as a stronger backup option, not to compete for the strarter position. Hill is a career journeyman and will almost certainly struggle at times, so bringing in Tebow would almost certainly turn up the pressure on him.
Patriots - Poor system fit, but zero potential to destabilize Tom Brady. Tebow's popularity wasn't a threat, so they were willing to give him a fair shot. Unfortunately he struggled because his skills were not a good fit for the Patriots' precise play-action system.4
49'ers - Partial system fit, but potential to destabilize Colin Kaepernick. He is the future of the franchise, and they are not going to risk added pressure if he hits a bump in his development. Gabbert, while clearly possessing less ability to win games than Tebow, is a good system fit and poses no threat to Kap.
Browns - Good system fit, but potential to destabilize both Hoyer and Manziel. Kyle Shanahan loves mobile quarterbacks, but injecting Tebow into an already potent QB controversy could cause the entire club to implode from media attention.
Bills - Good system fit, but potential to destablize EJ Manuel. Orton's popularity isn't going to destabilize anyone.
Rams - Partial system fit, and potential to destabilize Shaun Hill. The Rams use a passing system based on the old Air Coryell system, which uses deep and midrange passes and power runs. Since the Rams are a run-first team, it could be adapted for Tebow similar to the way Denver did in 2011. However, for now the Rams have declared that they are fully behind Hill as their starter for the season. Case Keenum was brought in as a stronger backup option, not to compete for the strarter position. Hill is a career journeyman and will almost certainly struggle at times, so bringing in Tebow would almost certainly turn up the pressure on him.
Does this mean Tebow will not play in the NFL? No, but it does mean that a confluence of favorable circumstances must occur. If a team with high expectations for the season and a partial system fit loses their starting quarterback to season-ending injury early in the season, Tebow might become a legitimate candidate. Examples: the Panthers lose Cam Newton, the Seahawks lose Russell Wilson, or the 49'ers lose Kaepernick. The Rams might also become a possibility if Hill flounders in his first few starts.
Finally, do not write off Tebow's attempts to reinvent himself. He has now been practicing with Tom House for a full year. At 200 throws a day for 5 days a week, that is nearly 50,000 reps. Surely that is enough to improve his accuracy and release. His intent is clearly to refine his skills to the point where system fit is no longer a constraint. Whether that is possible, nobody knows, but Tim appears determined to prove it is possible. At this point the more salient question is whether any team will be willing to take a look.
Finally, do not write off Tebow's attempts to reinvent himself. He has now been practicing with Tom House for a full year. At 200 throws a day for 5 days a week, that is nearly 50,000 reps. Surely that is enough to improve his accuracy and release. His intent is clearly to refine his skills to the point where system fit is no longer a constraint. Whether that is possible, nobody knows, but Tim appears determined to prove it is possible. At this point the more salient question is whether any team will be willing to take a look.
Notes:
- It is tempting to add "distraction" to the list. While there is no denying it is a factor in decision-making, I do not think it is a primary driver in the decision, for several reasons. First, teams willingly endure distraction when it benefits them. Both the Rams and Cowboys signed Michael Sam, and the Browns drafted Johnny Football, who is almost a caricature of a media circus. Second, Bill Belichick gave a pretty good clinic on shutting down the Tebow circus and preventing distraction. Third, at this point in his career, the focus on Tebow will be substantially less than it was 3 years ago. The media has moved on.
- System fit could be the subject of a much longer standalone article. It is tempting for Tebow fans to dismiss the argument as a red herring to conceal some other bias; however, it has been a common thread among comments by insiders with actual knowledge of the decision process. When asked directly if Tebow could succeed as a starter in the NFL, both John Elway and Urban Meyer said the same thing: "it would have to be the right place." Both went on to elaborate on the need for Tim to play in a non-traditional offense built to take advantage of his strengths.
- Tebow fans usually focus on QB option runs when considering whether he would be a good fit. However, the passing system is actually more important. Several offenses that would appear to be good system fits because of QB mobility are actually poor fits because the passing scheme is based on the West Coast Offense. If you are unfamiliar with that system, the wikipedia page is worth reviewing. To sum it up, the West Coast Offense uses "short, horizontal passing routes in lieu of running plays" to open up the opposing defense. For such an offense to work, the QB must have a very high completion rate, and he must have a very quick release and pinpoint accuracy on short routes. A notable example would be the 49'ers, where the West Coast Offense originated with Bill Walsh. Kaepernick uses quick passes to spread out the defense so that he can run. Tebow's offense in Denver used power runs and options to draw in the defense so he could pass.
- Tim began his makeover with Tom House only a few days after he was cut by the Patriots. That is pretty strong evidence that he was given direct feedback on his need to improve specific skills to fit into a traditional offense.
Ron ... Friday (9.5.14) @ 6:45am:
ReplyDeleteEd. I completely agree with your assessment above.
Two additional thoughts/comments:
1. EAGLES. While Tebow wasn't 'recently passed over' here, I believe the Eagles would be a good system fit for Tebow. With the Eagles' dedication to performing a 'read-option' on every play, Tim with McCoy in the backfield would be a monster combination.
2. NEGATIVE EFFECT ON STARTERS. While I wish this wasn't a 'real' phenomenon in today's NFL, I acknowledge it is real and that is is a measurable consideration for GM's and Head Coaches. What I would say however is that if your starting QB can't handle the pressure, perhaps front offices should reevaluate whether their starting QB is really up to the task of being a starting QB. My two cents.
Again, nice job Ed.
At this point, why doesn't Tim consider other football choices such as the Canadian league? He needs to showcase publicly his improved skills and generate interest. Being a talking head on ESPN won't do it. In my mind, it shows he's content to simply give up and go into the media instead of fighting and staying in football, no matter what league he might be in.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ed....I agree that it is illogical that Tebow is being banned for "non-football reasons" but the evidence month after month, season after season is looking more like that. It's very illogical that he couldn't even get invited to a training camp! If these franchises are so gung-ho on "winning no matter what" then some seemingly QB desperate franchises would of at least kicked the tires and given him an invite early on. He IS a winner, after all. They did not. Silence. Hmmmm....
I strongly agree with all of the points that Anonymous has made. Tim is not going to persuade anyone to reconsider his viability as a player by dishing on college football every Saturday. And he knows that. So why pass up the opportunity to showcase and develop his pro game in the CFL? There are only two explanations that make any sense:
ReplyDelete1.) Tim is content to leave his playing days behind for good and pursue a broadcasting career, or
2.) Tim somehow believes that he can still get back into the NFL his way, by working out every day and waiting for the stars to perfectly align so that a desperate team calls him.
The second approach is beyond foolish at this point. It's not going to happen. Moreover, Tim has attacked his new broadcast duties with a great deal of enthusiasm. I would not be surprised at all that he has in effect retired as a player without saying so. I hope to be wrong because I'd love to watch him play again -- anywhere.
Here's an article on the Bills discussing the destabilizing effect on EJ of hiring Orton. Doug Marrone is not happy. How much worse would it be with Tebow? As I have said before, the ONLY way Tebow gets hired is if Marrone gives up on EJ. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/05/marrones-frustration-arises-from-orton-signing/
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing. Nobody is desperate in training camp. Everyone has a plan that they think will work out awesome. But like Mike Tyson said, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. Teams typically dismiss the results of preseason, so while they may be privately worried, they are natural optimists, so nobody is desperate yet. That comes 5 or 6 games into the regular season, especially for coaches in make-or-break years. Even the Rams are still in denial about their own desperateness.
ReplyDeleteI hate the ESPN gig. It almost makes me physically ill. I'd rather he try out for USA Rugby. He's an athlete, not a talking head. I'm glad for him as a person, but I have no intent of following him, writing about him, or even watching him. As a matter of fact I will probably change the channel if I accidentally find his show in.
Having said that, I recognize the utilitarian value of the TV gig. It pays good money and allows him to keep training like a pro athlete. Tom House, PEP, and residences in LA and Arizona don't come cheap.
My opinion on the CFL is simple: it's too late this year. The CFL season is half over. He might as well wait til next spring and sign on for a full season.
Here's the thing about the CFL. If the goal is to get back to the NFL quickly, then Tim has to be the greatest player the history of the CFL, and he has to do it pretty much right away. Look at how long Warren Moon and Doug Flutie took: 5 and 8 YEARS in Canada.
>>...so nobody is desperate yet.<<
ReplyDeleteThey made it clear last season when they were unprecedentedly desperate that they have no interest in Tebow. They made it clear when free agency opened up this season. They made it clear during training camp. They made it clear throughout preseason.
I'm curious as to who you think is going to call him and under what circumstances? The Redskins? Not with Cousins playing so capably. The Browns? If either Hoyer or Manziel are injured they'll just resign Grossman. The Titans? Whitehurst is Wisenhunt's guy, he's not going to subject him to fans screaming for Tebow. The 49ers? They're SB contenders, they'll trade at a high cost before signing a guy to start who last saw playing time over a season ago.
I just don't see it.
>>My opinion on the CFL is simple: it's too late this year. The CFL season is half over. He might as well wait til next spring and sign on for a full season.<<
The sooner he gets back on the field, the better. He needs to be seen playing, not reporting from the sidelines. The CFL wants him. We know this from the remarks Jim Popp gave to the press this summer. Any initial struggles could easily and legitimately be excused as a product of his midseason learning curve. If he were to somehow join an NFL team midseason, somehow get playing time, and then struggle, there's no way he'd be cut any slack. That would be it. Strike four, you're out. For good.
Another point: Jim Popp wants him now. That may not be the case next season.
>>Having said that, I recognize the utilitarian value of the TV gig. It pays good money and allows him to keep training like a pro athlete. Tom House, PEP, and residences in LA and Arizona don't come cheap.<<
This does not inspire sympathy. It inspires the conclusion that he's prioritized material wealth above playing time. Training like a pro athlete? How about playing like a pro athlete?
My point here isn't that he shouldn't lead his life as he chooses or that he shouldn't enjoy his financial success, but that if he really is content with the SEC Network gig and is okay with not playing again if he can't get back in the League his way, then he ought to stop suggesting that he's doing everything he can to get back into the NFL. Clearly he's not. Chad Johnson is doing everything he can to get back in the NFL. Brandon London is doing everything he can. Josh Gordon would have played for the CFL this season if the rules hadn't forbade it. Taking a broadcasting job instead because houses in L.A. and AZ don't come cheap doesn't exactly suggest that he cries himself to sleep over not being on a team. I'd rather believe that he chose the broadcast job because he prefers it and it's more professionally satisfying, not because it supports a more desirable lifestyle.
>>Here's the thing about the CFL. If the goal is to get back to the NFL quickly, then Tim has to be the greatest player the history of the CFL, and he has to do it pretty much right away. Look at how long Warren Moon and Doug Flutie took: 5 and 8 YEARS in Canada.<<
The goal -- ostensibly -- is to get back into the NFL at all. He's in no position to be choosy about how or when, unless he's content not to play again if he can't get back in his way.
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In other news, I like the new layout. Nice and clean, easier on the eyes.
In my opinion Tebow as a backup is the wrong question to be asking. The real question should be why has he not been considered to be a starter. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that not only could Tebow be a starter but he could be a very good starter. For reference one can read cold hard facts Tebowfirst16 or Mascots Army. All three lay out a very compelling case for Tebow's viability as a starter. The answer as to why he has not been considered a starter (or backup) may be found in the recent article by medium.com. In it the author asks all 32 owners why don't they want Tebow on their team. Unsurprisingly the only team which answered the question was the Patriots. This doesn't inspire much confidence in me that he will get consideration by anyone other than the Patriots.
ReplyDeleteSince the Dilfer piece came out last year we haven't heard anything more about his new mechanics. I understand the need for him to stay under the radar but if he is unwilling to play in another league & NFL teams show no interest he has to devise a strategy to showcase his skills while generating some buzz.
I would not mind seeing him get some air time on some shows that are friendly to him that would allow him to promote his new mechanics while at the time asking the question. Why is Tebow not in the NFL.
Anything he does at this point would be risky. I am sure he doesn't want to alienate anyone even further but if he stubbornly & passively waits around for a call from the NFL it will probably be a long wait.
I actually think Tim has a better chance of being a starter than being a backup. That is why I wrote this article. I think teams see Tim as unsuitable as a backup and choose obviously inferior players instead of him.
ReplyDeleteI doubt a single team agrees with any of those articles about how awesome Tim would be. They are completely futile in my book. All they do is feed our sense of aggrievement. That may satisfy some people, but it doesn't help me. I want to understand why things are happening, not just validate my point of view.
However, Tim does have a winning record as a starter and he has playoff experience. There aren't too many men like that left on the free agent market, and most of them are old and beat up, while Tim is young and healthy. If a team's QB roster completely implodes and they are not willing to write off their season, Tim as the starter might be a more appealing option than taking their chances with Brady Quinn. Might. We're not talking high odds here, we're still talking really low odds.
Those low odds are Tim's choice to take. As I have said before, he has an agent who talks to teams regularly and a circle of advisors who presumably have considerably more experience and insight than any of us. I take it on trust that he genuinely wants to play. I also take it on trust that in his considered judgement his current course of action provides the best odds of achieving that goal. If he is wrong, he has to live with the consequences, not me. I am simply trying to understand the dynamics behind that decision, and get a sense of the possible outcomes.
If you want specifics, I think Panthers if they lose Newton, 49ers if they lose Kap, or Seahawks if they lose Wilson. All are decent system fits, and all have undistinguished backups.
Just remember this: by midpoint of the last season, 7 quarterbacks had been benched and 15 backups had played due to starter injury. It is a violent game and shit happens. Bradford won't be the last knee to blow.
I understand what you are saying. I hope you are right. I too believe he still wants to play if he didn't he would say so. One concern I have though about teams taking him on if they are not willing to write off their season is. By taking him on they might feel that if they were to have success that would limit their future options. They would not want to deal with the fan fallout if they wanted to go in a different direction. On the other hand if he had success a second time that would probably open other doors for him so a repeat of what happened in Denver would be unlikely. I guess we will just have to wait & see.
DeleteI thought Big Ben could have been added to the list of established quarterbacks he could have been behind. Are the Steelers West Coast offense or would they be a suitable fit for Tebow???
The Steelers use the Erhadrt-Perkins offense, which is similar to the Patriots offense. See here for a good guide to the West Coast, Air Coryell, and Erhardt-Perkins offensive schemes, as well as a list of teams who use them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offensive_philosophy_(American_football)
DeleteThe Pistol offense is probably the best fit. I would love to see Tim in the Pistol, especially at Seattle.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson
ReplyDeleteLooks like the Rams are the first to get socked in the teeth by reality. They had as good a plan as anyone until Bradford blew out his knee. Then they took a trip down "de Nile" river, convincing themselves that Shaun Hill could get them through the season. They were rudely disabused of that notion today. In the same game, they were also reminded of the folly of relying on an undrafted free agent who has never played a down in the NFL regular season as their primary backup. Their fallback plan? Another undrafted free agent who went 0-8 last year.
I give them two more games before they are ripe for Tebow.
The Browns looked like they were headed for a mouth punching too, but Hoyer got it together and almost pulled off a comeback. Based on previous experience with Hoyer, I think the Browns can expect to see the same thing all year: surges of good play, but not quite good enough or consistent enough to win most of the time. Eventually they'll go with Johnny, but not in time for Tim to be considered.
EJ Manuel pulled off a surprise win against the Bears. I view this as a double positive for Tebow fans. Tebow was never going to go to the Bills after they signed Orton for 10 million bucks. But now the Bills will tie down 2 QBs and keep them off both the market. One less option for a team that might otherwise consider Tim.
Here are some of my thoughts for today.
DeleteRams were having alot of trouble running the ball. Cannot help but think Tim's mobility would have opened things up a bit.
Jags at least for this week were still the Jags! Oh what should & could have been.
Gotta wonder how long the Redskins will go with RGIII.
Tampa vs. Rams next week should be a low scoring affair.
I wish the Cowboys would give Tim a look.
Any thoughts from anyone on the Good Morning America announcement??
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDeleted and reposted to make an edit:
ReplyDeleteGood for him. It's obviously the direction that he wants to go, and GMA gives him the ability to expand beyond sports media and into the mainstream. I wish he'd reconsider the CFL but at the end of the day it's his life. I'm sure the out-clause is in effect across all of his contracts; that said, expanding his broadcast portfolio like this not only reduces the time he has available to work out but also sends a general message to teams and the public in general that he is moving on. He certainly appears to be happy. It's a huge loss for football fans but not going to begrudge him the opportunity.
I suppose a miracle could always come along, but that's what it would be: a miracle.
Rationally, I agree with Kathryn. In my gut, it makes me angry and sick. First, because he is moving on, and I don't want him to. Second, because he wouldn't be doing it unless his agents were telling him his chances were dwindling to nothing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not letting go yet. Gonna wait and see if the Rams complete their implosion. If that happens and Tim doesn't get a call at their bye week, I may shut down the blog and twitter account and move on with my life. I have no interest in following Tim the TV personality. Honestly, it's like all the parts of him I dislike on display, stripped of all the parts of him I admire.
I can't think of anything that isn't an expletive, so I'll stop typing.
It's kind of depressing seeing you on the verge of giving up, Ed. It's like watching Santa call a suicide hotline. So I'm going to go against my better judgment and try to offer an optimistic spin on all of this. Here are a few points that might leaven your perspective:
ReplyDeleteGOOD MORNING TIMMY
It's unlikely that this deal with GMA just now materialized. In fact, Tim was seen at a series of lunch meetings with his television agent in Beverly Hills back in June. If this is what those meetings were about, which I suspect is the case, then we can't really construe anything new about his football prospects or his perception thereof. We can't say he decided to move on back then because he subsequently spent the summer working his ass off at PEP and USC, and we can't say he decided to move on now (or recently) because he inked the deal back then. From the 20,000-foot view it's a fairly neutral development - just another layer on the broadcast-with-an-out-clause-career.
LET ME CHECK MY SCHEDULE
Working for GMA may be less a drain on his time than originally thought. He spent an afternoon in Harrisburg this week shooting the inaugural Motivate Me Mondays piece, and was already back in Florida that evening. From what I can tell he'll be doing that weekly or semi-weekly in addition to occasional studio appearances, so it's not as though he has to be on set at 4 am every day like the rest of the GMA cast. Plus, he's good at making time to work out while on the road. He spent the spring throwing to receivers at local high schools and colleges when doing speaking engagements, for example. He was even spotted a few weeks ago throwing to high school kids at a park near his Florida neighborhood. If he resumes throwing and working out once all the broadcasting settles into a regular routine that will be a good sign.
MEYER LEMONS INTO LEMONADE
ReplyDeleteBoth Urban Meyer and his daughter Gigi have alluded in recent remarks that Tim has a lot going on right now and is trying to sort out his options. He's 27 years old and waiting for a narrow opportunity to emerge at the NFL. In the meantime, he's looking at the table and sees offers from the CFL, the Arena League, probably offers from the NFL to play TE or Halfback, broadcasting and television offers, probably an open door to join Urban at Ohio State as some sort of coach or coordinator, and who knows what sort of miscellaneous overtures from private companies to get into corporate relations, real estate, public affairs, and so on. He can't just let all that sit there indefinitely, so he takes the opportunity to explore the career that he wants after he's done playing football: broadcasting. It pays well, it's enjoyable, it won't expose him on a weekly basis to career-ending injuries, it allows him to draw attention to his charitable endeavors, it keeps him in the public consciousness as a football player, and he also watched his beloved coach dabble in it for a while before returning to the game. Investing in this career now does not rule out a return to the NFL, whether it happens in the short term or long term.
PUT ME IN, COACH!
Tim is going to be spending a lot of time this season watching other guys play football. He's a joyful, optimistic, positive person that's going to enjoy the job. But he's also a sociopathic competitor. It's hard to imagine that watching these other guys ball for weeks on end isn't going to slowly gnaw at him. In fact, I predict his composure will abruptly fail sometime this winter while he's reporting from the sidelines at Vandy or A&M. He'll rip his headset off mid-game, barge out onto the field, sack the quarterback, recover the ball, stiff arm a defender, outrun a safety, and take it to the house. In his powder blue suit with the floral tie.
Okay, maybe in his imagination. Point being, he's a competitor and a world class football player that just spent a year rewiring his throwing motion with a mechanics expert. It's hard to believe that - at some point - he isn't going to put all that work to the test in a live, competitive environment - even if just for his own peace-of-mind. It's more rational to believe that, instead of letting all that work be for naught, he's still holding out this season for something to develop in the NFL, and that if such an offer fails to come to fruition that he'll try his hand in the CFL next season.
This is as a whole somewhat stretchy but it's my stab at a silver lining. Chew on it and let me know your thoughts.
I like the optomistic tone Kathryn. Some Tebow fans actually believe with the GMA signing nothing has changed & he is just occupying his time while awaiting a phone call. As much as I want to believe this I cannot say that I share this view. The image of him on GMA as opposed to playing football is just too hard for me to reconcile. However if there is anyone that could pull this off it would be Tim Tebow. It is part of what makes him such a unique individual.
DeleteHere is my attempt at a silver ligning:
I loved the quote from Dick Vitale saying he thinks it is absurd Tebow is not on a roster. To use a basketball analogy I would like to see a fullcourt press from Tim trying to dispel the notion that he cannot throw. Like it or not this point has been hammered so much that it is what most people believe when it comes to Tim's throwing ability. If he wants to keep playing anything he could do to change this perception would be invaluable.
With the recent spate of bad news in footballI now more than ever the conditions may be ripe for a Tebow comeback story. His popularity & his good works may now be seen as less divisive therefore making it easier for him to be signed.
Finally the last & really most important thing. He is far better than many starting quarterbacks who remain employed.
>>I loved the quote from Dick Vitale saying he thinks it is absurd Tebow is not on a roster.<<
DeleteI loved that too. I appreciate when these guys break out of the mold and voice their unpopular opinions.
>>To use a basketball analogy I would like to see a fullcourt press from Tim trying to dispel the notion that he cannot throw. Like it or not this point has been hammered so much that it is what most people believe when it comes to Tim's throwing ability. If he wants to keep playing anything he could do to change this perception would be invaluable.<<
Agreed on this count as well, though the only way to effectively communicate this is to show it. It shouldn't be a bunch of throwing coaches and training partners, etc. testifying to it in interviews. That won't work. This is why I've been a proponent of him going to the CFL. If the NFL is going to refuse to buy sight unseen, then there's no better way to show it than by airing it out in live games as opposed to the controlled conditions of a workout.
Reporter that spoke with Tebow at UF today:
Delete>>FWIW, Tebow sounds like he still wants back in the NFL.<<
https://twitter.com/gatorhoops/status/510528117715501056
And another:
Delete>>Just asked Tebow what it feels like to be one of us media types now. His answer: "Well, I don't think of myself as one of you necessarily."<<
https://twitter.com/JeffBarlisESPN/status/510529492532867074
Thats good to hear. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteA bit rushed to write anything coherent, but I did want to thank Kathryn for making a valiant effort at lifting my spirits.
ReplyDeleteGot a lot swirling around in my head right now. Hard to be objective. Certainly the reporter's comments about Tim are encouraging, to the extent they reflect his true state of mind. My issue with GMA is that, if he really wants to get back to the NFL, this is a funny way to show it. Starting to wonder if he isn't a little bit of a fame whore. I am a Tim Tebow fan because he plays football with heart and guts, not because he comes up with witty banter on TV and looks good in his tailored suit. That guy is just another talking head.
Let's see how badly the Rams do for the next 2 games. Take a look at their schedule after the break. It's brutal.
State of mind of St. Louis media.
Delete101sports.com/2014/09/11/rams-need-break-cycle-now
From the very beginning Tim's stated purpose was to use his status as a football player to help spread the word & advance his worthy causes. Not to seek fame. I am not crazy about seeing him on GMA or SEC network either but I believe they are both in tune with his character. So I am willing to cut him some slack in this regard.
DeleteHe has largely stayed out of the lime light in the 2 years since being released by the Patriots. I would argue he should be in the spotlight more showing his new mechanics & highlighting the fact that he wants to play.
In a funny way the longer he stays unsigned the silier it looks. Lets hope a team breaks the cycle.
The best part about that Rams article is the comments. Usually when someone mentions Tebow, the haters drown everyone else out with derision. Not so much with the Rams now. Even the haters have to admit he would be better than what they have.
ReplyDeleteBloody hell. The Rams-Bucs game was the worst possible outcome. The Rams managed to pull out a win against a creampuff team, and the 3rd string QB played reasonably well. That will give the Rams just enough hope to cling to that they won't hit rock bottom if Hill comes back and flounders in the next game.
ReplyDeleteThat game was tough to watch. The backup Bowl. Either team would have been better off with Tebow. There is alot of inconsistent QB play around the league. Have to believe after a few more games the calls for him will increase in some cities.
DeletePretty discouraged today. Can't really envision a clear path back. For the first time in a long time I don't feel like checking news on Twitter. When I do, am assaulted by news of Tim on GMA. Uggh.
DeleteI strongly felt conditions were shaping up right for the Rams to take a shot. But like an addict going to rehab, they had to hit rock bottom first to shock them out of denial. Now, even when Hill fails, they'll spend a few games on Austin Green before realizing that he isn't going to get it done either.
The problem is timing. There is a narrow window from game 4 to about game 8 that can be called the "do something now" phase . Before game 4, teams hold back because they don't want to be seen as overreacting. After game 8, it is too late for any kind of meaningful comeback, so coaches shift their focus to building for the next year (or protecting their reputations in anticipation of a job search). In between those two points, a team that is sufficiently desperate might buck conventional wisdom.
The Rams were headed that way, but I expect they will view their squeaker of a win over a poor team as validating their coaching and roster, and will conclude they can win with a marginal QB who knows their system. By the time they realize it won't work, they'll be past game 8 and unwilling to do anything outside of the box.
I don't see anywhere else. Oakland is going to lose every game, but having made the move to Carr, they have to stick with him. Houston has Savage and Mallett to fall back on. Jacksonville will eventually go to Bortles. Cleveland will eventually go to Manziel, or maybe not. Bills have Orton. Where else? I don't see anywhere.
About the only glimmer of hope is the realization that, as RGIII's situation shows, every single QB in the league is one bad step away from creating a roster opening. Consider we are 2 weeks into the season and already 1/16 of starting QB's are out for extended periods of time. Maybe another catastrophic injury to a starter is the only scenario that will do it. Hate to wish ill of others, but damn.
So apparently the plan is to promote Tony Sparano to head coach after Dennis Allen is fired. That means ZERO chance Tim could go to Oakland.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what Sparano took away from that experience in NY. It would be good to think that he realized he made a mistake by not giving Tim a chance. I doubt it but you never know.
DeleteI suspect he blames Tim for getting him fired.
DeleteLast night showed how egregiously bad the Bucs are. Hopefully the Rams take that into account when considering the meaning of their own squeaker of a win over the Bucs, especially since it is the last win they are likely to have for a while. After the Cowboys, the Rams' schedule is brutal.
ReplyDeleteThe Bucs play the Steelers, Saints, and Ravens next, so they could very well be 0-6 going into their break week.
There are 4 hopelessly awful teams in the NFL right now: the Jaguars, Raiders, Rams, and Bucs. There are other bad teams, but these are the bottom of the heap, completely uncompetitive against anyone but themselves. None of them has a real chance of winning more than 2 or 3 games this season.
ReplyDeleteTim is never going to the Raiders, because of Sparano and Carr. He is never going to the Jaguars, because of Caldwell and Bortles.
That leaves the Bucs and Rams. Both of them have lost their "starting QB" (a phrase that needs air quotes if ever there was one) to minor injury. Both coaches are standing by their man, but we'll see how long that lasts.
Does Tim have any allies in the front office or on Tampa's coaching staff??
DeleteMcNown is Lovie's guy but I can't imagine him being able to justify sticking with him if the poor play continues.
What is Glennon's standing within the organization?
Best I could come up with is that new offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford was Trent Dilfer's college coach. Tedford is apparently known as a QB mentor; his best known protege's are Dilfer and Aaron Roders.
DeleteGlennon was never expected to be a starter; he was drafted to back up Freeman. He played fairly well when he took over last year. The general feeling was he had been thrown into the job before he was ready, and there were rumors McCown was brought in to mentor him as the eventual franchise QB.
McCown will apparently be out of action for several weeks with an injured thumb, so they are going to have to add a QB to their roster. I assume that will be Mike Kafka from the practice squad. However, the injury is to McCown's throwing hand, meaning there is some risk that it will impact his performance long term. They might decide that risk warrants adding a veteran QB.
Tebow's biggest asset in Tampa would be his popularity. We are only 2 hours down the interstate from Gainesville, and there are a LOT of Gator fans in town. The Glazers are business focused, and I wouldn't put it past them to pick him up for the ticket sales. The crowd would be nuts if he was on the team and playing. However, it would be Sanchize Effect x500 on McCown and Glennon. Every incompletion would bring deafening Tebow chants.
If a team were to take the plunge on Tebow would a half year rental be worth doing for both sides??
DeleteIt would be great for ticket sales. Not sure how great it would be for football reasons. If he does well there would be enourmous pressure to make him the franchse QB. If he does poorly it could be blamed on the lack of time to prepare & the lack of existing talent on the team. Which would not be good for Tebow. I hope a commitment for the rest of this year plus regardless of what happens a chance to begin next season as the Quarterback is the deal that would be made.
How do you see it?
I don't think he gets on any team except as a disaster response measure. Everyone else is hurt, the season is tanking, and they need someone with starter experience to try and salvage some measure of pride from the season. I doubt there will be any promises either. At this point he should take any opportunity that puts a football in his hands.
DeleteStarting QB bodycount as of week 3:
ReplyDeleteInjury: Bradford, Griffin, Cassell
Benched: Schaub, Henne
No new openings for Tim, but a reminder that almost every week is likely to bring at least 1 permanent roster change at QB. It only takes one.
The second half of this article is a pretty good recap of performance for the new QBs. http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nfl-week-3-seahawks-broncos-bengals-backup-quarterbacks/
DeleteThe closing paragraph is the most interesting:
"The carousel might not be done, either. There are three more AFC teams (Buffalo, Cleveland, and Tennessee) that will likely seriously consider a quarterback change in the weeks to come, both out of interest in seeing another candidate and lack of interest in seeing their current starters screw up any further. Nothing is more exciting for a bad team than rolling the dice with a new quarterback. The only thing more fun than that is seeing your bad football team become a good football team. And the quickest way to get good fast is to make a massive upgrade at quarterback. More changes are on the way."
RonDog on Sept 22 @ 10am:
ReplyDeleteIf Buffalo didn't sign Orton as their backup QB, I could see Buffalo being a great team for Tebow. I don't see them bringing in Tebow with Orton in the wings. If they did, it sure would be great theater to be sure.
I'd love to see Tebow in TENN; but, is Ken Whisenhunt's offensive scheme flexible enough to accommodate a "Run Also QB" like Tebow? I'd hope so and believe Tebow is better than any other QB on their roster.
I don't see Cleveland bringing in Tebow; nor would I want him to be placed in that crucible with Johnny Football. If I thought Johnny Football was adult enough to handle the added pressure he would see with Tebow on the Roster; then, yes it would be interesting. I don't see John Manziel lasting 16 games as a starter due to impending injury. Manziel doesn't have a body build to last in the NFL in my opinion. So, in this respect, Cleveland would be a great place with Shanahan as OC for Tebow.
Could be interesting over the next few weeks for sure. Thanks for staying after this evolving Tebow in the NFL scenario Ed. Really appreciate your efforts here. RonDog
I don't see Buffalo, for the reason you cited. Orton and Tebow will never inhabit the same roster. As you observe, the Titans are not a good system fit, and they have Whitehurst waiting in the wings. IMO Tebow at Cleveland only becomes a possibility if they get rid of Hoyer and go all in on an option offense with Manziel.
ReplyDeleteA couple of interesting developments today. First, Miami is declining to name Tannehill as the starter for next week. I seriously doubt they bench him, but pretty wild that they have gotten that unhappy with him that quickly. Of course they have Matt Moore to take over, but still one more example of the QB merry-go-round.
More interestingly, Josh McCown of the Bucs might be out for multiple games. I've even heard speculation that he could be out for the season if his thumb is bad enough. The Bucs reportedly worked out Terrelle Pryor today. Hopefully that's just an in-extremis option. However, very significant that they worked out a mobile QB instead of a traditional QB. Might be they realize just how much they stink and are thinking a mobile QB might give them additional options (no pun intended).
Interesting games this weekend:
ReplyDeleteBucs-Steelers: Glennon will start this week. Let's see if he can do anything. Bucs just lost their OC too. Gotta wonder at what point they start to panic, because they really suck.
Dolphins-Raiders: Showdown between two coaches who will probably get fired this year. Rumors of Tannehill getting benched came out of nowhere, but it appears that may be coach Philbin playing mind games. Matt Schaub will not be playing, because of his premature baby born this week. Guy has a pile of money and he's on the decline; he should retire and be with his family.
Jaguars-Chargers: No QB implications, I just like watching the Jaguars lose. Preferably by a lot of points.
Lions-Jets: No QB implications, I just like watching Rex lose. Preferably just barely, due to a pick 6 or some hideous coaching error.
Rams-nobody: This is their bye week. I had hoped that by now they would be in full flounder mode, possibly desperate enough to bring in Tim, but no signs of that. Unfortunately Austin Green's play has given them just enough hope to carry on. Green will be the Case Keenum of this year; good enough to barely lose 8 games in a row.
Carolina & SF games may be worth keeping an eye on. Newton has looked hobbled all year & in SF Kaepernick has not played well yet.
DeleteI heard Mike McCoy was talking about Tim today. I don't know if it's true or not. Have you heard anything?
Hadn't heard that about McCoy. Welcome news. There has been this weird cone of silence around Tim for a year now. It is disconcerting that nobody is willing to say anything. I'd love to hear some other guys who have played with him and coached him speak up with their opinions on his future. Even if those opinions are not positive, it would be better than treating him as He Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the Jaguars and Jets took your request to heart. In Bortles, Caldwell got everything he was looking for in a prototype NFL QB except a winner. In Smith-Vick, Rex got Sanchez-Tebow 2.0 and the circus he deserves.
ReplyDeleteBucs-Steelers: now that was interesting.
Dolphins-Raiders: Philbin's mind games paid off. Tannehill was playing for his spot atop the depth chart and it showed. That said, they were playing the Raiders. In London. I know the AP redacted its statement that the firing of Dennis Allen was imminent, but where there's smoke there's fire. I doubt he has much rope left. If he's not fired this week, he's got what, one or two games at most? And Carr's banged up with sprains to his ankle and MCL. If this were any other team you'd have to think the coach - desperate enough to fire off a Hail Mary - would take a look at TT. Sadly that won't happen with Tony Sparano on board. I'd comment on the fact that Sparano is a hair's-breadth away from becoming an interim HC, but it's not polite to spew obscenities all over someone else's blog.
Yeah, I enjoyed watching the results of the Jets and Jags. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Bucs, not so much. Glennon was not bad last year, and he played fairly well yesterday. Well enough that there is no way the Bucs would bring Tim in, even if they keep losing.
Agreed on the Raiders. Interestingly, rumors now say that OC Greg Olson is more likely to take over as interim HC than Sparano. No team has a more desperate GM/HC than Dennis Allen, and no team has a worse QB situation. Carr possibly hurt, Schaub out for family reasons, and McGloin stunk yesterday. Absent Sparano, that would be a great opportunity for Tim.
We all had a brief flicker of hope with Miami, but that was nothing more than Joe Philbin mind games. Tannehill locked that one down.
The big news today is the benching of EJ and the promotion of Kyle Orton. So what do the Bills do if Orton sucks too and they keep losing?
I'm losing my last vestiges of hope. On the other hand, if it is going to happen, I firmly believe it will happen in weeks 4-8. Starting QB's continue to fall to injury or the bench at a rate of 2-3 a week. 4 weeks into the season and 9 teams have started more than one QB. Minnesota is on their third QB in 5 games. There will be more injuries in the next 4 games, some of them season-ending.
Annnnd the Tony Sparano era in Oakland begins, presumably. This reporter has interesting speculation about Gruden.
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2014/09/29/raiders-fire-dennis-allen-gm-reggie-mckenzies-turn-next-serious-run-jon-gruden/
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ReplyDeleteDeleted to edit and reposted (I wish this forum had an edit feature lol)
ReplyDeleteSo correction on the Tony Sparano item, as you mentioned above they could pass on him. Very intriguing.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/30/report-tony-sparano-wont-be-raiders-interim-coach/
Good news on Sparano, if true. I doubt it affects Tim's chances. I simply don't want anything good to come to the guy who trashed Tim's career on the Jets.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the firing of Dennis Allen removes "desperate" from the equation. Interim head coach is a low pressure situation. Nobody expects him to win. He cannot put in his own system or hire his own guys. All he has to do is look reasonably competent while playing the hand he has been dealt. I would expect the interim HC's #1 guidance from the GM is not to do anything to damage Derek Carr's chances of emerging as the franchise QB. So unless Carr's ankle/knee injury is worse than we are hearing, I doubt Tim has a shot.
I'm still flabbergasted by last night. Patriots got stomped. Not used to that. At this point I pretty much figured Belichick and Brady were invincible.
Something is not clicking right now in New England. Its possible a little lethargy has set in or maybe they are just not that good. Based on their track record one has to think they will come out of it. If they continue to struggle this year it will raise some interesting questions about Brady's future considering his age.
DeleteJoe Montana had some productive years for KC although to me he will always be a 49er.
Rumor is that Olsen will get the IHC position because he's got connections to Gruden, and who they're really looking to get is Gruden. However, Gruden has been quoted as calling Olsen a 'head coach killer' because of all the head coaches that have been fired while he was OC. It's like watching a soap opera.
ReplyDeleteThe Pats need to get it together; why are they unraveling this season? They lost to a shi**y team, Miami, in week 1, barely beat another shi**y team, Oakland, in week 3, and in a match against their first decent team, Kansas City, they get absolutely thrashed in week 4.
Arrrgh, now Rapoport is reporting that Sparano is getting the IHC gig after all.
ReplyDeleteSparano in Oakland = no Tebow under any circumstances. Wasn't going to happen anyways with Carr in the picture.
ReplyDeleteOrton squeezed out a win in Detroit today, but I don't think it can be attributed to his play. Mainly it can be attributed to the fact that former Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz is now defensive coordinator for Buffalo. Still, I was hoping to see the Bills fall on their faces, just to prove a point.
Speaking of proving a point, the Jaguars are now 0-5. Yay. Another team where Tim will never go under any circumstances, as long as Caldwell is the GM.
Also proving a point, the Jets are losing to SD and on their way to being 1-4. Yay.
Glennon played well for the Bucs in a close loss, and Davis played well for the Rams in a close loss. Prediction: we'll see that headline multiple times this year. I'll just cut and paste it in the future. I thought a door might open for Tim at one of those teams, but the opposite appears to have happened.
Speaking of cut-and-paste headlines, Locker is hurt again. No idea if it is long term. Titans are now 1-4. Whitehurst stinks. 3rd stringer Mettenberger might see the field soon. Another place where Tim could play, but probably won't.
IMO the next 3 weeks are the last-chance window for Tim. Gonna take a roster meltdown somewhere, probably in this week or next week.
If the reports coming out of New England are true there could be an opening there at some point. If not this year possibly next. Not betting on it but it's the one & only place where he would get an unbiased look.
DeleteIt's tough following games this year I am not rooting for particular teams to win but rather certain situations to present themselves that may signal an opportunity for Tim which makes viewing the games less fun for me.
Listening to the BS & excuse making hype also is tough to stomach.
Cardinals backups are 12 for 34. Stanton hurt. Palmer hurt. Here is a team that is a legit playoff contender, and may throw it away due to QB depth.
ReplyDeleteStanton has a concussion, so he's out. Palmer has nerve damage and they don't know when he'll be better. Only QB on Cardinals roster is Logan Thomas. Cards are going to have to add someone to the roster at least for next week. BTW Logan Thomas went 1-8 today.
ReplyDeleteFrom descriptions of the game, sounds like Locker might have torn ligaments in right hand. That's obviously a problem for a QB. Whitehurst blew a 28-3 lead. Other QB on roster is rookie Zack Mettenberger.
This is meant tounge & cheek.
DeleteThose teams may choose to forfeit the rest of their games before giving TT a chance. :)
RonDog Oct 6, 2014 @ 8am.
DeleteHey Bob. No 'tongue & cheek' proviso needed. I agree with your statement outright. There will be teams admit in their meeting rooms that Tebow on their roster would help them win games this season; but, choose for other reasons to not bring him into their team's locker room.
Sad but true to be sure.
Ed. Wow, Titans would be a great fit and the Cards are built to win today. Maybe Fitzgerald will lobby on Tim's behalf. The Arizona fans would go nuts over winning with Tebow as their QB.
RonDog.
Major props to Brian Hoyer & what the Browns have done so far this year. Who would have thought Manziel would not have seen the field by this time of year??? Not many, myself included.
ReplyDeleteJust imagine where the Jags could be right now if they had made Tebow their quarterback last year. I bet they wouldn't be 0 & 6.
The Jets they are even worse now than they were when they refused to play Tebow. Maybe they should bring him back.
It has become pretty clear that Tim is not going to get a shot this year. His media activities indicate that he shares that assessment. So all I really have left as a fan is shadenfreude towards those who have been most disrespectful of him. Chief among them are the Jaguars and Jets, so it is wholly satisfying to see the Jags winless again, and to see Rex on the verge of getting fired.
ReplyDeleteAgreed on kudos for Hoyer and the the Browns. That's what multiple years of drafting high will do for you, when coupled with a good coaching staff.
RonDog. Oct 12th @ 10:45am.
ReplyDeleteAgree with both of you regarding the Browns. Love their coaching staff.
How perfect would Tebow be for Gruden w/ the Redskins? Gruden's offense can be creative, Tebow is durable. Tebow would be the perfect 'other QB' with RGIII (when healthy). I could see Gruden crafting an offense similar to the Seahawks with a durable, extend the play QB like Tebow. They have a nice team with a lot of the pieces to be successful. But, they currently have two fragile QB's (RGIII & McCoy) and an Interception-producing QB (Cousins) on their roster. Tebow would be inexpensive to be sure.
Thoughts? RonDog.
I meant to include this new link: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/13/talk-in-washington-of-benching-kirk-cousins-for-colt-mccoy/
DeleteI hate to say it, but Tim's media activities indicate that he has given up on the NFL. I'm now in agreement with Kathryn. If his passion truly is playing QB, and not just being famous, then it is time to give the CFL a shot. There are only 4 more weeks left in the CFL season, so realistically his next step is to get on a team for training camp next June.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ron Dog's assesment about the Redskins. I also agree that Tim has given up on the NFL. Its painful to see him on TV commentating.
ReplyDeleteJust for the record I believe the NFL gave up on him long before he gave up on them. IMO Tim should be starting on no less than 8 teams. Some of the QB play is just awful.
Unfortunately those 8 teams plus the other 24 feel differently & if he wants to continue to play football he must take another route.
Kathryn wrote a great piece on this topic months ago which at the time I agreed with. If he goes to the CFL maybe a year there is all he would need to come back.
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ReplyDeleteAlthough, I don't like to write long posts I do love to read your long blog entries Ed, as you have done a great job on these Tebow entries. So, as English language is not my first spoken and I'm probably the only die hard Tebow fan in Croatia, I will try to say a couple of things as I tried to do so in the last couple of weeks but never had enough courage to step forward.
ReplyDeleteFirst of, I have to thank Tim for my new or re found love for this game. I am a basketball player and fa an first, so BB is my first sport. NFL coverage in my country was scarce as my national TV only did Superbowls, and not really every year. I watched it sparingly and visited the internet sites but never went beyond it as streams were available. But that 2011. was really something for me. As the time difference is almost always 6 hours on ET (5 hours when the time goes on/off for summer time when we catch up) I would stay up as early as 4 or 5am to watch Tebow in prime time. He ignited the fire and passion that I have for following this game and I thank him for that. He was not the Pro Bowl caliber QB for 4 quarters every game, but when he was on money that last 5 or 10 or 15 minutes he was the force that could not be stopped. Most of the nights. That Pittsburgh game was the lecture in deep ball passing and control of the game. HE WAS THE OFFENSE that game. I thought that was the perfect spring board for the new season. No one new what was about to happen in the next few months. It sure sucked for him. But I thank him once again that I discovered this great sport that I will follow for the rest of my life.
Second, he is not at all the failure the media has branded him to be. I can still think with my head and can resemble what should and is important to QB being successful. IMHO, the most important thing is NOT TURNING THE BALL OVER or not throwing it to the other team. Making plays in crucial moments (when the game is on the line) second and eating enough clock third or as the experts call it controlling the game clock or time of possession. Good third down % is also important, but what when you have good numbers but you're not enough in the red zone or scoring enough TD's!? I don't care at all about comp % and his throwing motion. He has nothing to regret in his career thus far playing wise if it's over. Sometimes I felt like he was playing against the opposition as well as against his coaching staff and front office. I thought they put him in there with the full confidence he was gonna suck just as much as he sucked in practices (allegedly) and he would suck enough for them to land Luck. He beat the odds against him of not having two training camps, not having first team reps and not being in a system fitted for his skill set. He lifted that sorry ass of a team to a playoff victory. I searched long and hard and had difficulty finding anything like that happening in the NFL. EVER. He should feel proud about that. I certainly feel like that for him.
Third, it's clear now that he made a mistake going to the Jets as that move was more led by expanding his brand than real shot at playing. I know that maybe some assurances were made that he is going to get a fair shot at working his magic just like in Denver, but NFL business is a lying business and Jets sold him a good talk and used him for all the attention they got. From the idiotic introductory presser, to ESPN cameras at Courtland, to secret wildcat practices it was all talk and no substance. You could see from the third game on that Mark is not handling it all very well and that Tim had a great premise about his chances, but there we factors he could not control that were stronger than his desire to play or win. Rex never wanted him, Tim never "looked" good enough in 7 on 7's like Mark did. He should have gone to Jax, where the pressure to play him would be too much and eventually he would get his chance after Gabba Gabba and Henne would be done sucking.
I can't blame him, I can't blame his agents. But they should have been way smarter if the number one thing on their mind was Tim Tebow the QB. I think they wanted to do both, the QB and the persona and failed at both. Tim got no playing time and he was over covered which has lead him to where he is now. To my fourth.
ReplyDeleteI don't care about Tim Tebow, the analyst. I care about Tim Tebow the Christian even less. I tolerate his religion and have no problems with him doing SEC Nation gig as I'm sure it pays him enough money to do what ever he does in his free time. But I don't care about his opinions about the game. Most of those TV talking heads or game analysts (esp former GM's and coaches) are self absorbed wise guys that think the game starts and stops with their opinions, no matter their track record. I don't want to listen to him, I wanna look at him pumping fists going to the sideline for high fives with his defensive guys just like in Denver. I wanna see a Champ Bailey type of legend showing him respect, not for his ability to read defenses, good throwing motion or comp % or all the other fantasy or stat bullshit, but for his ability to lead a team and rally players around him in a way I have never seen before and FUCKING WIN GAMES. Isn't winning what it's all about!? I wanna see him pump up the crowd and care about the game as I'm certain he does in abundances and make 4th Q comebacks at the rate that that Andrew Luck is doing right now (not implying Tim is anywhere near the level Luck is at, because he's not). I don't care if it's the NFL. There are other places to play football. Competitive football. There are other leagues. Other countries, if I may be a smart-ass.
I wanna see him enjoy his playing football life again, I wanna see him run over CB's like he did in NFL, I wanna see his perfect deep ball no matter what Mike Fucking Freeman or any other "paid analyst" says about it. I wanna see him knocking people over while fighting for a first down. I wanna see his advertised and improved throwing motion in game situations. I know he did not make 500.000 reps to rewrite his nerve memory to use it to be a pre-game meeting scribe. I wanna see him not making the mistake I did stopping playing too soon, asking myself today why I never decided to fix my groin and play ball till my body would allow me to. As my love for the game of basketball will never fade out, as it should not. It was everything I ever wanted to do, it is everything I was really good at and loved it with every fiber of my body.
He should be playing. Anywhere. PERIOD.
He owes it to himself.
Best
Josip
PS Sorry for the lengthy post. Take care!
Josip. Thanks for those passionate remarks. The frustration and nostalgic anger that you convey is palpable, and fully justified. I have grown more sanguine about the broadcasting career than most of you guys have, though I concede it would be easier to swallow were he out of the League due to some career-ending injury rather than due to the establishment, elitist, groupthink mentality that has overcome the NFL and NFL media.
ReplyDeleteI remain hopeful, in an odd way, that his lack of participation in the game remains as regretful for him as it does for the rest of us; and that he'll go ahead and scratch that itch next season in the CFL. The wishful-thinking that I'm so predisposed to indulge on the topic has me wondering if he's perhaps establishing as many roots as he can in the broadcast industry now so that he'll, first, have a substantial avenue for a second income during the CFL offseason (GMA), and second, have some sort of dual bargaining leverage / safety net in the event that things promised don't materialize. Looking back I'm inclined to think that his ability to trust these teams must have been severely damaged over the course of this experience, regardless of the positive spin he gives to the public, and I would think that that caution or reticence would apply to any overture, including the CFL. In other words, don't just say you want me, prove it - if you can't I'm pretty damned happy to continue down this new road I've taken.
Jim Popp, as we all know, made a substantial gesture to that end by taking his interest in TT to the press. He set himself up for public ridicule (because conventional stupidity ridicules anyone who sees redeeming qualities in TT) and for public rejection from TT. He didn't have to do that, he could have just kept everything private, which is why I found his remarks so significant in the first place.
A few weeks later Urban Meyer responded on behalf of TT's camp when asked about the CFL by Skip Bayless: (paraphrased) "It has to be the right system."
So that's where we are, back in the waiting game. If next spring the Alouettes' OC starts exploring designed runs and so on then we may have something brewing. I'm not sure if I would hold my breath for this, however, as they're coming off of a six-game winning streak - some of the wins by substantial margins. They aren't as desperate for a spark as they were earlier this season, which was one of my fears. If they wrap the season with four more wins, they may no longer have interest in bringing TT on board. I'm sure they would make his rights available to another team, and there are others that could use him, but there's just no telling if there's a coach out there willing to take him on. Around and around we go.
That's a great post Josip, and I completely agree with your feelings on Tom. A friend put it best: Tim plays with more heart and guts than any player in the league. I want to see more of that, and I despise the NFL for denying us that chance. I admire Tim as a person, but you can't show heart and guts as a sportscaster and I won't watch it.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, how amazing the modern world is, that someone from another country and culture could follow and be moved by a person playing a sport that was virtually unknown there 20 years ago.
Speaking of which, about 18 years ago I spent 6 months in Sarajevo. I traveled extensively in Bosnia. Didn't travel to Croatia proper, though I did visit Mostar. Hope the region is in better shape than when I left. Visually it reminded me very much of the Appalachian states in the US.
Could anything be more misleading than a 24 to 6 score in which the winning team throws 3 interceptions, 2 of which were deep in their own territory & the third in the red zone. For a while during this game I was not sure which team wanted to give the game away more.
ReplyDeleteAlso I didn't see the game but I find it interesting that a 3rd string QB defeated a 2nd string QB in the Tenn Wash game. We haven't seen anything this unlikely since Tebow took over a 1&4 team & led them to a playoff win.
I will take this weeks pleasure from the Thu. night game. The Pats didn't play their best but it was still good enough to beat the Jets.
Yeah, I really enjoy Rex's mopey dog face when he loses. Next week will be tough, though, having to pick who I want to lose more, Rex Ryan or Kyle Orton.
ReplyDeleteThis week was a tough one. All but one of the teams I wanted to lose managed to win. Raiders were the sole exception.
I'm awfully demoralized. Getting almost impossible to envision any scenario, no matter how outlandish, that puts Tim back in the NFL this season. I think he's going to have to go to the CFL next spring. If he doesn't, I'm done with it all.
Tim obviously has to live his own life, but he's got to know that he's got a ton of fans that took--and continue to take--a world of grief in order to support and defend him as a pro quarterback. For him to not to give it a shot in the CFL, especially after the statements he's made about relentless pursuit and perseverance, would be a tremendous disappointment. I continue to hang my hopes on the notion that he's put way too much work in with Tom House to simply walk away. He occasionally says and does little things that suggest he's not ready to give up, but it's nevertheless difficult to find encouragement in the general direction things have taken. Will stick it out until the final nail has been driven into the coffin, though.
ReplyDeleteMy emotions on the whole thing vary from anger to sadness & possibly the most prevailing thought of all confusion.
ReplyDeleteAnger: Because in my mind he should be a starting NFL QB & As a fan I feel like I am being sold a bill of goods.
Sadness: Because a great sport is being compromised.
Confusion: Because I don't like the commentating gig although due to the circumstances I reluctantly accept it & I am torn on which road he should take as a player.
P.S. I previously had believed going to the CFL was the best option for Tim. After watching my first CFL game recently I am not sure I still feel this way. I will be be hoping for an NFL miracle.. If it never comes & the final memory of Tim as a player is that game winning pass in overtime to win a playoff game then I guess I will have to live with it.
This has got to be one of the most satisfying days I've had watching football since TT started for the Broncos. It's for all the wrong reasons, but who cares? The Jaguars lost a game that would have been winnable had Caldwell's hand-picked QB not repeatedly scored for the Dolphins. The Buccanneers stunk it up. The Titans stunk it up. And last but certainly not least the Jets karma train kept on rollin' toward spectacular disaster, largely on the wheels of heinous QB play. Every week that goes by the so-called experts look more like something out of a Benny Hill skit: analysts, GM's, coaches alike. What a joke.
ReplyDeleteLOL Kathryn, could not agree more. And the winless Raiders are yet to come! Last week sucked for Shadenfreude, but this week is making up for it. In particular, the Jets' car wreck just keeps getting more gory by the minute. Like a halloween house of horrors.
DeleteSome fun facts:
Bortles has 13 interceptions in 5 starts. Tebow had 9 interceptions in 15 starts.
Geno and Vick combined for 7 turnovers in one game. Tebow had 16 turnovers in his entire career.
Sadly, it is not going to make a bit of difference. 8 weeks was the cutoff point. The teams with losing records have given up on the season and are playing to see what they have for next year.
That's why the Titans went with Mettenberger. BTW, I'm all for forgiveness of youthful indiscretions, but it is a bit jarring to see Tebow out of the league while a player who is actually legally banned from a Georgia town gets his first start.
At this point I have accepted that Tebow is done in the NFL, and if we see him on the field again it will be in the CFL next spring. In the meantime I refuse to watch him on SEC Network, GMA, or any other media gig.
Ed & Kathryn Yes I totally agree with both of your comments. Today was definitely very satisfying. How some of these teams can justify to their fan bases they are doing everything they can to win is beside me. Tebow doesn't seem the gloating kind of guy but I know if I were him I would be having a deep sense of satisfaction. Especially with the jets implosion & the incompetence of the jags. I hope Caldwell begins feeling the hot seat soon.
DeleteI agree teams with losing records are in next year mode but why shouldn't TT be on a teams next year plans. How many more losses & interceptions will it take before he gets the chance he rightly deserves.
We are lone voices in the wilderness & I am not sure if anyone can hear us but for the last two weeks I have enjoyed listening to the hollow sound of my own voice. The Jags showed us once again they don't know how to win. I think the Jags are 7 & 34 since the infamous "even if he is released statement".
ReplyDeleteThe Jets: Its hard to come up with new things to say about them. Its just more fun to watch :).
Oakland: 0&8 I wonder if Sporano ever wonders if maybe Tebow wasn't so bad after all.
Tampa: 1&7 Couldn't they use Tebow even if just to create some excitement & hopefully get a few more wins.
Houston: Have to believe with Tebow they would be a contender with a winning record at this point.
Its heresy to broach this subject but if I were the Cowboys I would give serious thought into signing Tebow in case Romo doesn't hold up.
I must be getting soft. Part of me was happy for Mark Sanchez yesterday. Interception notwithstanding, he seemed to demonstrate some of the mental grit that had been so lacking during his Jets tenure. It's like he realizes he's got a second chance here and is taking it seriously. Can't fault him for that. And if his success gives Rex Ryan a crippling case of indigestion, then all the better. If Tebow can't exact revenge on him for that debacle of a season then Mark should be the one to do it.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Bortles reputation as an interception machine grows by the week. That makes me so warm and fuzzy.
ReplyDeleteLOL. I agree about Sanchez, too.
Deletewith all. Especially with warm and fuzzy feelings about Bortles. I have nothing against the guy and I hope he eventually achieves his goals. However, I despise Dave Caldwell. I also despise a few of the hardcore segment of the Jaguars fanbase, who orchestrated a shout-down campaign against Tebow fans. So I'm happy to watch Caldwell look like an ass, and really happy to watch Alfie Crow and the Bold City Brigade go through another crappy year. And while I won't be happy to see the Jaguars move to London in a few years, I will take satisfaction in knowing Tim Tebow could have saved that franchise. Which is probably why Shad Khan wouldn't take him.
ReplyDeleteSanchez always looks great, until he folds under pressure. That will happen in Philly too. I don't like to be churlish, but he was a bit of a douche about Tim, so I'm not rooting for him. Same for Orton.
That doesn't mean I wish ill of everyone Tim worked for or got beat out by. I admire Belichick and the Pats, and of course Tom Brady is multiple layers of awesomeness. Ryan Mallett was publicly respectful of Tim and congratulated him when he made good plays, so I'm hoping Mallett gets a shot at Houston and does well.
Several teams have effectively abandoned their seasons. Jets, Raiders, Jaguars, and Bucs all have 8 losses, so the best that any of them can do is a .500 season, and really how likely is that? Tim will never get considered for the Jets, Raiders, or Jaguars under the circumstances. Wish the Bucs would consider him, as Tampa is a stronghold of Gator fans, but they seem content to roll with Glennon.
I wish I could see any path for Tim, but I don't. CFL, change positions, or USA Rugby. The CFL season is over next week, so that is still an option for next spring. I know he has ruled out changing positions, but if he agreed to try out as a full-time special teams guy in exchance for status as emergency QB, that would get him on an NFL roster and lead to QB snaps in case of injury. Rugby might afford him a chance to compete in the Olympics, as Rugby Sevens will be in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Not sure if anyone saw this, but Terrelle Pryor worked out for the Redskins this week, and was rumored to work out for the Eagles. To me that is proof positive that teams are shunning Tim for non-football reasons.
ReplyDeleteSaw that as well and can only SMH. What it proves, other than what you've observed, is that teams are actually interested in Tim but are too chickensh*t intimidated by the derelict NFL press corps (I won't call them journalists) to give him a call. So instead they seek out Tebow-lite in its various mobile-QB incarnations and get what they deserve: players who may be mobile but who generally lack the intangibles to back up the unconventional game, let alone the physical build to withstand it.
DeleteThat said, we are now at the point in this ridiculous saga where it's just as much Tim's fault that he's not getting calls. If he had accepted Jim Popp's offer to join the struggling Alouettes this spring or even this summer, he'd currently be starting for a playoff bound CFL team. That narrative on the backdrop of some of the heinous QB play we've seen in the NFL would have been impossible for some NFL teams to ignore or avoid.
Instead he joined SEC Nation, validating the narrative that the press wrote for him.
Here at home, the 1-8 Bucs are doubling down on absurdity by going back to McCown.
ReplyDeletelink
"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" --Will Rogers
DeleteHa!
DeleteThe news disappointing as it is comes as no surprise to me. They have been shunning Tim for non-football related reasons for almost 2 years now & had previously misjudged him for football related reasons for three years prior to that. Any quarterback that can lift a sorry 1&4 team to a playoff win (while breaking passing records along the way) should have been given some measure of respect & if it were anyone else other than Tebow they would have been. Funny throwing motion or not. It's been nothing other than obfuscation & lame excuse making on the part of the press corp & some execs against him ever since & for me there is no reason to believe anything he would have done in the CFL would have changed this narrative.
ReplyDeleteWhere I blame him is in not doing more to combat the narrative that exists about him. I would have liked to have seen a more agressive PR campaign highlighting his new & improved throwing abilities. All that aside. There is no excuse for alot of these NFL teams with losing records & lousy quaterbacks to not swallow their pride admit they were wrong & give this guy his due.
PR alone wouldn't have persuaded anyone to take a look at him. He could've talked about his new throwing motion until he was blue in the face, or even shown it in training like in the early Dilfer package, but just saying trust me I've improved and demonstrating it in a controlled environment means nothing. There had been talk about his improved mechanics prior to the stint with New England and how did that turn out? A 1-7 passing debut. Coaches, GM's and teams care about what they see in live game situations. The only way to publicize that would have been to join a team and *play* somewhere. There's every reason to believe playing (successfully) in the CFL would have changed the narrative. Fans, and yes even the media needing to save face, would have the ammo to ask these teams why they turned their backs on the guy.
DeleteBoom, another domino falls: Mallett replaces Fitz in Houston. That will be interesting. I'm rooting for Mallett.
ReplyDeleteThe move from McCown to Glennon is actually slightly encouraging for Tim. Up til now the narrative in Tampa has been the Bucs felt Glennon was the future and they wanted to develop him. This latest event suggests they have given up and are desperately searching for a way to avoid going 1-15. Desperation is Tim's friend. I wouldn't put it past Malcolm Glazer to sign Tebow primarily for revenue. He would be a license to print money in this town.
Will your lawn be available for camping/tailgating?
DeleteLOL, sure, if you don't mind driving an hour from the tailgate to the game.
DeleteI miswrote one thing above. It is the move from Glennon back to McCown that is encouraging for Tim, albeit in the ".0001% chance of happening" level of encouragement. Still, let's see what they are saying after McCown flops a couple of times. The Bucs have no pushovers left on their schedule, no Jaguars or Titans in the last 8 games to hand them an undeserved win. They are going to have to earn it.
I will be rooting for Mallett to do well also. He has paid his dues & deserves a chance to see what he can do.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Tim goes in addition to hoping for the .0001% chance of the Bucs signing him. I am still also holding out for the possibility that a team on the cusp of a make or break point that needs a little late season push to make their season a success may sign him. This would entail the starter going down to injury & the team not having the confidence in their backup to make a playoff run. Admittedly the possibility for this happening is probably less than .0001%. But it's fun to think about. I put the Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins, & 49ers in this category.
RonDog.
ReplyDeleteI agree we're talking .0001% for a Tebow signing this season; but, it sure would be fun to see him land on a team with an outside chance of making the playoffs (Texans, Bears) and currently in need of a QB.
Here's a fresh post from Cover32: http://cover32.com/bears/2014/11/05/is-it-time-for-the-chicago-bears-front-office-to-give-tim-tebow-a-call.
Fun little read.
Truly pathetic Tebow hasn't been tapped on the shoulder by one of the NFL teams in trouble at QB.
RonDog
Shadenfreude update so far in week 10:
ReplyDeleteJaguars/Caldwell got stomped by Cowboys. No chance for Tebow here, but I love watching Caldwell fail. Not because he didn't take Tebow, but because he was such an asshole while doing it.
Jets pulled one out. No matter, unless they run the table on their remaining 6 games, they will have a losing season and Rex will get fired. Interestingly, their next 5 opponents are weak, so they might actually surge, but the Pats should finish them off in week 17.
Orton/Bills lost. Sorry for Bills fans, as they are long-suffering, but I knew Orton was not the answer in long run.
Bucs lost to Atlanta. This one still has me interested. McCown did not play badly, but clearly the team is flailing around for any kind of winning spark. Gotta wonder if Lovie Smith is at risk with a 1-15 first season. Unlike most teams, they have no existing baggage that would be obstacle to Tebow signing. He would fill that stadium, and if he won a few games they would have to call out the National Guard to direct traffic. Unfortunately, with only 7 games left they are highly unlikely to make any big moves to save a season that is already dead.
Still to come: Raiders/Sparano and Eagles/Sanchez. No chance for Tebow with either, just pure shadenfreude.
Raiders did not disappoint. Looking at their schedule, they have maybe two winnable games left. At best they will be 2-14, and they could very easily go 0-16.
DeleteWatching the Arizona Cardinals closely today for signs of QB roster activity in wake of Carson Palmer knee injury last night. That might be the last, best,and only chance for Tim to see the inside of an NFL locker room this season, or ever.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying it's likely, but the idea does have several strong points:
1. They are going to need another backup QB. Palmer is out for the year. Right now the Cardinals have two QBs on roster. Drew Stanton, played well yesterday and earlier in the season, and Arians is committed to him as the starter. However, rookie 4th round pick Logan Thomas was 1 for 8 in his only appearance this year. The Cardinals have already been down to their 3rd string QB once this season due to injury, so they have to be conscious of the risks of only carrying 2 QBs on roster, especially a backup with such limited experience.
2. The Cardinals are in first place in the NFC, and considered very probable to make the playoffs and contend for a championship. They are going to do anything they can to ensure they continue winning and secure home field advantage. They also need to consider how to be competitive in the playoffs, especially since neither of their QB's has ever seen a playoff game.
3. Tebow trained in AZ for a full year. Surely at some point scouts from the Cardinals saw him throw, even if accidentally. If his work with House made any improvement at all, that organization would be in the best position to know about it.
4. Arians was offensive coordinator of the Steelers when Tebow beat them in the playoffs, so he is acutely aware that Tebow is capable of winning big games.
5. Some key players on the AZ team have made positive comments about Tebow in the past.
There are also several reasons why it probably won't happen:
1. Poor system fit. Arians is a pass-first kind of guy, and is on the record dismissing running QBs as a bad idea that won't last.
2. Drew Stanton may still carry a grudge against Tim from when the Jets cut him after they traded for Tim.
2. Tim is apparently still radioactive, or has Ebola, or something.
If they are going to sign someone, it will be quick. We should hear rumors of workouts today or tomorrow at the latest.
Has Tim been staying in playing shape in the last couple of months??? I haven't heard any reports of his working out for quite a while.
DeleteDo you have any thoughts on the performances from the Bengals or the Bears. Two large contracts for underperforming Quarterbacks???
Tenn only scored 7 points yesterday & surely will be searching for a QB next season. As will the Bucs.
Hopefully the Cardinals or another contender will give Tim him his chance this year. If not I have to believe a fresh start next season with someone will be a possibility.
As satisfying as all the schadenfreude of late has been, it's cold comfort at best. At the end of the day the yahoos at the center of it all are still paid untold millions to take snaps as starting quarterbacks. Interception machines, buttfumblers, and injury magnets alike are thrown back at the wall because coaches and GM's have convinced themselves that eventually something will stick. And in the meantime we're left to idly wonder if TT is really satisfied with a career making appearances on GMA and handing out Country Music Awards; that is, when we're not watching sports analysts recycle the same tedious arguments as to why, exactly, Tim Tebow can't get a job in a league that gave Blaine Gabbert three seasons as a starter.
ReplyDeleteWe're all familiar with those arguments. He can't throw. He's a distraction. He's too unconventional. Those reasons, or excuses, are cited the most as to why teams avoid Tebow, but in my estimation they're red herrings. If they really cared that much about throwing motion Philip Rivers would be an insurance salesman right now instead of starting for the Chargers, but Rivers makes quick reads that keep him in the game - figuratively and literally. If teams were really all that concerned about "distractions" (a conveniently vague term) they wouldn't have performed gymnastics to protect Ray Rice for so long, and they certainly wouldn't have drafted Johnny Manziel in the first round. But they did because Rice plays and produces as they expect, and Manziel is an unknown. If they really thought tailoring offenses toward unconventional quarterbacks was problematic they wouldn't have done so for Griffin, Wilson, and so on.
The fact of the matter is that coaches and analysts alike have concluded that Tim can't learn to read NFL defenses, and that's why he's been cast aside. At the end of the day no amount of rewired mechanics will help you throw the ball if you don't know which direction to throw it. He's been given three chances, they like to point out. That seems reasonable enough on a playing field where all things are equal, but how does an analyst earnestly come to such a conclusion without taking an uneven playing field into consideration? The answer is, he doesn't.
Here's a snapshot of Tim's brief tenure in the NFL:
Broncos McCoy-McDaniels 2010
Broncos McCoy-Fox 2011
Jets Sparano-Ryan 2012
Jets Morningwheg-Ryan 2013 (Included because TT had learned the playbook in preparation for OTA's before he was cut)
Patriots McDaniels-Belichick 2013
That's five offenses under four OC's and four head coaches on three teams in three seasons with no preseason reps with the starters and one preseason truncated by a lockout.
It's no secret that Tim is dyslexic. He doesn't hide from it nor does he lean on it, but I think it's worth discussing. Any quarterback, save for the once-in-a-generation wunderkind, needs a solid three or four years to solidly grasp NFL play. Tim needs that in addition to consistency and, as a kinesthetic learner, playing time. The course of events listed above doesn't approach a sincere vetting of his capabilities or potential. He wasn't "given three chances." He was issued a disingenuous verdict after a half-assed show trial.
It's disappointing and discouraging that the media continues to circle the wagon around the status-quo rather than examine what really went on here. That Mark Schlereth, for example, could pen such an elegant prosecution against bullying and confide to the public his youthful insecurities about intelligence, then turn around and summarily write of Tim Tebow with "you either have it or you don't" is astonishing cognitive dissonance to me.
But Mark, like another one of Tim's harshest critics, Shannon Sharpe, is a former Bronco and one of John Elway's old teammates. It seems emotion governs judgment on both sides of the debate, and for Tim that's a damned shame.
Brilliant as always, Kathryn.
DeleteWhat's even more bizarre to me about Schlereth is that, at one time, he was a big supporter of Tim's. He wrote a piece on his blog defending Tim. But that was before 2011's Tebowmania hit. After Tebowmania, I went to look for that blog post on his site & it had been deleted. I don't know if it's the Elway factor, jealousy (Schlereth's also an actor, so he might not like the fact that this 'no-talent' player gets a lot more attention than he even did during his stint on a daytime soap), or something else.
Kathryn, you are onto an important point. Expert commentators consistently emphasize the importance of a QB remaining in a system for several years and getting comfortable with it. This is a huge factor in whether a QB with potential actually develops into a franchise QB. Well, as you observe, Tim has had to learn a lot of systems in a short time. Combined with his documented learning disability, it is amazing that he performed as well as he did.
DeleteI think ultimately Schlereth and Sharpe are being loyal to Elway. Beyond that, Sharpe is an egomaniac who brags on Twitter about "winning" at life compared to his critics. I had a long exchange with Schlereth on Twitter that left me wanting to end it before he did. Nice enough guy but ultimately he doesn't recognize the huge holes in his own logic, either because he has an IQ of 100 or because of the deficiencies of an education focused on keeping him eligible to play football.
I don't think Schlereth is petty. As you pointed out he'd defended Tim early on; and the celebrity and attention Tim received then was just as deafening then as it is now, if not more so, so jealousy doesn't appear to be part of the equation. I do think, however, that he has a natural inclination to align his opinions in support of Elway, who he knows and trusts. I don't think it's particularly conscious nor is it concerted, but it is influenced by emotion - in the same way our political opinions are influenced in large part by emotion. There's a familial element at play here that political analysts would recognize; they see it - and account for it - in poll after poll. But I digress. After all the water that has gone under the bridge on this issue, it's not so much Schlereth and company's conclusions that bother me. Yes, Tim has been a project under center at best and at times atrocious. There's really no honest way to dispute that. What I dispute - what I take issue with - is this notion that he was tested in circumstances conducive to an honest appraisal. I don't care how many times they say otherwise: he was not given three, two or even one legitimate chance.
DeleteDeleted to repost inline. Ed, some like-minded thinking in our crossposts.
DeleteLooking forward I repeat at the risk of sounding like a broken record: Tim needs to go to the CFL. Learn the game there. Learn quick reads there. I hope he's considering it.
Just in case I didn't make it clear before, the defense of Tim was done before Tebowmania. IIRC it was done in 2010 & it mostly was a defense of Tim as a person. Schlereth claims to be a devout Christian &, as I recall, it was at least somewhat saying-ironically-that some of the criticism of Tim's playing ability was probably really about the critics' hostility to Tim's outspoken Christianity. That's why I said before that I found it so bizarre that he would do such a 180, even in private, as was shown that time he was talking to someone (Hannah S?) about how bad Tim was when he thought he was off-air.
DeleteI found the archive of a post about Tim by Schlereth. Although this isn't the blog post by Schlereth that I (vaguely) remember, it does show that MS was initially defending Tim & criticizing the naysayers. I think he was 100% right, yet now he's become one of the CYA types he talked about in this post:
Deletehttps://web.archive.org/web/20110101193919/http://www.markschlereth.com/2010/12/27/tebow-give-the-kid-a-chance/403/
Bullseye! I finally found the MS blog post that I'd remembered...and my memory of it was pretty accurate after all:
Deletehttps://web.archive.org/web/20110105051800/http://www.markschlereth.com/2011/01/01/the-most-polarizing-man-in-sports/435/
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteRonDog Nov 24 @ 8:30pm ...
ReplyDeleteRyan Mallett done for the season and who do the Texans turn to? Ryan Fitzpatrick & Thaddeus Lewis. The Texans have a decent team that might have made the playoffs and they start the year with Fitzpatrick, then turn to Mallett and now bring in Lewis. They deserve all the heartache they get. To be honest, I feel sorry for the great players on that team (Foster, Johnson, Watt) with the Front Office & Coaching Staff not delivering a clutch QB.
Honestly, at this stage of the season Fitz is their only viable option. With only 5 games left in the season, no other QB could possibly learn the playbook week enough to be effective, Tebow included.
ReplyDeleteThe signing of Lewis, however, is proof positive that Tim will NEVER get fair consideration in the NFL. Teams will take literally anyone before they consider Tim.
RonDog.
DeleteAgreed Ed. Sad state of affairs wrt Tebow in the NFL. r
I saw some video of Tebow throwing the football while playing on Thanksgiving. I am no expert on quarterback technique & I know its not under an NFL pass rush but his follow through looked very smooth & he set & planted his feet very nicely before making the throw. Also his body was very much under control in sync with his footwork.
ReplyDeleteOne can only hope for that one last chance.
any links?
Deletefound it.
DeleteIt is heartening that he still practices, so he hasn't given up completely. I think this season is a total loss, but hopefully he and his agent have a plan for the next step this coming offseason. As Kathryn pointed out, the SEC only has one more game to cover, so he'll have more free time.
DeleteI'd like to see him go to the CFL or AFL next spring and prove his passing bona fides. Alternatively, he could soften his stance on a position change, trying out as a fullback and special teams player in return for consideration as 3rd string QB and some practice reps for emergency purposes.
Finally, he might consider taking up Rugby. Sevens will be an Olympic sport in 2016 at Rio. The US is not a power in that sport, mainly because the world class athletes go into more lucrative sports. Most US players are former football players who lacked the speed to play at the next level. With Tim's size, speed, strength, athleticism, and ball handling skills, he would be a constant threat on a Rugby pitch.
Tim is an athlete, not a TV personality. I want to see him knocking heads, not being a talking head.
Earlier this summer I'd argued for the CFL as a springboard back to the NFL, but now I'd rather he find a team in the CFL for the long-term. The NFL did nothing but mismanage and waste his talent, and really nothing they've done in the last two seasons indicates that they wouldn't do it again on a second go at it. We're talking about individuals that convinced themselves that Thad Lewis and Case Keenum were better investments, for whatever contrived reason. All Tim needed was a few seasons of consistency and some benefit of the doubt that he'd put the hard work into bringing his short passing game up to their comfort level. Instead they used him as a scapegoat and turned him into a punchline; and those who weren't active participants stood aside and let it happen.
DeleteTim certainly must realize after a season on the road that his drawing power is not reliant on playing in the NFL. He wears a blah grey suit to a blah broadcast booth to provide blah analysis for a regional football conference and still gets mobbed every weekend. I realize his status as SEC demigod elevates the mania in the southeast, but considering he hasn't seen a field for two seasons now the man is still incredibly popular nationwide. According to a November report, for example, he's the fifth most searched athlete on Bing. **Ahead of Peyton Manning** for crying out loud. My point is, that interest and draw is strong enough to follow him to Canada to a substantial degree. If he finds a team there and makes it his home to the extent that he influences the fanbase the way he did at Florida and for a brief time in Denver, he's not going to have to worry about the CFL salary cap because the endorsements will roll in on a conveyor belt.
I'd like to see it happen. As Ed said, he's an athlete, he should be knocking heads. And he should be doing it for a league that's interested in him for more than jersey sales.
ITA, Kathryn.
DeleteLike all of us I am still outraged at the mismanagement & mistreatment Tim has gotten from the NFL. The difference for me though is I believe when the final chapter is written on Tim's playing career I want him to be the one who gets to have the final word on his quaterbacking abilities & the only way to do that is to do it in the NFL while it's considered the premiere football league in the world.
DeleteEnough time has passed & enough events have transpired since Tim was exiled from the NFL which has exposed alot of the people who mistreated & mismanaged him & if handled correctly it could soften some of the opinions against him.
Lets Consider:
1) The Jets are even worse now & more of a mess than when he was on the team. The coach is on the verge of being fired & even some of the New York papers have asked for them to bring Tebow back.
2) Since the infamous "even if he's released" the Jaguars are a laughable 9 & 32. With no signs of improvement.
3) Tony Sporano's Raiders are so bad it's possible he longs for the good old days when he was offensive coordinator in NY.
4) The bottom 8 teams in the league are a combined 18 & 77 this year. The bottom 13 teams are a combined 43 & 112. It's hard to imagine with Tim at quarterback these same teams would have these records.
5) The Broncos still haven't delivered the Super Bowl victory they promised when they dumped Tim.
Do I think any of these facts matter when it comes to considering Tim? No I don't. Will the same people who disliked him previously continue to dislike him no matter what? Probably.
The point is times & circumstances have changed since we last saw Tim in the NFL & all it will take is one team to go against the grain & give him his chance. There are no concrete reasons for me to believe this will happen but I am betting on Tim that it will.
>>I want him to be the one who gets to have the final word on his quarterbacking abilities & the only way to do that is to do it in the NFL while it's considered the premiere football league in the world.<<
DeleteI believe he can do this in the CFL without risking getting mired in one of the five swamps of incompetence that you outlined above. And frankly I'd be very disappointed if he spends another summer waiting around for a call. Enough kicking the can down the road.
Let these teams keep hoping Jeff Tuel and company can take them to the promised land while he lights it up in Canada. That alone is enough of a statement. Time to change the narrative from "Tebow had his chances" to "the League had its chances."
Merits of the argument aside, I just do not see Tim ever accepting the CFL as a permanent home. He might be persuaded to reluctantly accept it as a temporary path back to the NFL, but his view of himself is too high to accept such an ignominious fate.
DeleteI did come up with one last crazy offseason possibility. At least 3 coaches will get fired this year, and maybe up to 5 or 6 if a couple more seasons tank: Coaches on the Hot Seat. Maybe Josh McDaniels will get another shot, given the superb peformance of his offense this season. He reportedly fought for Tim when BB cut him last year. Or maybe Jon Gruden will be lured out of retirement.
Crazy? Yeah. But come up with something better.
The points you made Ed is what I was trying to get across in my commentary above. There is going to be alot of changes coming to coaching staffs. In addition to Gruden & McDaniels which are strong possibilities, I wouldn't discount Jim Harbaugh or Daniel Snyder possibly wanting to take a look at Tim. If as rumored Harbaugh does not return to San Francisco. He might be a possibility because he understands quarterbacking & just coached a similar styled player in Kaepernick. I would love to see his intensity & Tim's competitive fire get together. And Snyder because he needs to win badly & his team faces unique pressures that Tim's presence could only help to quell. Also Manziel will need a backup next season. So that may be another possibility. The passage of time in this instance is Tim's friend.
DeleteI appreciate your optimism but, I'm sorry, Tim is not getting another shot in the NFL next season no matter how the other pieces fall into place. Circumstances have been constantly changing since he was cut from the Pats - new coaches, new GM's, mobile starters needing backups, various and sundry injuries, heinous quarterback play, teams with near-historic losing records. We must have speculated dozens of times by now that surely he would at the very least get a tryout, and time and time again those circumstances have beyond all logic and reason failed to open a door...even a crack. The only thing that the passage of time has done is separate him from playing time by another season and delivered another class of draft-ready quarterbacks. Hoping that somehow this time is going to be different is a pipe dream; and the last nail in the coffin of his playing career if he's intent on playing quarterback. So, yeah, absolutely no disrespect but going to the CFL and building a legacy there is by far something better. If nothing else the attention he draws will draw other talent up there with him; the ramifications for the Canadian game could be substantially positive.
DeleteOf course you are right that it's not going to happen.
DeleteI usually try to avoid mixing religion with sports or politics in general, and with Tebow in particular. I always felt his appeal transcended his specific beliefs, in that people of various faiths or no faith could admire the role character played in his life. Strength of character is sorely missing in public life today, and the way he conducted himself was a powerful example of living by principle instead of by expedient.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I did read something today which is a comforting thought, if you are so inclined. Someone commented that Tim had been run out of the NFL because God had something greater in store for his life.
I hope it is also something greater than ESPN and GMA, because that continues to turn my stomach.
I agree with your take. It's unfortunate that Tim has somehow become a wedge issue or ideological litmus test in his own right, a target (and often the vehicle) for the categorical hyperbole of political and religious partisans on all sides. His approach toward interacting with others and negotiating negative events--and the relationship with God that ultimately informs that approach--is the stuff of compelling conversation regardless of one's political or religious ideologies, but rare are the participants that wish to engage in a mature discussion. Instead he's invariably reduced to a one-dimensional caricature to facilitate whatever agenda the Left or Right wishes to advance and any chance of intelligent dialogue flies out the window. So I stay out of it.
DeleteI'd like to think that there is something great in store for his life. As we all know his capacity for leadership is off the charts. To think that it's presently in the hands of a segment producer for a relatively frivolous morning show is a bit discouraging, but--taking the glass-is-half-full view--he's getting tremendous experience in front of the camera and is keeping his face and name out there. It's not a bad investment if playing time is no longer an option, and there's no telling what doors it could potentially open.
For me, it's not so much this foray into broadcasting that turns my stomach, but the timing of it. I think he possesses all the raw material required to build a long and successful broadcasting career. He came out of the gate pretty good at the desk stuff, and he's getting better at the voiceover stuff, so he's basically off and running. I just wish he'd given the CFL a shot before embarking in this new direction. If he'd been knocked out of the game by a career-ending injury, that'd have been one thing; but he wasn't. He was knocked out by narrow-minded thinking and establishment attitudes, something he potentially could have overcome by playing in another league. I keep my fingers crossed that he tries again. In the meantime I try to be positive about the fact that he's for the time being an asset of the Walt Disney conglomerate, and all that that entails.
I still hope the greater plan includes a triumphant return to the NFL. All it will take is the right heart & mind to be changed at the right time to make this happen.
DeleteTo be perfectly honest, he's had worse teammates than this :D
ReplyDeletehttp://www.trbimg.com/img-548758f7/turbine/orl-disneyxmas12095-20141209/600/338x600
ROFL
DeleteSo now the Cardinals have possibly lost two starting QB's to knee injuries in one year. Drew Stanton went down tonight and was carted off. He was replaced by Ryan Lindley, he with the career stats of 7 (now 8) interceptions and 0 touchdowns. No word on severity of the injury, but knees are never good.
ReplyDeleteThis situation is so perfectly tailored for Tim Tebow that it's ridiculous. The Cards are almost certainly headed for the playoffs, and are a legit super bowl contender, so they are not going to throw this season away. If Stanton is out, they are left with two practice squad QB's with zero track record of success. There is absolutely no reason for them not to sign Tim.
Why do I feel so sure that they will still find a reason not to?
Oh yeah, and Tim's season at SEC Network is over. And with all that training in Arzona, he's got to have some contacts with the Cardinals organization.
DeleteSeriously, how does this not happen? It is just too storybook.
While I'm doubtful of TT coming to GM's minds next season, I agree that this nuclear scenario has more potential for a Tebow signing. That said, I also agree that the Cards will find a reason to go elsewhere - Freeman, Pryor, whoever has a last name that doesn't start with T and end with w. The aversion to the guy at this point defies all logic, so it doesn't matter if he's the logical choice. Sad. And stupid. Had the Cards signed TT instead of Lindley and stashed him away in training for a few weeks, he'd be reasonably ready to go by now. Instead they've got what they got.
DeleteThe craziest thing is that Bruce Arians KNOWS Tebow can win a playoff game. He was OC for the Steelers when Tim beat them 3 years ago. That has got to be in his head.
DeleteJust read Twitter rumor that Stanton has ACL and MCL sprain. No grade given for ACL injury, but MCL is grade 2. That means 4-6 weeks recovery at minimum, which probably means he misses the playoffs. If ACL is involved, trying to play could risk much worse injury, eg RGIII.
Right now they only have Lindley (0 TD, 8 INT) and Logan Thomas (rookie, 1 completion in 8 attempts) on roster. I just don't see how Arians can keep credibility with the locker room or fan base unless he brings in someone who has a chance of winning.
Oh, they'll bring someone in, but I'd be shocked if it was Tebow. Don't get me wrong, I'm desperate for someone to give him a shot in spite of what my pessimistic attitude generally conveys. I just think they're going to be conservative in their thinking. I feel like a more recent player will get a look instead, like Freeman or Pryor.
DeleteUnfortunately you are very right about recency. It is a huge disadvantage for Tim that he was not in a training camp this season.
DeleteWe can only hope that he established some ties with the Cardinals organization while he was training in AZ, and that those ties will pay off now.
Uggh, now reporting Stanton is "week to week." Worst case scenario. Can't risk his fragile self esteem by bringing in Tim when he is down.
DeleteSounds more like denial than a sober, realistic take on the situation. Next comes anger, then bargaining, then depression, then acceptance. Question is, will they advance through the five stages of grief fast enough to save their season or will they play Stanton at the risk of a career-ending injury? I hope giving Tebow the Amish shunning treatment was worth it.
DeleteIf anything last nights game highlighted the fact that with or without Stanton the Cardinals are going to need more offense if they want to win the Super Bowl.
DeletePer NFL on ESPN the following are the "Notable Available QB's" - Dennis Dixon, Trent Edwards, David Garrard, Rex Grossman and Brady Quinn. A ton of responses to their tweet are asking why Tebow is not on the list. As always the desire from the public to see him get another shot is palpable, but the gatekeepers are too egotistical and, frankly, too idiotic to make it happen. Instead, let's give Brady Quinn his 8th shot. How inspiring.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone had a good Christmas. I would like to take this relaxing oppurtunity to reflect on happenings concerning Tebow & what they may or may not mean for his football future. As it is with everything concerning Tebow I see some positives as well as some negatives.
ReplyDeletePositives first:
1) It has taken a few more years than it should have but many Bronco fans are finally coming to the realization that trading a young Tim Tebow may have been a big mistake and Elway may have alot of explaining to do if the Super Bowl he promised is never realized.
2) The total implosion of teams & quarterbacks which cannot be blamed on the "Sanchize effect".
3) Judging by Tim's recent comments to Urban Meyer he still wants to play. I took his comments to mean he wants to play in the NFL & the NFL only which in my opinion is where he belongs. As bleak as those prospects may seem right now I want to continue to believe someone will want to go against the grain & give him his break. (Probably wishful thinking but what else do we the fans have at this point).
Negatives
1) It looks like the Cardinals are content to put their fortunes in the hands of their backup quarterback who may not be 100% when he returns. A once in lifetime opportunity to host a Super Bowl may be lost because of it.
2) Everything else we have spent the last few years discussing.
Abraham Lincoln once asked us to "listen to the better angels of our nature" this is the sentiment that I hope prevails.
Merry Christmas
Drew Stanton is now out indefinitely with an infection in his knee. The Cardinals are screwed beyond belief and they did it to themselves. As soon as they learned Carson Palmer was finished for the season they should've gone out and found a viable backup for Drew Stanton. Even if it wasn't Tebow as we all would have liked, there were other guys out there with experience that had periods of success - Grossman, Freeman, Pryor - regardless of any of their shortcomings anything would have been better than the sad sack they chose in Lindley. How does a team with so much to lose not take substantial steps to have a safety net in place? It had to have been denial, because no one on the planet that believed there was a chance that Stanton would go down would back him up with a guy that has yet to score a touchdown. This really is amazing to me.
DeleteIt's amazing to me too. The QB situation is so dire that people who aren't even Tebow fans think he should be on the Cards roster just on his running ability alone. Lindley is 2 for 29 on passes longer than 20 yards.
DeleteHave to wonder if Lindley does not play well this week against SF if they will continue down this path.
Rondog December 29th, 2014 at 9:30 AM
ReplyDeleteKyle Orton has just retired again. Just when I thought the Bills would be an ideal franchise for Tebow, word is that Bill Polian & his son Chris may be coming to town as GM and trusted counsel for the new Bills' owner. Polian has been one of the most vocal opponents of the athletic, read-option QB, including Tebow.
Too bad, as I could see Tebow thriving in Buffalo with their coaching staff, WR's that can stretch the field, blue collar fan base, etc.
We'll see. Whatever options, if any, for Tebow are now months away from being revealed.
RonDog
Granted. It might be a stretch, but all of a sudden after Mrs. McCaskey's comments on being tired of the Bears mediocrity. The Bears may be a possible landing spot for Tebow. Her comments could have a ripple effect throughout the organization & may be the impetus needed for the team to start doing things outside the norm. Also Mike Ditka has in the past been very complimentary of Tim. I don't know how much influence he has within the organization but this is now very intriguing to me.
DeleteBeen working through my frustration before I could respond. The Cardinals debacle was nearly the last straw for me. I still don't have the energy to do much detailed analysis of Tim's present situation, other than that the sight of him sportscasting still makes me ill. Here are some general thoughts:
ReplyDelete1. He didn't get on a team last off-season, and nothing has changed in his favor since then. So overall I'd have to rate his chances right now at bad to non-existent.
2. Having said that, this season was rather unprecedented in the rate of starting QB turnover. A full 30 teams started more than 1 QB during the year. At least 10 teams readily acknowledge needing a new starting QB, or being unsure who they will start. There are only 2 legit starting prospects in the draft, and really no backups have covered themselves with glory. So there are going to be a lot of teams bringing in 3 or 4 QBs for competition, hoping to hit the jackpot.
3. It is possible there is some other reason that Tim did not get an opportunity last year. Perhaps he was too picky and looked for the right opportunity. If so, I hope he clearly learned the lesson that not being on a team, any team, for training camp is a huge liability. Even if you sign with a team as a camp arm, at least you have the slim possibility of that team losing their QB and needing someone who knows their system. Exhibit A: Ryan Lindley. So hopefully Tim changes his negotiating posture and accepts any offer with any terms. Get in a uniform and get back in the league, by any means necessary!
4. Some of us continue to speculate that Josh McDaniels might get a head coaching gig and might give Tim another shot. We might be overstating the degree to which JMD would be willing to risk what is probably his last chance to get it right as a head coach by doing anything that deviates from conventional wisdom. However, there really aren't any other coaching prospects with ties to Tim, so let's hope JMD gets a job and see where it goes from there.
5. F#@% the NFL.
I am equally frustrated & can't watch him sportscasting either. However I am taking a little different view of the situation.
Delete1) As much as it would have been good to see the Cards sign Tim, I always thought of it as a longshot. It would have been a difficult situation to have been thrust into. Also as Kathryn pointed out the Cards could have called a number of other Quarterbacks & did not.
2) Its possible if Josh McDaniels does get another chance to be a head coach he may not want or be able to deviate from the norm but if anyone does have the cover to be able to do it without being criticized it would be him. I would venture to assume that he would be asked this question by any team interested in hiring him.
3) Those 2 college starting prospects are shaky for different reasons. Winston for his character problems & Marriota for his style of play & slender build. Both of them come with question marks?
4) The Bears are getting a total overhaul. The 91 year old owner is angry, who knows what repercussions her remaks may have. Their franchise quaterback did nothing for them this year. Its possible the team may be motivated enough to take a flyer on Tim. Heck if they want to stick with Cutler having Tim at the league minimum for insurance as his backup may light a fire under him. He certainly had no pressure on him with Clausen as his backup.
5) The Browns are taking on water & Manziel was highly disappointing this year both on & off the field. They need someone to right the ship & they know it.
6) Tim must still believe there must be some sort of outside chance otherwise why would Urban Meyer say publicly that Tim still wants to play.
I concur with your #5
My pessimism about TT getting another shot in the NFL next season has softened, even if just a bit. I rate his chances at getting a camp invite at 10% on the outside, up from 0% a few weeks ago. Between then and now the NFL has trotted out some of the worst excuses for quarterbacks to ever play the position in a display so bad, so wantonly pitiful that even staunch Tebow critic Shannon Sharpe admitted that Tim should be in the League if these guys are being called up.
DeleteI don't know yet if I think McD would throw him a lifeline. Half the time I think, yeah, okay, if he gets another HC gig he'll probably at the least give TT a workout. And the other half the time I think, no way, this is his second and probably last chance to thrive as a head coach, he's not going to risk it with the Tebow Factor. It really just depends on what you want to believe about their relationship. Did McD really fight to keep TT on the roster in New England as (very unsubstantiated) rumor suggested? Did the talks with the Browns unravel last season because he'd expressed interest in bringing TT to Cleveland as (again, very unsubstantiated) rumor suggested? Does he want to finish what he'd started in Denver with TT? Occam's Razor says probably not, but there's no way to know for sure. At least not until next preseason rolls around.
There are a few other possibilities knocking around out there. As you may recall, last year around this time Trent Dilfer remarked at the end of his unfortunately much-maligned "Tebow Package" that he'd believed there were four or five teams out there that should give TT a look. Those teams obviously didn't get the memo. We can guess who they are. Maybe they'll reconsider next season.
Then there's the question of Tim. How bad does he really want it? We've gotten a lot of mixed signals this season. He took on a lot of media work in terms of both volume and variety, but every single assignment fell within the original contract description. So did he consider it broadening his portfolio for the purposes of building his career, or was he simply honoring the terms of the contract he signed last year? He'd remarked to a reporter in October that he didn't necessarily consider himself part of the media. How does that fit in with all of this? Weeks ago Urban Meyer confirmed that Tim still wants a chance to return to the NFL, but then said if he doesn't get it he'll probably just continue doing what he's doing. Well, what does that mean? What's a chance to return to the NFL? A direct route back? A camp invite handed to him on a silver platter? What about a layover in an alternate league? Is that out of the question?
I have made it no secret for months now that I'd love for him to go to the CFL. I realize everybody's wish list is the NFL, but--pursuant to Ed's above point #5--I'd prefer he not steer his marketing and merchandising power and massive fan base back toward a League that has basically treated him and his fans like a pack of Goddamned outcasts. I understand it's not his dream, but sometimes the best you make out of a bad situation can turn out much better than expected. Imagine all the mobile quarterbacks that the college system is churning out now, and the options they'd have with him balling in another league with all the cameras watching. No, it's not the glamour of the NFL (whatever that means) but Good God it's better than not trying.
Rumor has it that part of the reason the Eagles did a restructuring to their team hierarchy & put more personnel decisions in the hands of Chip Kelly was because the GM chose one of their current Qb's (don't know which one) while Kelly wanted to further evaluate Tebow. I am sure there is alot more to the story but It makes me curious because this runs contrary to everything I have ever heard before about Kelly liking Tebow & I did find it interesting that Tebow mentioned last night that Urban Meyer & Chip Kelly are friends & always discuss quarterbacks.
DeleteCan anyone substantiate this rumor???
I heard about that, except for the Tebow part. Sorry.
DeleteSchadenfreude! Who would have thought that Tim would have made more yards on one play in the playoffs than the Cards got in one entire game.
DeleteThat's a great stat!
DeleteBob, I agree with Ed, that is a classic stat.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to find out if the Chip Kelly/Eagle's Front Office/Tebow rumor you mentioned was true. I've done a little Google research to see if I can find any public record of Tebow being a possible contributing source to issues between Kelly and the Roseman or Gamble. Nothing concrete yet.
If you watch Kelly's Eagles' offence each weekend, with a read-option on EVERY PLAY, I can see how Kelly would want a QB who actually makes the defense think that the QB might keep the ball on the read-option. With Foles & Sanchez, there really isn't a running threat for the Defense to consider. With Tebow under center, Eagles' opponents would have to account for the QB running on every play, something I think Kelly misses from his days at Oregon -- now stuck with Foles & Sanchez who are mobile, but, not a running threat.
Here are a couple of items:
- http://fishduck.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Chip-complete.pdf ... Written by Kelly when he was at Oregon.
"In a quarterback, I look for a quarterback who can run and not a running back who can throw.
I want the quarterback who can beat you with his arm. lf the defense forces him to run, he can
do it effectively. We are not a Tim Tebow type of quarterback team. I am not going to run the
quarterback 20 times 0n power runs. lfI had a Tim Tebow, lmight change my mind. You do not find the
6'4" ,240-pound, 4.6 quarterbacks too many times"
- http://www.sportsworldnews.com/articles/25924/20150102/philadelphia-eagles-rumors-chip-kelly-clashing-with-gm-howie-roseman.htm
"Without Gamble, it remains to be seen whether there will be any dissension between
Kelly and Roseman, who allegedly do not have the warmest of relationships. They
reportedly disagree about the abilities of Nick Foles, among other things."
- http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2013/04/tim_tebow_to_eagles.html ... 2013 Article.
"Kelly also seems to be ready to run the ball a fair amount- something that any team that
signs Tebow will have to do to succeed with him at quarterback."
- http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/category/_/name/philadelphia-eagles
"Roseman was reportedly angered by Kelly's comments Monday. He called Gamble a
"heck of a football guy" and said Roseman's "strength" was managing the salary cap.
Gamble was fired the next day.
That left Lurie in a tough spot. Kelly has gone 20-12 in his first two seasons in the NFL.
The Eagles' entire football operation is built around Kelly's approach -- which includes
sports science innovations, as well as football philosophy. Kelly was said to be very
upset about Gamble's firing. With regular speculation that Kelly might be jumping back
to a high-profile collegiate coaching job, Lurie had to find a way to smooth things over.
His solution was to remove personnel control from Roseman, extending his contract
while giving his power to the head coach. "
As I understand it Gamble's replacement will be Kelly's choice, which may shed some light on the situation.
DeleteThanks Ron Dog:
DeleteThat sure was a dismal display by the Cards. I hope to never have to see another game like that again.
Thanks also for all the good information on the Eagles. I read about the Kelly/Tebow rumor on Mascot Army. It claims that the tension between Kelly & Roseman escalated when Roseman drafted a bad fit QB to stop Kelly from further evaluating Tebow. That is the only place I have heard this.
A while back Mascot Army did an outstanding scientific analysis on Tim. If you have not read it the link is: themascotarmy.tumblr.com/post/755892487
Hopefully some lessons were learned yesterday & 2015 can be the year of a Tebow comeback.
Thanks Bob for the additional info on Kelly/Tebow. Also, thanks for the tumblr link; I've read this before and agree with his analysis.
ReplyDeleteI love that he put together a chart showing Pass & Rush Completion %'s. I actually put together an XLS back in 2011 (after Tebow's 10th career start) that calculated a statistic called "Play %" for a number of the great QB's first 10-16 starts (ie. Montana, Brady, Tebow, Brees, Young, Manning, Aikman, Elway, Fouts). I used data from http://www.pro-football-reference.com and essentially 'summed' Pass Attempts/completions with Rushing Attempts. Tebow's resulting "Play %" compared very favorably with the others: Here are the numbers for his first 10 starts from my xls.
Gm Date Team Play %
1 12/19/2010 @ OAK 66.7%
2 12/26/2010 HOU 66.7%
3 1/2/2010 SD 59.2%
4 10/23/2011 @ MIA 60.0%
5 10/30/2011 DET 57.1%
6 11/6/2011 @ OAK 66.7%
7 11/13/2011 @ KC 64.7%
8 11/17/2011 NYJ 60.7%
9 11/27/2011 @ SD 77.5%
10 12/4/2011 @ MIN 73.7%
I was so fed up with all the ex-players-turned-analysts and the pundits saying that Completion % was such a huge indicator of a QB's talent and worth. With Tebow, this just didn't apply.
Anyway, hope to see some NFL coach/GM (like Kelly) make a "football decision" and not a "political decision" next season. :-)
RonDog
Arghhhhhh ... really?
ReplyDeletehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/07/terrelle-pryor-signs-with-chiefs
The Chiefs apparently liked what they saw when quarterback Terrelle Pryor worked out for the team on Wednesday.
Per a league source, Pryor has signed a one-year contract.
Out of the league during the 2014 regular season, Pryor started nine games at quarterback for the Raiders in 2013. He entered the league via the third round of the 2011 supplemental draft, making him the final draft selection ever made by the late Al Davis.
Pryor spent much of the offseason and all of training camp and the preseason with Seattle, but he was included in the final cuts to 53 players. Now that the rosters have expanded, Pryor has a chance to find a home with the Chiefs.
In his only start against current Chiefs coach Andy Reid, Pryor completed 18 of 34 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. He also rushed for 56 yards.
With Alex Smith the starter and Chase Daniel his backup, Pryor faces an uphill climb in Kansas City. But at least he has another chance to prove that he can play at the NFL level.
Not really sure what to say to this. Pryor runs the 40 in 4.38 sec though. You can always do something with that.
DeleteI do wonder if it means Aaron Murray is not panning out.
Hard to think too much about this topic. We've just been let down too many times.
ReplyDeleteI'm watching for any signs that Josh McDaniels gets hired as HC. I doubt he stick hi neck out for Tim and risk his second and final shot at a head coaching job. However, some demonstrated personal affinity is better than nothing.
Chip Kelly has always been an intriguing persona for Tebow fans, because he seems more willing than most to think outside the box. However, he got a good week-long look at Tim during joint preseason practices with the Patriots last year. I have to think if there was some secret interest there, he would have found a way to get him in the succeeding 2 full seasons.
Beyond that, I really don't know. Maybe something crazy that nobody saw coming. Or maybe he keeps putting on man makeup and blabbing for TV.
One last thought: no way ESPN can resist the Tebow-Urban Meyer connection in the run up to the big game. I'm sure he will focus totally on that until next Monday.
The biggest thing going for Tim this year is the weak draft class. There are only 2 QB's who are consensus 1st round picks. After that, it is a big drop off, with one possible 2nd rounder and one 3rd rounder. Stack that against 8-10 teams that need a new starting QB, and we have a serious mismatch of supply and demand. Some teams are going to get stuck without chairs when the music stops. They will have to get creative on the FA market.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing Tim may have going for him at this time. Albeit Sleight: is there is a sliver of support developing for him among some media who had previously been dismissive if not outright hostile towards him. It may not mean much at this time but it is welcome nonetheless. Hopefully this trend will continue.
DeleteBoth of the hosts of PTI were actually making a case for Tim to be playing. Also his espn colleagues asking if teams are calling suggests a measure id respect he may not have been given in the past.
Time & hindsight have helped people realize the folly of what happened in Denver & NY. Also the egregious qb play capped off by the Cards debacle has made people rethink their opposition to Tim.
I believe the trends are pointing upward at this time.
Here's the link for the audio of the PTI ep: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=12139077
DeleteComments about Tim are at about 19 minutes into the PTI show.
Thanks for the link. Kornheiser and Wilbon have both been in TT's corner for a while. Glad they're not running out of gas on the issue.
DeletePreviously I haven't been the biggest fan of Tim being a commentator but have understood the reason for doing it. I still hope the suit & tie get shelved for a pair of cleats & shoulder pads next season. Having said that I throughly enjoyed his appearance on First Take this morning & while they did not ask him about his playing prospects they did not limit the conversation to college football. I think in the past 2 years while he has not played Tim has continued to grow & mature. He seemed to be more assertive & aggressive in his conversation than I remember. While being friendly & respectful he still made his points.
ReplyDeleteI especially loved it when referencing Pete Carrol & the innovations he brings to Seattle. He said so much of what is done in the nfl is because it is the way they have always done it & Pete Carrol is an innovator. Of course while I would much rather see Tim playing. One good thing coming out of these TV appearances is rather than just fading away teams can see how he handles himself front & center. Now if they could just bring themselves to open their minds & let this guy play.
Schadenfreude.
ReplyDeleteWith capital letters: SCHADENFREUDE!!!
DeleteHave to also give some props to the Pats. The way they battled. The play calling was brilliant & the Edelman TD pass was a thing of beauty.
DeleteAs I mentioned in a previous commentary. Elway now has some explaining to do. Maybe he can make amends, by doing not only the right thing but the smart one as well & make Tim his undisputed starting quarterback for next season.
Oh jeez, the bloodbath in Denver has commenced. I'm not surprised Fox got canned. They needed a scapegoat and, as usual with these teams, the ones most responsible for the debacle usually point the finger at someone else. Guy took the team to the playoffs four years straight and just took the hit on behalf of John Elway's ego. Maybe now he's got a taste of what the team served to Tebow.
DeleteWow, brutal. I am floored. Heard some speculation that Fox might be gone, but I did not take it seriously. Getting fired after going 46-18 in the regular season has got to be some kind of NFL record.
DeleteI could never quite bring myself to hate Fox. I'm sure he played a major role in Tim's betrayal, but I always felt Elway was the real driver there and Fox might have gone either way. He remained complimentary of Tim, or at least refrained from bad-mouthing him.
Shadenfreude is a such a useful concept. Leave it to the Germans to devise such a brutal, cold, mercilessly efficient word.
I think Elway may have screwed himself. I understand his basic outlook: he spent tens of millions of his owner's money to get to the Superbowl, and if Fox and Co can't get them there, then he'll get someone else to do the job. But getting a new coach is always a crapshoot. They are just like quarterbacks; you really don't know what you have got until you get them in the job and put them under fire. So what if Elway goes with some wunderkind and he flounders for year or two?
Holy smokes, it just hit me like a diamond bullet in the forehead (bonus points if you can guess the movie reference): Elway is going to hire his old coach Mike Shanahan and son! You read it here first. :)
Horror has a face...and goes by the name Elway.
DeleteGotta love all the know-it-all NFL "insiders" like Rapsheet and PFT saying "oh yeah, EVERYBODY knew this was coming." What a load of crap. Not even Elway and Fox knew it was going to happen until they met on Monday morning.
DeleteGotta feel for the poor Denver fans, who have been sold a bill of goods.
Good story: my wife has a customer (she is a lawyer) who lives and operates a business in Denver. He is also an on-field security guard for the Broncos. Apparently that gig is mostly performed by rich guys who are season ticket holders. He has been doing it for about 20 years. His job is to stand on the sidelines and keep fans from getting on the field or bugging the players.
So he was on the sidelines for the Tebow playoff game. When the touchdown in OT happened, he and all the other security guards completely forgot their job and ran out on the field. They were running around cheering and hugging, and then he saw all the fans and remembered that he was supposed to keep them off. Too late.
There have to be many Bronco fans who must feel the same way we do. The only way Elway will ever be able to make peace with them is to reach out to Tim & at least make him a serious offer to return. If he goes any another route (which he probably will) he will not only keep that part of the fan base alienated but if those efforts were to fail he could tarnish his reputation as an executive beyond repair.
DeleteNow Rex Ryan is promising the Bills a playoff run and insisting they will be the "bullies" next season. Is that man ever going to learn the value of keeping his trap shut?
ReplyDeleteTwo excellent articles on what the Broncos are dealing with underneath the surface.
Deleteboston.cbslocal.com/2015/01/13/mckee-peyton-manning
sports.cbslocal.com/2015.01/14/peyton-manning-carrer-over-broncos/
Thanks for the links, Bob. That interview w/D-Mac is very interesting. He makes the Broncos sound like such a miserable team. If he's right, there's clearly a very different atmosphere there than when Tim was a Bronco.
DeleteYour welcome Brooke:
DeleteThe Broncos are reeling. The boos after the game were very telling. I doubt changing coaching staffs will do much to change the atmosphere. I believe the best & quickest way for them to heal is to bring Tim back. Although this seems to be very unlikely.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAs long as Elway's running the team, I can't imagine Tim being brought back. It seems Elway's blaming everyone *except* Peyton-the polar opposite attitude he had about Tim-, so I'm assuming they're not going to dump PM.
DeleteSpeaking of Rex. Had some fun with Snagit (photoshop-light) this evening:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/RonDogCO/status/555536192221900800
NFL to host veteran combine for free agents in March:
ReplyDeletehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/15/nfl-to-host-veteran-combine-for-free-agents-in-march/related/
Can he show up on his own or does he need an invitation to particicipate in the combine?
DeleteHe has to apply for an invite.
DeleteNice find Brooke. I wonder if TT would make his way to one of these.
ReplyDeleteHere's a prediction: Chip Kelley finds a way to draft/trade for Marcus Marriota this year. Then, to match his skill-set at the QB2 position, they bring on Tebow. If Kelley was intrigued a year ago, this would be a strategic move allowing him to add more read-option back into his game plan with two QB's who can get creative out of the pocket. Marcus excelling outside the tackles and Tebow running inside the tackles allowing Kelly to exploit weaknesses of their opponents week to week.
It's a 1,000,000,000 to 1 shot; but, I'd love it.
RonDog.
Ron Dog:
DeleteI must admit I was skeptical when you predicted Kelley would try to get Marriota. I am still skeptical he will try for Tebow but it would be very interesting to see the two of them in Philly. Sanchez is a free agent & I don't know how much faith he has in Foles or Barkley to run his offense. Both are immobile quarterbacks.
We will know more about Tim's prospects for next season if they select him to attend the upcoming combine. If he applies.
On another note has anyone noticed how the term strong 4th quarter quarterback is becoming in vogue. Tim made that an art form before it was fashionable.
Whether it happens or not, that would be almost an unprecedentedly costly acquisition. No one has ever traded up from #20 to get the presumed #1 or #2 draft pick. I can't imagine anyone in the organization supporting such a move; not for a zone read, system quarterback at a time when such players are continually falling by the wayside (RGIII, Manziel, and yes Tebow). How much would they wind up putting in hock for that; how many future draft picks? Does his durability merit the risks? Is his arm going to be as accurate in NFL schemes and under NFL pressure as it was in the Pac-12? These are the questions Kelly has to ask himself if he's considering this, because every ounce of this decision is going to be on him. For better or for worse it's going to either validate all the power he's been given, or it's going to prove that he should stick to coaching and let others manage personnel acquisition. If it works he's a hero. If it blows up in his face it could cost a lot more than his pride. With the ego of some of these guys I wouldn't be shocked if he did it; but it seems to me the scrutiny and expectation for immediate results would be too much to make it worthwhile.
DeleteThe Combine will be a definitive statement for Tim. If he does not participate, we'll know the truth, and we can shutter the blogs and move on.
DeleteCould be interesting this off-season with so many teams questioning their QB's, including the Eagles. I agree Bob, the Eagles do not have faith in all 3 of their QB's (Foles, Sanchez & Barkley).
DeleteWRT your comment on 4th QTR QB excellence being in vogue. I couldn't count the number of times NFL Network & ESPN flashed statistics Wilson's 1st/2nd/3rd QTR Stats (0.2 QBR) vs. his 4th QTR stats (95 QBR). It would have been a recreation of "Back to the Future"; except, their take was that Russell Wilson's character and fortitude enabled him to excel in the 4th QTR and was a great QB for it.
I agree with their assessment of Wilson completely. But, Tebow shined in the 4th QTR numerous times with the Broncos and he was labeled lucky and horrible for it. The same double standard we've seen for Tebow's entire NFL career.
Ed. You are probably right about the Combine and Tebow; but, I tend to think a team interested in Tebow will put him through a private workout on 'the sly' and not rely on the combine. The combine is a fun event; but, throwing to unknown receivers is a little bit of a crap-shoot. But, it would be must-watch TV, wouldn't it?
Ron Dog:
DeleteI was thinking along the same lines regarding teams possibly preferring to work out Tim privately if they were interested in signing him instead of relying on the combine. With all the false starts & let downs we have had I thought it a little foolish to write. Thanks for validating that position. It's unlikely but we can never know what talks may be going on privately.
I read that Mariota turned down an invitation to attend the the Super Bowl with the owner of the Titans. Maybe Kelly really does intend to trade up for him.
I agree with everything you said about Wilson. He is not the most gifted Quarterback either physically or technically in the league but he knows how to play the position & he knows what his team needs to win games. Like Tebow some of his attributes are uncoachable. Some players are better left to their own devices at times.
The double standards used to judge Tim's play could fill the fiction section in any library. Another thing none of the analysts ever bothered to point out was Tim threw deep more than any other quarterback in the league that year & he threw mostly in 1 or 2 wide reciever sets until the 4th qtr. In the 4th qtr. they would use 3 & 4 wide reciever sets when they needed to play catch up.
In my opinion Tim's stock has been rising & I may be completly off on this but I think this year we are going to see him playing again.
For you all followers of everything Tebow chatter around. A nice gem from Simmons in "our" favor.
ReplyDeletehttp://grantland.com/the-triangle/that-championship-mailbag-2015-edition/
Just ctrl+f Tebow in this mailbag.
Best
LuZwei
What a surprise. You draft a 'low-character' guy, you get 'low-character' decisions. I can remember when Mike Pettine said if he was ever in a position to build a team, Tebow would be one of the first guys he'd bring in. I think he appreciated a solid work-ethic and preparation; two traits Johnny is lacking. If a guy can't grind in his 'rookie' year, he's never going succeed in the NFL or other endeavors.
ReplyDeletehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/23/teammate-manziel-was-a-100-percent-joke-as-a-rookie
Teammate: Manziel was a “100 percent joke” as a rookie
So why aren’t the Browns declaring Johnny Manziel to be the team’s franchise quarterback? Based on a new report from
ESPN.com, the reasons are plentiful.
The article from Jeremy Fowler and Patrick McManamon paints Manziel as being everything that it was feared he’d be, and
worse. Based on interviews with 20 Browns sources, they’ve concluded that Manziel engaged in a “year-long pattern that
showed a lack of commitment and preparation, a failure to be ready when given a chance in his first start against Cincinnati
and a continued commitment to nightlife, which affected his preparation and work while in the team facility.”
As one unnamed player told ESPN.com, Manziel’s rookie year was a “100 percent joke.”
Last year at this time, Manziel was all about football, stubbornly refusing media requests as he stayed out of the limelight
and (supposedly) focused on getting drafted as high as he could. Ultimately, it was an Eddie Haskell routine that the
Browns should have spotted.
“During the draft process, not one person interviewed by the team said he was going to grow up,” a source directly involved
in the drafting of Manziel told ESPN.com. “You can’t blame Johnny. This is who he is. The team knew that.”
(At the risk of being perceived as outing someone’s source, we can’t be the only ones who wonder whether that quote
came from former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, or from former Browns quarterbacks coach Dowell
Loggains.)
It came to a head for the Browns on the final weekend of the regular season, when he didn’t show up at the facility on
Saturday morning for treatment. Per the report, team security went to Manziel’s apartment and found the player “drunk off
his ass.” The team put out the word that he was “late” for treatment on an injured hamstring; per the report, players didn’t
see him at all until it was time to fly to Baltimore for the regular-season finale.
As a result, it should be no surprise that the Browns currently aren’t ready to proclaim Manziel the starter for 2015. Unless
he dramatically changes his ways, he may never be the starter, for the Browns or anyone else.
Good catch, Ron Dog. That article explains why I saw something yesterday that said the Browns are actively looking for a starting QB (and why Skip Bayless referred to JM as an alcoholic not long ago).
DeleteAlso, FWIW, Tim's going to be playing in a golf tournament in AZ along w/Urban Meyer soon. Another celeb who will be playing in it is the HC of the Cardinals.
The Browns are reportedly interested in bringing Hoyer back. Have to wonder how much patience they will exercise with Manziel.
DeleteI don't know if it means anything but I am taking it as a positive sign that Tim has been in Arizona for Super Bowl week working out with NFL players. I am sure he could be somewhere else doing other things if he wanted to be. Hopefully it means he is still engaged in the process of playing again.
I am bored out of my mind by Deflategate and oddly enough wish the SB would just come and go already so we can maybe once and for all get some indication of what TT plans to do next. Tebow Fan: an individual sentenced to an endless, tormenting wait for events that may or may not come whilst the subject of their waiting frolics through life in tight tee shirts with a goofy smile on his face.
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteDo you think Tim roots for the Pats in this one? I wonder how no one remembered to mention how Tebow would blow even with deflated footballs.
DeleteProbably. I think he left on good terms with the Pats. The only team that he didn't publicly express his gratitude to upon exit was the Jets. In that regard the omission of a statement was an enormous statement in itself.
DeleteAll that said, he could be rooting for a specific player which overrides team loyalties - his friend Richard Sherman, for example.
Having a hard time wrapping my head around the Sherman friendship. On the one hand, gotta like anyone who embraces Tim when other NFL people are running away from him. On the other hand, the guy is such a braggart. Just doesn't sit right with me. I guess it shows Tim's talent for relating to people. On a related note, isn't it amazing that Aaron Hernandez considered Tim a friend?
ReplyDeleteI think we'll know Tim's fate soon. If he doesn't participate in the Combine, that will be definitive proof that he has given up. Of course hope springs eternal, so we'll continue to speculate about secret pacts with coaches, or a desperation move by some team that didn't get what they needed in the draft. But even then, if he is not on a roster by June, it is well and truly over.
On the subject of hope springing eternal, Matt Cavanaugh was just signed by the Skins as their QB coach. Cavanaugh was Tim's QB coach on the Jets, and was complimentary of him even after the debacle.
Before making a franchise changing decision like drafting or signing a QB most teams probably weigh the amount of upside a player will have. The pros are measured against the cons & these pros & cons are different for each franchise. This is not an easy decision to make & no matter how much effort is made to minimize making the wrong choice there are always busts.
DeleteFor me the skins posssibly have more upside to gain from signing Tim than any other team in the league. Their QB's have not met expectations, RGIII has a history of being injured & they seem to have lost confidence in Cousins. Having Tim there either as an insurance policy or to compete for the starting job should not be dismissed. As you said Cavanaugh likes him & hopefully Jay Gruden likes him as much as his brother Jon does.
Also the franchise needs a jolt of electricity only Tebow could provide. The fan base is lethargic, tickets last season were going for as low as $4.00 in some cases & they have other off the field issues unique to them that Tebow's precense could divert attention away from.
Does RGIII develop into the franchise QB they thought he would or do they stand pat & risk having a repeat of the last few seasons???
I would love to see Tebow in Washington and do agree that he could ably compete for QB1 or backup RG3. My only concern is that Jay Gruden is a 'West Coast Offense' guy. But, if he's willing to morph his offense into one that actually caters to his Franchise QB (RG3) and Tebow, I could see it being a great success.
ReplyDeleteHeck, just the threat of a 'read-option' on every play --> exactly like the Eagles do on every play, keeps the DB's and DL honest on every play. With RG3 & Tebow in the shotgun, the 'read-option' on every play wouldn't be just a veiled threat like it is with Foles and Sanchez at Philadelphia.
In addition to the Redskins, it would be interesting to see Tebow in Philly if Chip Kelly is able to trade-up to get Miriota in this year's draft. Tebow and Mirota running that offense would be a sight to see. Having two QB's that have mastered the read-option spread offense in Philly would be off the charts.
Really hope some of this comes to pass this year. RonDog
I think John Fox would take a look at Tim. Fox was beginning to warm up to the idea of having Tim as his QB before Elway pulled the plug on him. Adam Gase is the new offensive coordinator in Chicago. I am keeping an eye on this one also.
DeleteI agree with your Chicago take. I've heard Brandon Marshall speak highly of the 'read-option' and I believe Tebow. On "Inside the NFL" this year, he got into an argument where he said the 'read-option' had a place in the NFL, with Phil Simms or Boomer down-playing its effectiveness. I know Brandon Marshall always talks about Cutler being his boy and all; but, Brandon has a pretty big will to win and I bet he'd be on-board with a plan to shake things up if they went the Tebow route.
DeleteGood call though Bob. RonDog.