I was just about to celebrate Tim Tebow not playing in the NFL this upcoming season, so I didn't have to hear ESPN talk about him each and every day. However, I'm sad to report that the New England Patriots have apparently signed the former New York Jets' back-up quarterback, so count on ESPN to be talking about nothing but Tebow over the next day or so. ESPN's own Ashley Fox has kicked things off very nicely on that front with an article she released today, entitled, "Tim Tebow is the ultimate challenge - If Belichick makes this work, it will be among his greatest success stories."
Here are some gems from that article:
- "If Belichick makes Tebow into something of a quarterback, if he takes a player with flawed mechanics and faulty footwork and an awkward throwing motion, and actually teaches him the nuances of the passing offense, it will go down as perhaps Belichick's most impressive accomplishment."
- "And this could actually work. If it doesn't, Tebow will have blown his best chance at having the career he maintains he is capable of having, because no one in the NFL believes in him more than Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. No one."
- "Can he succeed again and make Tebow into a legitimate starter in two or three seasons once Brady finally hangs it up? The feeling here is no, that what Tebow lacks can't be taught or fixed. But betting against Belichick can be foolish because he has been right more often than he has been wrong."
Read my lips (yes, through a computer screen) - the New England Patriots did not sign Tim Tebow to be their quarterback - not this year, not next year, not five years from now. So, Ms. Fox and other like commentators can stop drooling at the prospect of Bill Belichick trying to transform Tebow into a quality NFL starting quarterback, because it's not going to happen.
Patriots MVP and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady is the team's starter and will continue to be until he retires or suffers a serious injury. The guy is still one of the best in the game today and in the game's history. The team's second-string quarterback is the young and strong-armed Ryan Mallett. Mallett, unless he fails to progress, will likely be the team's starter after Brady. Trust me, it is nowhere in Belichick's plans right now for Tim Tebow to be his starting quarterback at any point.
Why on earth did the Patriots sign him then? Good question. The fact of the matter is, regardless of how sub-par Tebow is as an NFL quarterback, he is still a solid athlete. With the team losing their wideouts from a year ago - Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd, along with tight ends Ron Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez fighting injury problems, the offense has more holes at this current juncture than the jeans of an '80s rock singer.
Ms. Fox was right about one thing - Tim Tebow is a "project" for Bill Belichick and the Patriots, but not as a quarterback. The team doesn't need a quarterback. The team needs some help at other positions on offense. I've always said that Tebow is built like a tight end and if he worked on both his blocking and catching, could potentially be a decent tight end in this league. It's by no means a guarantee that with the help of solid coaching, Tebow would ever become a good tight end. However, he has a much greater chance of finding success in the league at that position than at quarterback.
espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9363279/tim-tebow-ultimate-test-bill-belichick
http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59971/with-tim-tebow-patriots-show-desperation
Here are some gems from that article:
- "If Belichick makes Tebow into something of a quarterback, if he takes a player with flawed mechanics and faulty footwork and an awkward throwing motion, and actually teaches him the nuances of the passing offense, it will go down as perhaps Belichick's most impressive accomplishment."
- "And this could actually work. If it doesn't, Tebow will have blown his best chance at having the career he maintains he is capable of having, because no one in the NFL believes in him more than Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. No one."
- "Can he succeed again and make Tebow into a legitimate starter in two or three seasons once Brady finally hangs it up? The feeling here is no, that what Tebow lacks can't be taught or fixed. But betting against Belichick can be foolish because he has been right more often than he has been wrong."
Read my lips (yes, through a computer screen) - the New England Patriots did not sign Tim Tebow to be their quarterback - not this year, not next year, not five years from now. So, Ms. Fox and other like commentators can stop drooling at the prospect of Bill Belichick trying to transform Tebow into a quality NFL starting quarterback, because it's not going to happen.
Patriots MVP and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady is the team's starter and will continue to be until he retires or suffers a serious injury. The guy is still one of the best in the game today and in the game's history. The team's second-string quarterback is the young and strong-armed Ryan Mallett. Mallett, unless he fails to progress, will likely be the team's starter after Brady. Trust me, it is nowhere in Belichick's plans right now for Tim Tebow to be his starting quarterback at any point.
Why on earth did the Patriots sign him then? Good question. The fact of the matter is, regardless of how sub-par Tebow is as an NFL quarterback, he is still a solid athlete. With the team losing their wideouts from a year ago - Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd, along with tight ends Ron Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez fighting injury problems, the offense has more holes at this current juncture than the jeans of an '80s rock singer.
Ms. Fox was right about one thing - Tim Tebow is a "project" for Bill Belichick and the Patriots, but not as a quarterback. The team doesn't need a quarterback. The team needs some help at other positions on offense. I've always said that Tebow is built like a tight end and if he worked on both his blocking and catching, could potentially be a decent tight end in this league. It's by no means a guarantee that with the help of solid coaching, Tebow would ever become a good tight end. However, he has a much greater chance of finding success in the league at that position than at quarterback.
espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9363279/tim-tebow-ultimate-test-bill-belichick
http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/59971/with-tim-tebow-patriots-show-desperation
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