Gone are the days of Tim Tebow, the most electrifying punt protector in NFL history and Tebowmania. Welcome the days of Tim Tebow: third string quarterback.
After signing a two-year deal with the New England Patriots (for the league minimum with no guaranteed money), Tim Tebow is now the team’s third string quarterback behind starter, and future hall-of-famer, Tom Brady and second year pro Ryan Mallett.
With the news breaking that Tebow had finally signed a deal with the Patriots on Tuesday, questions immediately began to swirl as to how Tebow would adapt to “the Patriot way”, what position he would play, what number he would wear, and so on and so forth that is the media firestorm that follows the young quarterback everywhere he goes.
The signing brought many rumors to a screeching halt.
After being released by the New York Jets in April, on the heels of an abysmal season with Gang Green, Tebow was on the streets looking for work. As the calendar turned to June and he was still searching for a job, multiple reports surfaced mentioning that the young superstar may be looking towards retirement. Questions rose whether the media firestorm that surrounded him was too much for any team, if his level of play was too low to sign, and even if he had the mindset to grasp a full NFL playbook.
Another report surfaced via YahooSports that New England Patriots head Coach Bill Belichick “hated” Tebow as a player and would not sign him. A stunning report considering just four years ago before the 2004 NFL Draft, Belichick had the former-Heisman winner in for a workout, interview, and even took him to dinner in Boston’s North End.
Belichick rebutted the article, saying, “It is unfortunate that something so inaccurate was reported.”On Tuesday, Belichick proved how inaccurate that report was, as the team released third string quarterback Mike Kafka to clear a roster spot.
Tuesday also marked the opening of the Patriots mandatory minicamp and sure enough the most polarizing backup in all of sports was on the field, dawning number 5 and not his trademark 15, which is worn by the man in front of him on the depth chart, Ryan Mallett.
“First and foremost, I just want to thank the Patriots for giving me an opportunity,” Tebow said to reports after his first practice in Foxboro. “I’m very thankful.”
In a way all signs pointed to this day happening. The first step towards New England happened four years ago.
As the first round of the NFL Draft was underway New England watched as the Baltimore Ravens were on the clock with the 25th-overall pick. Whatever Belichick’s plan was that night we’ll never truly know. They chose cornerback Devin McCourty two picks later and he went on to have a Pro Bowl rookie season. However, rumors swirled that New England was interested in taking Tebow at the 27th-overall pick.
Smokescreen or not, Belichick’s young understudy Josh McDaniels, in his second year as head coach of the Denver Broncos, traded with Baltimore to get back into the first-round; leapfrogging his former mentor. Now in command of the 25th-overall pick, McDaniels selected Tebow.
McDaniels was out of Denver after 2010 and in stepped John Fox.
In 2011, Tebow sat behind Kyle Orton and watched as the Broncos crawled to 1-4 to open the season. After their bye week, Fox decided to see what Tebow had to offer and benched Orton in favor of the second-year pro.
Tebow would reel off a string of six straight wins each in more epic fashion then the last. But despite getting his team to the playoffs, the Broncos stumbled into the offseason losing three straight games to end the regular season. After Tebow led a stunning upset victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round, he led the Broncos to Foxboro to face the New England Patriots.
In his final start, the Patriots did away with Tebowmania, defeating the story of the year with a crushing 45-10 victory.
Tebow was traded to the Jets prior to the 2012 season after Denver signed NFL legend Peyton Manning. His season was forgettable by all accounts but he was one step closer to New England as he sparred against the Jets divisional rivals twice.
And now he has finally arrived, back with the prodigal son, McDaniels, as his offensive coordinator.
Now in a situation where he can learn and work on his mechanics, Tebow may be in the best position of his career, though it maybe third on the depth chart.
Belichick will command the media attention and sway it from his reserve quarterback. Tebow will learn from one of the greatest of all time. And when called upon, maybe Tebow will even show some of that versatility he’s shown — a quality Belichick has always been fond of.
“Anything we do is what we feel is in the best interests of the team,” Belichick said in his Tuesday press conference. “Tim is a talented player that is smart and works hard. We’ll see how it goes.”
