The Star-Ledger-USA TODAY Sports
The Tim Tebow story lives on.
Just when it looked like the love-him-or-hate-him quarterback had been laughed out of the league, the NFL world is thrown into frenzy with the news of yet another Tebow signing, this time by the New England Patriots.
Honestly, this is likely the only team that would have been willing to give him a chance. Everyone else in the NFL has run away from Tebow, quickly letting the media know that they had no interest in adding him to their roster.
The issue with Tebow ranges from his ability to play the quarterback position to the media circus that surrounds him. One thing that is impossible to dispute is his work ethic and his will to win, something that he has done often during his roller coaster NFL career.
If there is one organization that can handle the media it has to be the Patriots. Head Coach Bill Belichick has a history of putting a lid on media darlings, and the no-nonsense Patriot system will handle the rest.
The odds of Tebow playing quarterback seem to be very slim. The Patriots already have a future Hall Of Fame quarterback under center in Tom Brady, and they have a talented backup in third-year man Ryan Mallett.
The word had been that Tebow would not consider playing another position just to stay in the NFL, but this signing would indicate that Tebow must have had a change of heart. It is hard to believe that Belichick would be interested in developing a gimmick offense, and while it is possible, it seems more probable that we will see Tebow show up on the field in other facets of the game.
Regardless of where the Patriots decide to use Tebow, it is going to be up to him to make the most of this opportunity. It was beginning to look like his NFL career was finished. No one wanted to touch him, and now he has one more chance to prove himself on the biggest stage.
There are not many who doubt Tebow’s energy and drive. We have all heard how he may not be a quarterback, but he is a “football player.” This will be his chance to prove it.
This is not the New York Jets. This is a completely different situation, and being used as a playmaker, on one of the NFL’s most elite teams, may be just what Tebow needs to keep his career afloat.
Failure cannot be an option. If this experiment ends badly, you can be sure that Tebow’s NFL career is done.
Jeff Everette covers the NFL, specifically the Miami Dolphins, for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @jeverettesports, “like” his page on Facebook, “Trust” him on Sulia, or join his circles on Google+.
