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Tim Tebow Released by New England Patriots

Tim Tebow has gone through three NFL teams in a little over a year. Will there be a fourth?

James Joyner
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Tim Tebow has gone through three NFL teams in a little over a year. Will there be a fourth?

ESPN (“Patriots release Tim Tebow“):

The New England Patriots have released polarizing quarterback Tim Tebow, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Tebow, who signed with the Patriots in June, struggled to find consistency throughout the preseason. He never seriously threatened Ryan Mallett for the backup job behind Tom Brady.

Tebow is a by all accounts a great guy and one of the great college quarterbacks—indeed, college football players—to ever play the game. He’s just not an NFL quarterback. One wonders what his next move is. Does he go to Canada or one of the minor leagues and try to prove himself? Or does he switch to another position, likely tight end or H-back? He’s too young and too good an athlete to give up on the game entirely.

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16 responses to “Tim Tebow Released by New England Patriots”

  1. Doug Mataconis Avatar
    Doug Mataconis

    I was actually surprised that, with the loss of Aaron Hernandez, the Pats didn’t try him out at TE, a position that many have suggested he’d be better suited for. According to the reports I’ve read, they never even made the effort.

  2. James Joyner Avatar
    James Joyner

    @Doug Mataconis: Maybe they wanted to do that and he wanted to stay at QB? Odd otherwise.

  3. Doug Mataconis Avatar
    Doug Mataconis

    @James Joyner:

    Maybe, but he was in Training Camp on a non-salary contract. He had to have known that either he made the team, or this would happen. If he passed up an opportunity to qualify at a position other than QB (on a roster where he was never going to be the starter anyway unless Brady was injured) then he’s just an idiot.

  4. ernieyeball Avatar
    ernieyeball

    Some (former?) NFL player said on the radio yesterday that it was unrealistic to expect a player who had been a QB to learn a new position well enough to qualify during training camp.

  5. Rick Almeida Avatar
    Rick Almeida

    @Doug Mataconis:

    He’s been a QB all his career…when would he have learned to run routes and pass block?

  6. Donald Sensing Avatar
    Donald Sensing

    Well, the story seems to say that he was not released because of lack of talent, but because he is “polarizing” – meaning, I guess, overtly Christian.

  7. wr Avatar
    wr

    @Donald Sensing: No, the story doesn’t say that at all. The writer describes him as polarizing, not anyone from the team. But that’s okay, you can get the right-wing self-pity machine warmed up for another exciting adventure in martyrdom.

  8. al-Ameda Avatar
    al-Ameda

    @Doug Mataconis:

    I was actually surprised that, with the loss of Aaron Hernandez, the Pats didn’t try him out at TE, a position that many have suggested he’d be better suited for. According to the reports I’ve read, they never even made the effort.

    Tight ends have to block too, at least a fair share of the snaps that they’re on the field. I can’t imagine Tebow lining up to block guys like Aldon Smith and Von Miller coming off the edge. I’m sure that Belichick couldn’t imagine that either.

  9. ernieyeball Avatar
    ernieyeball

    @Donald Sensing: Since Jesus is everywhere (including looking over Timmy’s shoulder) that would include The Pat’s locker room and every other NFL camp.
    After the stink caused by Spygate Brother Bill must have figured he did not need a scandal caused by Divine Guidence!

  10. MM Avatar
    MM

    @Donald Sensing: That’s why nobody has ever heard of Reggie White. Or Ray Lewis. Or Aaron Rodgers. Or Brian Dawkins.

  11. merl Avatar
    merl

    @wr: I read that he is polarizing because he is always trying to make everyone pray with him. I know those kind of people piss me off.

  12. James Pearce Avatar
    James Pearce

    @merl:

    I read that he is polarizing because he is always trying to make everyone pray with him.

    He’s polarizing because he won two college championships, a Heisman trophy, and a NFL play-off game, and yet people still say he has no talent.

  13. Chris Berez Avatar
    Chris Berez

    I don’t believe Belichick ever wanted them there to begin with. It’s Josh McDaniels that has always been head-over-heels for Tebow for some reason. My theory is McDaniels begged and Belichick agreed to give Tebow a shot just to shut him up, knowing full well Tebow never had a shot at making the team.

    Also, everything I’ve read about Tebow is that he doesn’t want to consider playing another position. He has it in his head that he’s destined to be a star QB. He was great in college when Florida could just run the Wildcat every single play; but that’s a system that had success in the NFL for about one season before everyone figured out how to defend against it. Tebow is fast and can run, but he can’t throw the ball. But he still is determined to be a QB.

    And if he was at all open to playing other positions in order to continue his career, one would think that he’d make that clear to every team out there.

  14. Franklin Avatar
    Franklin

    I don’t share his faith or appreciate the proselytizing, but he’s undoubtedly a good guy – I’d trust him to babysit my kids. His immense talent just doesn’t quite fit the NFL game, which I think is going to be true of another skilled player: Denard Robinson (yes, he currently has a job, but we’ll see for how long).

    Certainly there are other possibilities for these guys. They’d likely dominate in the CFL or anywhere else a football-type skill is required.

  15. Rick Almeida Avatar
    Rick Almeida

    @James Pearce:

    Saying that he doesn’t have the skills to be an NFL QB isn’t saying he has no talent. Do you believe there’s a conspiracy to keep him out of the NFL?

  16. Tyrell Avatar
    Tyrell

    Not the only player who was great in college but could not make it in the pros. There is a long list of them. Something went wrong in his passing. I did not hear anything about an injury, but everyone said his passing went to awful in a short time. He seemed to be strong enough, but I don’t think he was very fast. A real puzzle.

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