Tim Tebow Has Some Decisions to Make

Dec 30, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) watches from the sideline in the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 28-9. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

(Note to TebowNation: This is not my chance to make fun of Tim, but to give honest assessment of where he goes from here.)

Things have changed a lot for Tim Tebow in the past year. About a year ago at this time, he was leading the Broncos to an upset playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. 12 months later, he has wallowed on the bench for the New York Jets, and trying to figure out where he goes with the next stage of his career. The resounding opinion had been that Tebow would join the Jacksonville Jaguars next year. That theory, has been quashed by new general manager Dave Caldwell, saying there is no scenario where Tebow is a Jaguar. So, what does he do next? Whether it is correct or not, no matter what your feelings are about this player, the facts are the facts. Those facts are that there isn’t a lot of interest in Tim Tebow in the National Football League, not right now. The one team we thought would embrace him has turned him away.

Tim needs to take a look at this situation honestly and ask the question, why? Why are these teams not interested in me? The reason, whether his fans like it or not, is that the talent evaluators around the league are not enamored by his ability. This is not me saying it, it’s the scouts. We know they are, otherwise we would hear about teams that want him to play for them, but we don’t. Nobody wants this guy. Obviously, Tim Tebow wants to be a football player. For all the knocks on him, he has a great tenacity and work ethic. Taking that into account, along with his current situation, Tim has two choices. He can either embrace a change of position, or play in the CFL.

Changing positions might not be the worst idea he could have. No matter what the thought is about his QUARTERBACK play, the part everyone agrees upon is that Tim Tebow’s skill set is unique. When he has been at his best, he has a unique awareness on the football field, and he is fast. He was slower this year, because the Jets had him gain weight, but that is a fixable problem. What’s wrong with taking his build, losing weight if necessary, and becoming a running back? The Jets gave consideration to this idea, why not? Tim is a very smart player, if he could watch film on how to read the holes after taking a handoff, he could quickly become a very good running back. He shouldn’t frown upon the special teams stuff either. Remember Jeff Hostetler? He played special teams for years while he was on the bench behind Phil Simms, even recording a blocked punt, before getting his chance to win a Super Bowl at quarterback in 1990. Playing special teams is not the end of your career.

Dec 30, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 28-9. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

However, he may not be willing to switch positions, and that’s OK. He believes that he is a quarterback, and having that type of ability to stick to things is unique, and definitely a positive. However, if that is how he feels, he should give serious consideration to playing in the CFL.

This, Tebow fans, is not the end of the world either.

Tim Tebow believes that he is a starting quarterback in this league. However, Tim also is a smart guy, and has to understand that the league doesn’t share that viewpoint right now. If it did, he would have opportunities to do just that, but he does not right now. To recover his career he needs to understand this.

But what he also should realize is that IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE OVER FOR HIM. He is only 25 years old right now. He doesn’t have a lot of mileage with all the time he has spent as a backup, it’s not like he is banged up too badly. He can salvage his career, if he uses his head and does it right.

Tim wants to play quarterback, but in the NFL, there are a limited number of opportunities to do so. Whether the scouts like him or not, the fact is just by the amount of teams, there are only so many chances he would have to play quarterback. Given the situation, why not go somewhere where he will have that many more opportunities to do what he loves, that is play quarterback? If he can go up there, with less media pressure than in the states, and fix his game, doesn’t that help him? If he can get hooked up with a great quarterback coach, that can figure out whatever is wrong, Tebow can come back, better than before, and be a starting quarterback in this league.

For anyone that thinks going to the CFL is the end of a career, talk to Warren Moon. He couldn’t get a job in the NFL, he went to Canada, and now is in the Hall of Fame of both the CFL and the NFL. It can help.

That is my prescription for Tim Tebow. He can fix his career, taking one of these two options.