Tebow Officially A New England Patriot
BOSTON (CBSMiami) – Less than 24 hours after the news broke, quarterback Tim Tebow officially has a new team. The New England Patriots announced the team had signed Tebow to a two-year deal and he is scheduled to be in mini-camp Tuesday.
The signing of Tebow is easier for the Patriots because his arrival would never spark a quarterback controversy. Tom Brady is the unquestioned starter for the Patriots and Tebow will be expected to slide into a third-string quarterback job behind presumed backup quarterback Ryan Mallet.
Still, Tebow was guaranteed no money in his contract and he will have to earn his way onto the team during the offseason. Tebow will be reunited with the coach who picked him in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Josh McDaniels, who is the current offensive coordinator for the Pats.
The signing sent ESPN into overdrive with Tebow coverage late Monday and into Tuesday, but the Tebow Circus as its been dubbed by some will have a much tougher time surviving in New Engalnd with the culture head coach Bill Belichick has installed over the last 14 years.
Belichick isn't going to serve Tebow up to the media in a massive press conference as the New York Jets did last year. In addition, no other players will likely talk openly about Tebow other than to say things like he's a good teammate and could help this team.
Tebow's career looked like it may have been over as recently as a week ago. After the Jets jettisoned Tebow, he had almost no public interest from any NFL team. Still, signing with the Patriots gives Tebow several options.
He can try to learn to pass better from the best quarterback in a generation in Brady. He can almost hide behind the Patriots' brick wall against the press to avoid the Tebow press circus led by ESPN. Plus, Tebow can develop his game and also serve as a good practice opponent to prepare the defense for the spread-option attack.
From the Patriots point of view, it's a no-risk move signing Tebow. If it works out, the Patriots will be geniuses for succeeding where no other coach could. If it fails, the Patriots can cut him and not be out any guaranteed money.
The Patriots can also experiment with Tebow in other positions, if he's willing to give it a shot, and possibly work the versatile player into various packages all over the field.
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