Tim Tebow Trade Rumors: Jaguars Would Be Insane Not to Pursue Denver QB

Amid reports that the Denver Broncos have become the favorites to acquire the services of free-agent quarterback Peyton Manning and rumors that Denver would trade present starter Tim Tebow if their pursuit of Manning is successful, the one team that would seem to make the most sense as a trade partner with the Broncos may have a head-scratching lack of interest.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who were linked as a potential suitor for Tebow should he be dealt by a report on Pro Football Talk, are not interested in bringing the wildly popular and wildly erratic passer to Florida, at least according to this tweet from Mark Long of the Associated Press.

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As long as Gene Smith is making personnel decisions, Tim Tebow will NOT play QB for the Jaguars. Let it go!

— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) March 9, 2012

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Granted, Tim Tebow has a throwing motion that can inspire migraine headaches, and he may never complete 60 percent of his passes in a season (or half, for that matter). But, the fact remains that Tebow won more games under center in Denver in just over half a season than the Jaguars won all of last year, and the last time I checked winning games is sort of the point of playing football.

Yes, the Jacksonville Jaguars spent a top-10 draft pick on a quarterback just a season ago. Guess what folks? Drafting Blaine Gabbert was a mistake. The Jaguars fell in love with Gabbert's size and strong arm and conveniently overlooked the fact that he's not overly accurate, holds the ball too long, and has a tendency to make questionable decisions with the ball. These flaws were on display all too often during both Gabbert's time at Missouri and during Jacksonville's 5-11 2011 season. I don't see them miraculously disappearing any time soon.

Finally, the Jaguars are a team with a new owner desperately trying to reinvigorate a Jacksonville fan base that ranked 25th in the National Football League in attendance in 2011. If new owner Shahid Khan is serious about saving football in Jacksonville then trading for Tebow would be a huge step in the right direction.

Not only was Tim Tebow a Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Florida, but his nationwide popularity reaches a rolling boil in the Jacksonville area, where Tebow was a high school star at Nease High School in nearby Ponte Vedra Beach.

At the very least Tebow's arrival would put butts in the seats at EverBank Field, and I'd bet my last five bucks that every sporting goods store within 100 miles of Jacksonville is salivating over the chance to stock their shelves with teal Tim Tebow Jaguars jerseys.

He probably wouldn't cost more than a mid-round draft pick. Also, Tim Tebow almost certainly wouldn't perform any worse on the gridiron than Blaine Gabbert. Furthermore, his character and leadership would be an asset to the Jaguars locker room.

Add in the huge boost in morale and enthusiasm that the acquisition of Tim Tebow would give to a mostly apathetic fan base and bringing Tebow on board in Jacksonville if the possibility presents itself seems like a no-brainer.

Which is, of course, why it will never happen.