Tim Tebow Trade Rumors: Joining Patriots Would Permanently Derail QB's Career

Tim Tebow should be "Tebowing" right now that a rumored trade to the Patriots does not happen. If it does, it would be the end of his career as a QB.

While going to the Patriots seems like an peculiar rumor, it is a far more likely scenario than Tebow staying with the Broncos. With Peyton Manning reportedly heading to Denver, the Broncos will take anything they can get for Tebow. 

While he will still have some value as a backup QB there, he is a backup QB that would have to run a drastically different system, and a backup QB that would be a constant distraction. Not because of what he did, but because his army of supporters are not going to quietly fade away. 

We'll discuss what this means for Tebow in a second, but first let's check out the rumors. 

The Rumors

ESPN's John Clayton dropped this rumor on ESPN radio over the weekend. 

"

Here's an interesting proposition, just a rumor. Let's say you have Manning going to Denver. Tim Tebow is probably going to be traded. He's not going to Jacksonville, they've already got Chad Henne. New England. You trade him to New England and groom him to be kind of a role player, and then you trade Ryan Mallett in some way. It's just a rumor.

"

This rumor makes little sense. The Patriots have little need for Tebow, which is why this would be such a bad place for him, but Clayton is a well-connected analyst. There are likely some legs to this. 

Doom for Tebow as a QB

Even the most fervent "Tebowite" would have a hard time telling you with a straight face that Tebow would ever be able to unseat Tom Brady.

And while those same excited Tebow believers would be anxious to tell you that he'd be the backup and ready to play if Brady was hurt, that is not going to happen either.  

The Patriots are loaded at QB. They have a quality backup in Brian Hoyer and a third-string QB in Ryan Mallett, who has potential to be a starter. 

Both of those QBs are prepared to run the style of offense the Patriots are already running. The same offense that would be as bad a fit as any offense could be for Tebow. 

The Patriots use lots of quick-hitting routes that requires instant reads and accurate passes. Those are Tebow's biggest weaknesses. 

If Tebow ends up on the Patriots, he is not going to be a QB. Maybe they'd put in a few wildcat packages for him, but more than likel,y if the Pats want him it is to stick him at a different position.