Tim Tebow: Jacksonville Jaguars Are Better off Without Tebow Behind Center

Sometimes, a fan must put his feelings aside and see that there are better situations than the one presented to his/her favorite athlete. In this case, the New York Jets are a better team and New York is a better situation for the uber-popular and "rockstar" athlete Tim Tebow.

It is part of the subculture he has developed over the years, where fans of the former Florida Gators Heisman winner and now former first-round draft choice of the Denver Broncos have grown in number and fervor. It stems from high school to college and now in the NFL and the world of entertainment.

Yes, entertainment. Tebow is as much of an Ashton Kutcher or Justin Bieber as there is in the National Football League.

However, when you have a talented player (I did not say quarterback—the jury is still out on that) like a Tebow, making the assumption that he will want to come back home and play in front of his hometown fans is something we all maybe took for granted. I am the biggest opponent of the player who should be sitting on the bench learning to play a man's game when he is clearly not ready to win a Super Bowl. Peyton Manning is ready, and therefore this is why we have articles like this.

Yesterday will go down as one of the oddest and most satisfying days for me and others, including writers, agents, teams and fans. However, in reality, the NFL won this whole debacle in the fact that the man who lit the NFL on firer last year while being mediocre at best is now in the NFL's playground of New York and while Roger Goodell could not have two Mannings in the state's spotlight, he got the next best thing.

Who knew three years ago when he left Florida after a stunning career, that for about 15 hours, Tim Tebow was the biggest thing on the planet and the casual fan or common man had to know what was happen. This was bigger than any movie, actor or athlete.

And I won't reference any religious connotation, but it could be made.

While I see both sides of the ball in this "transaction," the Jacksonville Jaguars lost their biggest chance at being another New England or Philadelphia or Dallas. Team owner Shad Khan took multiple swings at trying to land the Jacksonville native and struck out. His staff, led by general manager Gene Smith, took multiple swings at trying to land Tebow and struck out.

However, I see this from another side. The side of comfort.

While Tebow is a gold mine of marketing, advertising and media success, Jacksonville is still, for the most part, a comfortable town in Florida. It is not Chicago, New York or South Beach. The fans like their town the way it is. Yes, having Tebow the player would have been beneficial for the team in some capacity, either as a fullback, short-yard passer or even at receiver, but the Jaguars have money invested in a quarterback—Blaine Gabbert—who still can be something special.

And yes, I know people will tell me there is nothing more special than the idea of No.15 throwing balls to Marcedes Lewis or handing off to Maurice Jones-Drew. As frustrating as it sounds, Tim Tebow is better off in New York.

When Khan vowed to make this team better, he also wanted to make his famous "splash" in the NFL. And we waited for that to happen. And waited for that to happen.

Free agency is bringing the team together with solid but not spectacular signings. Here was the chance for that splash. It was a little more than a ripple, but it was also good drama for the Internet, television, radio and what ever other media outlet there was. Again, Jacksonville was relevant and the most talked-about NFL city for a bit, competing with "big, bad" New York City.

There is a subculture in Jacksonville that believes Tebow can do no wrong, that he is the answer to everyone's prayers and that he alone can be the doctor that cures the Jaguars of their offensive pain. It would not happen. There is also a disconnect that some fans do not see in Tebow, where everything is lumped together and there is no separation of the man and the athlete. Both walk on the very water of the St. John's River right outside EverBank Field.

For everything that was exciting about Tebow and the Broncos last season in an 8-8 playoff run, it just showed how flawed he was as a passer and the reliance of his legs become more apparent. Brady Quinn may have been a better option, but a riot would have ensued if Quinn replaced Kyle Orton.

You cannot win consistently with a passer who completes less than 50 percent of this passes. Even Blaine Gabbert accomplished that last season.

When fans are able to separate Tim Tebow the player and Tim Tebow the man, it becomes clear being in New York does more for his charitable work and his "mission" in life.

Jacksonville is his hometown, and sometimes going home is not always best. And the media circus yesterday would be a constant reminder that this was not just a football player, but a rockstar with all the groupies and the chutzpah attached to him. He would not be able to breathe without media wanting to know something. He would have sold tickets, but he also could have proved to be one big headache.

Shad Khan said he's pleased with the "pursuit" of Tebow and how his staff went about carrying out his wishes to try and make that splash. And if not for a contract snafu or $5 million being a deciding factor or the right draft choice being offered, Tebow would be wearing teal this morning. However, in the end, green is what talks, green is what walks and green is the color Tebow will be wearing as a New York Jets player.

And it's the right move for everyone.