Tim Tebow: 10 Reasons Why He Should Never Play QB Again
It's the great debate of our generation, one that will likely be chronicled in scripture:
Can Tim Tebow play quarterback in the NFL?
It's strange that we even have to ask, given Tebow's one-of-a-kind prowess at the college level. Yet the popular opinion is that his quarterbacking ability will never graduate.
And even if Tebow could find success at QB, eventually, there's the question of whether he can afford to try. Would a failed experiment at QB waste his prime years, wherein he could potentially serve his team better at other positions?
I'll attempt to answer both, cautiously, so as to not draw the ire of Tebow, who may or may not be a deity capable of sentencing me to eternal damnation.
But, uh, my answer to both is no.
10: Think Of What Else He Could Do
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And no, I don't mean another profession. I mean a tailor-made, potentially devastating football position that Tebow is surely capable of performing.
Why should we a take such a rare skill-set as Tebow's and conform it to a poorly fitting archetype? While currently worrying about three-step drops, Tebow could be practicing totally new ways of wreaking havoc on defenses.
Think about the possibilities. Slot receiver who motions to wild-cat RB? Wild-cat RB who options to a real RB? Local butcher who passes his store onto his son?!
Got off track, there, sorry. There are just so many possibilities.
9: QB and Contact Is a Dangerous Mix
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Tebow's recent rib injury is an early and prime example of why he might be better suited at other positions. NFL quarterbacks avoid contact; they don't seek it out.
That's not to say Tebow's hard-nosed style won't serve him well. It's just at variance with a central concern for NFL QBs: staying on the field.
Tebow obviously withstood big hits in college, but we all know that pro defense is a different breed. Absorbing NFL hits and still functioning with a QB's necessary precision is a easier said than done — and it wasn't even that easy to say.
8: Teaching Him To Hold Back Shouldn't Be An Option
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The argument that a more restrained Tebow could thrive at QB makes very little sense to me. Why would you teach Tebow something that negates his greatest asset: his toughness? Just to prove that he can play QB?
Asking Tebow to run out of bounds so he can better perform at QB is, to me, a greater cost than benefit. Kind of like telling Russell Crowe to stop acting so he can develop as a musician.
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7: Those Wretched Mechanics
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There should be a stat measuring how much longer Tebow spends throwing the ball, per game, than a quarterback with a reasonably quick release. My estimate would be about 12 hours.
Truthfully I think the guy could overcome his mechanical issues if he really wanted to play QB. But again, time spent conforming Tebow to other players' style seems misguided; he has too many skills to worry about those he doesn't have.
6: Bad Situation
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The 2010 Broncos present all sorts of issues that could hamper and/or be hampered by Tebow playing quarterback.
First, the Broncos just signed Kyle Orton to an extension, guaranteeing the starter $8 million through 2011. That means he won't be relinquishing the position as soon as some people think.
Even if Tebow were to supplant Orton, turnover at the QB position rarely spells success. And head coach Josh McDaniels needs to win now. His unorthodox moves have certainly accrued to the point of concern among Broncos fans, and can only be validated with wins.
Also, the departure of Brandon Marshall has left Denver with an unproven receiving corps that would (theoretically) be charged with facilitating Tebow's development. Eddie Royal is a talented but uneven number one, while rookie Demaryius Thomas can hardly be counted on to lead.
5: The Ruling On The Field Has Been Overturned
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Get used to hearing those words if Tebow plays quarterback. We'll be lucky if it's just once per game that a Tebow fumble (suffered during his drawn-out delivery) is found to be an incomplete pass. That's a lot of booth reviews.
Note that my prediction is thus far substantiated: There was a ruling of that exact sort in Tebow's first preseason game against the Bengals.
4: Numbers Do Sometimes Lie
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I know Tebow's college stats are quite good. Having watched Tebow play in college, I'm not at all surprised his stats are quite good.
Unfortunately, college stats have proven to foretell very little about a player's NFL prospects. For recent and somewhat relevant examples, look no further than Troy Smith and Matt Leinart.
As you probably know, Tebow played for an absolute juggernaut at Florida. His offense ran circles around most of its opponents, which testifies to both his brilliance and the talent that surrounded him.
Things simply won't be as easy in the pros, and his flaws will be amplified as a result.
3: Arm Strength (More Like Arm Weakness! LOL!)
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I feel like this is an obligatory reference in any discussion of Tebow as a pro. But let's face it — a big arm is kind of prerequisite to success as an NFL quarterback. The exceptions are few and far between.
I mean, there's a reason JaMarcus Russell is primed to become the most decorated passer of the modern era. You just can't argue with the facts.
(I'm told that last sentence might have been slightly inaccurate. I should probably start looking things up before I say them.)
2: He Should Quit While He Is Ahead
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I'm not even joking. If I were Tebow, I would never take a snap as a pro QB.
The guy pretty much broke the position in college. He wore it out until it overheated and couldn't be touched again.
So why risk tarnishing that legacy? Not to mention sustaining 40 concussions along the way. We all know he'll be a great coach eventually; no need jeopardizing that too.
I guess the decision is not entirely his (coaches, management, etc.). But for the record, I'd think no less of Tebow if he abstained.
1: For The Kids
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They look up to you, Tim. We all do. No one wants to to see you fail, or even struggle. Get out from under center — for the kids.
Sincerely,
MR
P.S.
I forgot about opposing defenses. They definitely want to see you fail. Good luck!!!
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