NFL: Is Tim Tebow Better Than Any Other NFL Free Agent Quarterback?
For teams that need a quarterback, this may be a rough offseason.
The upcoming NFL Draft isn't showing any signs of slightly resembling the class of '83, and the free agent quarterbacks are as dismal as it gets. The most "notable" quarterbacks scheduled for free agency include Mark Sanchez, Josh McCown, Michael Vick, Brian Hoyer, Christian Ponder and Jake Locker.
That's pretty rough.
Especially for teams that need a quarterback. Multiple teams that have quarterback issues consist of the St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans.
With such a mediocre set of free agent quarterbacks, one has to wonder how Tim Tebow is not getting a call from an NFL team.
Tebow may not be a top tier quality quarterback, but he can make plays, better than the free agents to be listed above. In his 14 career regular season starts as a starting quarterback, Tebow threw for 17 touchdowns and just nine interceptions while posting a 75.3 passer rating. Conversely, Sanchez has 82 touchdowns, 80 interceptions and a 74 passer rating. That's not even including Tebow's 12 rushing touchdowns and running abilities. As we all know, Tebow is a very mobile quarterback.
How teams can still have interest in 34-year-old Michael Vick is a mystery. Vick has been regressing with his inaccurate throws, constant turnovers and inability to stay healthy. Compared to Vick, Tebow is seven years younger and far more healthy at this stage in his career. Sanchez actually did have some good moments with the New York Jets in his first two seasons, but everything has completely fallen apart for him after his third season in 2012.
This offseason the NFL will hold a veteran combine, and many NFL analysts believe Tebow and Vince Young will be present. The NFL veteran combine will take place on March 22 at Phoenix, Arizona.
Is Tebow an elite quarterback that will end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? That's about as likely as the Jaguars winning the next two Super Bowls. But the reality is Tebow is a quality quarterback who has done great things in the NFL with his arm and legs. With so many issues and bad controversies surrounding the NFL this previous season, Tebow could certainly help an image problem.
The 27-year-old quarterback had his shining moment in the 2012 postseason when he faced the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite the fact that the Steelers had the No. 1 ranked defense in the league at the time, and Tebow was playing in his first ever playoff game, he played like a veteran. Tebow threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns while running for another 50 yards and a touchdown without a single turnover. In overtime he threw the game-winning 80-yard touchdown pass.
The Jets obviously signed Tebow as a sideshow, nothing more. As a member of the Jets Tebow threw just eight total passes and the team was constantly under fire for not giving Tebow a single chance to win the job. That year the Jets went 6-10 as Sanchez threw 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
Tebow has been an ESPN broadcaster over the last year, but he still desires a job as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Nobody can logically make the case that Tebow will make next year's Pro Bowl, but when it comes to teams such as the Jaguars, Titans and Rams, wonder has to wonder why aren't they calling Tebow's agent?
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