Tim Tebow, the recently released quarterback of the New York Jets, and hero of the Denver Broncos for a brief time is struggling to find work in the National Football League this offseason, despite a winning record (8-6) in his career as a starter.
When Tebow took over for Kyle Orton in Denver in 2011, leapfrogging Brady Quinn in the process, Tebow engineered an improbable 7-4 run that carried the Broncos into the playoffs. In the postseason, despite the fact that Tebow completed just 46.5 percent of his passes, Tebow kept the score close against the favored Pittsburgh Steelers, upsetting them in overtime by uncorking a majestic, 80-yard bomb to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.
That offseason, though, the Broncos were able to acquire Hall of Fame passer Peyton Manning, rendering Tebow expendable. The New York Jets were one of the teams ravaged by Tebow-mania, and decided to bring him aboard.
All Tebow did as a Jet, however, was lose the trust of the coaching staff and disrupt the team's chemistry by creating a chasm between supporters of incumbent quarterback Mark Sanchez and himself. Tebow's massive popularity does not correlate to his performance on the field most of the time; also, his skill set is not traditional for the position.
Tebow is an "athlete" and far from a gifted or accurate passer. In a league where passing has become paramount, Tebow's ground game is less desirable. Coupled with a vociferous fan base that cries loudly when their favorite son does not see the field, NFL teams have shied away from the controversial Tebow, through little fault of his own.
Complicating matters was his mere eight pass attempts last season for a Jets team that had some of the worst quarterback play in the entire league. Head coach Rex Ryan turned to a seventh-round pick, Greg McElroy, rather than entrust Tebow with the offense.
Most rumors now have Tebow eventually landing with his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars, although the organization has repeatedly denied interest. If the Jaguars don't make the leap, the 2013 NFL may go on without the league's biggest lightning rod.
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