The details of Tim Tebow's new deal with the New England Patriots are trickling in. According to the Associated Press, Tebow's deal is of the two-year variety, and will pay him $630,000 in 2013, which is the veteran minimum. The contract language includes no guaranteed money, freeing New England to release him if things aren't working out.
Tebow was at practice today, wearing No. 5 instead of his regular No. 15, which happens to belong to another Patriots backup quarterback Ryan Mallet.
Former NFL passer Chris Weinke, who excelled at Florida State University and started for the Carolina Panthers still believes Tebow can thrive under center, although that spot is reserved for Tom Brady in New England. "Like I told Tim when I found out [Monday] that he signed, 'You're locked and loaded, ready to go,' " Weinke said.
The move to New England is surprising for several reasons. For starters, Tebow does not have an opportunity to compete for a starting role as a quarterback with Brady blocking his path. Unless Brady goes down, there's no real path for him in that regard.
Secondly, Yahoo! Sports reported last month that Patriots coach Bill Belichick "hated" Tebow citing sources inside the organization. Belichick moved last week to squelch that speculation, calling it untrue, but showed so signs of being enamored with him. Belichick addressed the issue of whether bringing Tebow in was a publicity stunt, or some kind of dig at the rival New York Jets.
"Anything we do, we feel is in the best interests of the team," Belichick said before practice. "We'll see how it goes."
Tebow in New England means he is back with Josh McDaniels, who stuck his neck out for Tebow in Denver when, as the head coach, he pushed for Tebow's selection with the 25th pick in the 2010 draft.
Tebow led Denver on a hot streak in 2011 after a 1-4 start to the season, making the playoffs and pulling off a road upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was traded in the offseason, though, as Denver moved to acquire Peyton Manning. Tebow then had a disastrous 2012 with the Jets in which he was barely used.
The last time Tebow started an NFL game was in the second round of the 2011 NFL playoffs, when his Broncos were blown out by Brady and the Pats.
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