VIDEO Tim Tebow Comeback To NFL: Can He Make An NFL Roster In 2014?
It’s been nearly two years since Tim Tebow played in an NFL game, but the former Denver Broncos and New York Jets quarterback is still hoping to make a roster this upcoming season.
Though he’s already signed on to be an ESPN analyst on the SEC Network, Tebow maintained last month that he was staying in shape for his NFL dream.
"I'm training every day and feel like I'm the best that I've ever been," Tebow said to The Tennessean. "I still love it, love playing, talking about it, and I'm just excited about whatever the future holds. Who knows what could happen? But I'm excited about it, though."
Many NFL teams have started training camp and now we’ve seen a glimpse of what Tebow’s workouts look like, and he certainly appears to be in excellent shape.
Fox 10 in Phoenix captured the 26-year-old’s full regiment with trainer Ian Danney at Performance Enhancement Professionals. The former Florida standout and Heisman winner has been shuttling between PEP in Scottsdale and Los Angeles, where he trains with quarterback coach Tom House, according to NFL.com.
Last year, Tebow was invited to the New England Patriots training camp, but was subsequently released just before the official 53-man roster was set. Afterwards he cleared waivers, and became a free agent but failed to sign with any other team. It was a major disappointment considering the amount of effort he put into fixing the mechanics of his throwing motion, which was a contributing factor to his lack of playing time in New York.
Tebow's chances of making a roster seem less likely with each passing day. A new crop of quarterbacks enter the league each year and established veterans with as much as a decade of experience often get a first look over younger players. Tebow's best bet to latch onto a team would almost certainly have to be as a third-string passer role. Those openings often occur when a team gets struck by a rash of injuries at the position during the season.
An invitation before the start of the season seems unlikely. Looking at teams around the league with less-than-stellar starters, many have young quarterbacks fighting for a job. For example, the Philadelphia Eagles have four quarterbacks on their current roster, with longshot G.J. Kinne, who was on the team in 2013, fighting to keep his spot.
But some teams may at least give Tebow some thought.
The Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly considered Tebow before he was traded from Denver to New York. A Florida native, Tebow may have been a decent fit for the struggling organization, and the Jaguars even received public support from fans to give him a shot.
The Jaguars used their No. 3 overall draft choice on quarterback Blake Bortles in a possible competition with 2013 starter Chad Henne, who threw more interceptions than touchdowns in 2013. Meanwhile, Ricky Stanzi and longshot rookie Stephen Morris have never thrown an NFL pass. Should Bortles struggle in his rookie campaign, and Henne not live up to expectations, the Jaguars may need to go on a search for an experienced reserve quarterback.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who finished last in passing yards in 2013, might also be an option should 35-year-old Josh McCown slip early, and with new head coach Lovie Smith relegating Mike Glennon to the bench. Mike Kafka and Alex Tanney are also hoping to make the roster as the third quarterback, though neither are considered a lock to make the squad. The position might grow increasingly shaky as the season progresses, so the Bucs could consider other quarterback options.
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