The Tim Tebow signing by the New England Patriots was a stroke of genius by Bill Belichick according to sportscaster Cris Collinsworth.
Unlike most NFL experts or so-called experts, Collinsworth is a Tim Tebow fan and believes that the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner can still be a viable pro quarterback.
A former NFL wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals after an All-American career at the University of Florida (also Tim Tebow’s alma mater), Cris Colllinsworth provides color commentary on NBC’s Sunday Night Football among many other TV gigs.
Tim Tebow was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round in 2010. After two seasons there (which included a playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers), Tebow was picked up by the New York Jets, where he basically rotted on the bench . Despite all the media attention he has received, as a quarterback Tim Tebow has 29 touchdowns (17 passing and 12 rushing) and 15 turnovers in three pro seasons. Tim Tebow’s career with the Jets was pretty dismal, finishing the season with just eight passing attempts for 39 yards and zero touchdowns.
Of the Tim Tebow signing, Collinsworth said “I’m happy for [Tebow]. Bill Belichick is a genius; he’ll figure out a way to make it work … I watch [Tebow] play for Denver; he can win playoff games.”
Collinsworth admitted (see embed below) that he didn’t know how the addition of Tebow to the Patriots would actually operate within the team’s existing offense but that “usually [Belichick’s] ideas work, and when they don’t work for somebody else, he makes them work …it’s all good.” At the same time, Collinsworth insisted that unlike the Jets there won’t be any quarterback controversy on the Patriots, however, with future Hall of Famer Tom Brady still calling the signals.
Reports differ as to whether the Pats will actually use him as quarterback behind Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett or as a hybrid fullback/tight end. He will apparently work out as a QB at the Patriot’s minicamp, however.
Do you believe that “Tebow Time” will be an advantage or disadvantage for the Patriots or for Tebow’s NFL career moving forward? What do you think of Collinsworth’s endorsement of the Tebow Patriots’ signing?