Tim Tebow’s spirituality is seen as controversial by some, but not New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft .
Kraft explained that Tebow’s religious faith is a big plus and seemed to admit that it was a factor in the team’s decision to sign him as a backup quarterback behind Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett.
Said Robert Kraft about Tim Tebow’s spirituality: “For me personally, having Tim Tebow on this team he’s someone who believes in spirituality, he’s very competitive and works hard and has a great attitude and he’s a winner. So having him as part of our franchise is great but he has to compete just like anyone else. We’re blessed to have a lot of people like that, but the fact that spirituality is so important to him is very appealing to me.”
Tim Tebow , the 2007 Heisman trophy winner at the University of Florida, 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.
Added Kraft: “Every interaction I’ve seen and watched, whether he’s in college or when I met him in the draft process, he handles himself in a first-class way. I don’t know anyone who has ever said anything that is not positive about him, people who are objective.”
Kraft, who has owned the Patriots since 1994, believes that employees like Tebow contribute to a positive and successful working environment. “Life is about collecting good people around you who you like to have with you and who want to win. I think he, like many of our other players, fall in that category. You can’t have enough good people around you. He has the added dimension of spirituality being so important to him and that personally appeals to me a lot.”
Given that superstar Tom Brady is the team’s starting QB, do you think that Tim Tebow will get any playing time with the Pats even given Kraft’s ringing endorsement? And it will be as signal caller or in some other capacity?