I have rarely seen such unanimity about a decision by a coach or manager among the intelligentsia on ESPN. Usually there is always a debate, a difference of opinion, because controversy and clash help ratings. But almost everyone on ESPN was in agreement—Urban Meyer is an idiot for signing Tim Tebow as a tight end.
“Oh,” they wailed, “He’s too old! He hasn’t played football in years! He’s never played tight end! There is no way he can be successful!” One person on ESPN opined that this was just
another example of Tim Tebow’s privileged position.
To that last comment I have to ask, “Really? Privileged?”
This was a guy who was an incredible athlete, who won a Heisman Award
and two national championships. He was
such an inspirational leader, his school engraved one of his
locker room speeches on one of its walls (although not
everyone loved it). You keep hearing
how bad he was at quarterback, so I guess every defensive back in the SEC must
have been horribly incompetent to explain his two national championships.
Yet despite being one of the most successful college
quarterbacks in history, he wasn’t chosen in the draft until the 25th
pick by the Denver Broncos. After a year
as backup, Tebow took over as the Bronco’s starter in 2011 when the team was
1-3. All Tebow did was take them to the
playoffs, and then win the first game in the playoffs.
How was Tebow thanked?
Did they throw him a parade? Did
they build a statue to him? No, the next
year they traded him to the New York Jets for two low-round draft picks. He bounced around the league but never was a full-time
starter anywhere else and was washed up after only 3 seasons in the NFL.
He was then privileged to join the New York Mets’ farm
system and try and make it to the Majors in baseball. His “privilege” was to bounce between A ball,
AA ball and AAA ball for four seasons, never making it to “The Show” despite
the fact that jersey sales possibly would have paid his rookie salary. Four years of minor league baseball is no one’s
idea of “privilege.”
But are the haters right?
Does Tebow have any business signing as a tight end in the NFL? Let me ask a few questions:
Did the Jacksonville Jaguars just draft Trevor Lawrence, the
most heavily hype QB prospect since Y.A. Tittle strapped on a helmet?
Do you think Tim Tebow could tell Lawrence something about
The Gospel According to Urban Meyer, Tebow’s coach in college and now the coach
of the Jaguars?
Do you think Tebow has any wisdom to share about making the
transition from highly successful college player to being a tackling dummy for
Aaron Darnold and JJ Watt in the NFL?
Do you think having Tebow in the Jaguars’ training camp will
take a little of the spotlight off of Lawrence as he learns a pro-style
offence?
The answer to all of these questions is, “Duh!” Tim Tebow will be an asset to Urban Meyer and
Trevor Lawrence even if he never plays a down at tight end in a regular season
game. If nothing else, he can be a
cautionary tale to a young man who has also won a Heisman Trophy and now dreams
of NFL glory.
I doubt Tim Tebow will make it to the Pro Bowl as a tight
end. I doubt he will be on the Jaguars’
opening day roster. I do not doubt his
leadership, or that he can help Trevor Lawrence get something Tim Tebow never
got in the NFL—respect.
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