Will Tim Tebow be success in the NFL?
ESPN just broke the news that Tim Tebow will return to Florida to play his senior season. The announcement came in front of a crowd gathered to celebrate the Florida National Championship. Tim did it in his own style starting off by going through his thank you list as if he was getting ready to say he was going to move on and then saying "oh by the way, one more thing, lets' do it again I am coming back!" So the doubters will have to interrupt the discussion about whether Tim Tebow will be successful in the NFL till he gets done with his senior season as a Gator.
From what I have read and heard, the experts have already made their minds up. They have decided that of course he is a good enough athlete to play in the NFL, just not at quarterback. Tight End, fullback, and even Linebacker are popular choices. They do concede that he can be a good third string quarterback and run the scout team. Tim has his senior season to prove them wrong and change the mind of the experts. I would not bet against him in that regard and it looks like Florida will now be the favorite to repeat.
This upcoming weekend the Baltimore Ravens will play in the AFC Championship game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. The quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens will be Joe Flacco. A year ago the experts where all predicting that Joe Flacco would be the most successful rookie quarterback in the NFL this past season and would lead his team to the AFC championship. Forgive the sarcasm, just using it to prove a point. The experts are good at pointing out flaws in players, but not always good at measuring the player. Joe Flacco in particular has very similar skills to Tim Tebow. Joe is a big strong QB who can take the physical beating of the NFL and hold up. He has good arm strength and can "make all of the throws" required of an NFL QB. Joe can also use his legs though he is not the runner Tebow is. Joe also has won the respect of one of the most veteran teams in the NFL with his demeanor and poise. He is just as much a success because of his intangibles as he is his tangibles.
Like Joe, Tim Tebow will be successful in the NFL. Partly because he has size, arm strength, and can use his legs to avoid pressure, but mostly because Tim Tebow has all the things you can not measure. His passion is incredible, work ethic seems to be unmatched, has courage, competes every down, and maybe most importantly he is a leader. It is obvious that the players at Florida love Tebow and want to play not only with him, but for him.
What might be most impressive about Tebow though appears to be Tebow the person. His parents raised him to be special, to be different, and set apart if you will. He is special, that seems to be obvious to anyone who comes into contact with him. NFL franchises are worth a lot of money and teams that win are worth more. You don't win in the NFL without QB play. Not to mention that the QB position is the face of the franchise. Just ask the Atlanta Falcons about the value of a person with character filling that position. Tim has the skills to make plays not only with his legs but with his arm. His passion for the game leads to an incredible drive to be successful. He is smart and can be coached. He is the perfect "face of the franchise". His leadership skills have Joe Montana like potential. It sounds like the kind of combination you would want at QB in the NFL.
Tebow can do it; the smart thing for the NFL team that ends up with him would be to figure how to help him do it. After all, this is the league that has figured out how to contain Reggie Bush by offensive design. The NFL has been guilty of canned systematic offense that lacks creativity or willingness for anyone to think outside the box. There is hope though; the so called wildcat offense has seemed to shake the league up a little bit.
Of course, like the experts, I could be wrong. Tim may not be able to play QB in the NFL. All I am saying is that I would not bet against him. He might not play the position like other QB's in the league. He might look ugly at times and of course there will be a learning curve. However, at the end of the day more times that not he will come out on top. He has won at Florida and in the SEC and let us not forget, the most important thing measured in the league is wins and losses.