Tim Tebow: How will he fit in as a Patriot

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Stop what you're doing right now, drop your pens and papers (well keyboards in most people's cases) immediately because Tim Tebow has been signed and is now a member of the New England Patriots. The media circus will now head to Foxborough as Tebowmania hits New England... Wait a minute no it won't because the Patriots know how to squash media frenzies so in fact you can now say that Tebowmania is over but don't worry Tim this is a good thing for you as you can finally do what you want and concentrate on playing football.

Tim Tebow's signing has come as a surprise to some but many people did say Tebow would suit the Patriots including myself when last month I said his best shot of remaining in the NFL was with the Patriots. To reiterate what I mentioned in May; Bill Belichick knows how to make the most out of versatile athletes and use them for the benefit of himself and the team. If we elaborate on the matter everyone who knows about the Patriots will realise that Tebow will now buy in to the 'Patriot Way' if he is to have a shot of making the roster come the end of training camp, he will give simple answers in press conferences and nobody will know of his actual involvement on the field until game day because the Patriots know how to manage these type of situations and players.

This is a win-win situation for the Patriots as like Albert Haynesworth, Chad Ochocinco and even Anthony Gonzales these type of players came in to New England to try and prove themselves; there was no risk for the Patriots in any of these deals but unfortunately none of them actually worked out as even Ochocinco made the Super Bowl with the team but his struggles to learn the playbook meant that he barely saw any snaps throughout the season. Now although these previous scenarios may not have reaped rewards for the Patriots we do know that in the past Bill Belichick has got the best out of veteran players or players who nobody would take a chance on such as Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead and reviving the career of Willie McGinest to mention a few. Belichick is a mastermind and 9 times out of 10 he gets it right so if he manages to turn Tim Tebow in to a productive football player you can safely say it would be one of his finest achievements.

Tebow walks in to a situation where he can learn from the son of God Tom Brady, you all remember that SNL segment right, and to learn from arguably the greatest quarterback of all time is an honour as well as an opportunity that comes around just once in a lifetime. The Patriots don't need exposure and Tim Tebow himself will have been told he has not been brought in to promote himself as some sort of celebrity because the Patriots are a team who only do business for football purposes and to win a championship. Bill Belichick and his staff sign players they feel can benefit their team so that they can win as year in year out they strive to get better. Now we know that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is a believer in Tim Tebow as a player and as a quarterback which was proven when he gave away draft picks to the Ravens in order to move up and acquire Tebow in the 2010 NFL Draft but his role for the Patriots is something that everyone will keep second guessing until the first time we see him on the field in a New England jersey. 

This signing proves that Belichick doesn't hate Tim Tebow and we all know that the head coach loves versatility; in March 2010 four weeks before the NFL draft he said of Tebow "My sense of Tim Tebow is that if you asked him to play nose, he'd play nose. I think he's the kind of kid, where whatever you ask him to do he'll do. I don't know what a team will do with him, but I think he's a real interesting player. He's had a great career, obviously it speaks for itself." Since establishing himself as one of the best college football players of all time Tebow's stock skyrocketed until his dreadful season in New York last year which on a side note may be a another reason why Belichick signed Tebow as we all know how much he loves to make a success out of players who his rivals have deemed not good enough; Welker in Miami and Woodhead in New York. We know that Belichick loves versatility as some of his greatest players have played various positions on the roster with Richard Seymour switching from defensive end to play fullback, linebacker Mike Vrabel playing Tight End and also catching a memorable touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVIII and with playmaker Troy Brown playing pretty much anyway from wide receiver, cornerback and on special teams.

Tebow is a great athlete and with his versatility people are predicting he will play a number of positions this season with the Patriots but he has been signed as a quarterback and he will learn to grow as a quarterback. If Tebow and the Patriots don't work out then we know he isn't cut out for the NFL because if there's one team and one coach who can get the best out of a player it is Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. Tim Tebow comes on to the roster trying to earn a spot on the Patriots team ahead of the season and with minicamp underway today Tebow got straight in to the mix of things as he threw the football with Tom Brady and reunited with Josh McDaniels. His first meeting with the media as a Patriot proved that there will be no media circus allowed around him as he briefly thanked the Patriots for giving him an opportunity. "It's such an honor to be a Patriot and play for coach Belichick and McDaniels, and learn under Tom, and be a part of this great franchise and very successful franchise. I found out firsthand. Lost to them several times. It's going to be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to working hard every single day and getting a lot better, and learning under some great people." 

Tebow knows this is his last shot but what a last shot it is. He knows he will have to bide his time but if he shows off his skills during training then the mastermind that is Bill Belichick will find a way to incorporate him in to the team's offense to benefit the team. Everybody knows that Tebow won't be taking any of Brady's snaps as a quarterback but I personally see Tebow being used at the goal line, in short yardage situations, two point conversions and in the red zone as we all know how hard it is to actually get the football in the end zone once you're on your opponents goal line but Tebow has a knack for doing this; Tim Tebow has nine red zone TD passes in his 25 games and during his career inside the 10 Tim Tebow has rushed 11 times for 9 touchdowns so he has the efficiency to suggest he could help the Patriots in the red zone.

The Patriots love to employ an element of surprise and deceive opponents and by adding someone like Tebow they have the someone with many different attributes to help the team in a number of positions; he may well line up as a blocker at full back or for Ridley in the running game and could be at tight end until Gronkowski gets healthy but ultimately Tebow has come to learn from Tom Brady because unfortunately for the Patriots Tom Brady won't be around forever. Brady is an amazing quarterback but with someone like Tebow at coach Belichick and Josh McDaniels' disposal they can give this offense a different dimension at times and manage Tom Brady as he is getting older. There's no need for your franchise quarterback to be risked getting hurt on QB sneaks and on short yardage plays so Tebow can come in for these type of plays and make a difference.

Tebow has thrown 17 touchdowns to 9 interceptions in his career as an NFL QB, he has 2,422 passing yards, 989 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. He is a born winner and a teammate who will bring something to the locker room as you can never have too many leaders. Bill Belichick spoke of whether Tebow could change his throwing motion and survive in the NFL in March 2010 and said  “Tiger Woods has rebuilt his golf swing twice. Every quarterback I've ever had or coached has worked on his mechanics and improved them. Phil Simms, certainly (Jeff) Hostetler, Brady, I can't think of too many that haven't. It's part of every player's development. I mean, show me a player who comes into this league at 21 and is a finished product at any position. Show me one guy.
"They all need work. They all have things they need to work on. Some guys are more coachable than others. Some guys have different things they need to correct, whatever the technique or physical development happens to be. I don't think that's unusual.''

With the above quote and the talent we know Tebow has I think it is save to safe that he will grow under the guidance of Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels and hopefully he takes this opportunity with both hands. Whatever his position if makes the Patriots roster you can expect Tebow to make an impact at some point of the season and you bank on him throwing a goal-line touchdown pass against the Jets just to rub salt in their wounds. I think there is a chance he will grow as a backup QB to Tom Brady as rumours still linger about Ryan Mallet's future with the Browns still interested. Tim Tebow once said in an interview that "My greatest joy in Denver is going to be to repay Coach McDaniels for believing in me." and now he needs to repay McDaniels, Bill Belichick and the Patriots for giving him this chance. There is no money guaranteed in this deal so the Patriots have nothing to lose but this scenario just seems to be perfect for both Tim Tebow and the Patriots. With his skill set I see Tebow being a success in New England and if all goes to plan those to say that a new improved Tim Tebow might be the heir to Tom Brady's throne when the future hall of fame quarterback reaches the end of his contract in 5 years' time. The beauty of sport is only time will tell what actually happens and eventually we will find out if Tebow Time is a success in New England.