News broke yesterday that the Jacksonville Jaguars released Tim Tebow after just 16 snaps in the preseason loss to the Browns.
Everyone knew that it would be an uphill battle for the 34-year-old, former Heisman Trophy winner; however, I have been saying for months that Tebow was not brought in to play for the Jaguars.
My theory is that Tebow was actually brought in by Coach Urban Meyer to take the media’s focus off of the number one overall pick, Trevor Lawrence, and aim it at one of the most polarizing figures in sports.
There is not a single NFL fan who doesn’t have an opinion on the former Florida Gator. Many people hate him for his open religious beliefs while others are just jealous of his dashing good looks. The other half of fans love that he is open about his faith and like seeing one of the “good guys” in sports be successful. While I never cared much for the religious aspect, I always thought he was a winner and a good role model for kids to look up to, unlike a lot of the hoodlums filling the league.
Yesterday only further proves my point that Tebow was meant to distract ESPN from Lawrence. No one is talking about Trevor Lawrence’s performance in his first preseason game, everyone is talking about the Jags releasing Tebow. Not that Trevor Lawrence played poorly or that preseason games even matter, but the media is not talking about Lawrence, it is talking about Tebow.
How many #1 picks or highly drafted QB’s get thrown in front of the cameras and all of a sudden crumble and are out of the league within a few seasons? Here is just a quick list of some of the biggest draft busts:
- Ryan Leaf – 1998 2nd overall pick (got to love a good drug addiction to go with a such a massive failure)
- JaMarcus Russell – 2007 1st overall pick
- Matt Leinart – 2006 10th overall pick
- Vince Young – 2006 3rd overall pick
- Brady Quinn – 2007 22nd overall pick
The list could go on and on, but I think you see a pattern developing. A high draft pick shows up to training camp, has cameras and reporters in his face, then next thing you know they have a few bad seasons and are out of the league and never live up to their hype.
Especially in this day and age where every asshole with a website or a podcast is a reporter – kind of like us!
So no, I don’t think Urban brought back his old buddy Timmy to give him a comeback in to the NFL. I think he reached out to Tebow to take the media focus and spotlight off of his young rookie and put it on someone who has been living in the spotlight for over 15 years.
I mean who makes an NFL comeback at 34? I can barely make a beer league hockey comeback and we are the same age. Although he is a ripped young greyhound and I am more of a dadbod built by Bud Light and chicken wings. Although, I have been told the dadbod is the new “hot thing” right now so I have that going for me.
In summary, Meyer was smart enough to shelter his young and fragile rookie by bringing in Tebow to distract the media and take the focus off of Lawrence. Tebow was Christ-like, carrying the cross of ESPN’s spotlight for Lawrence. If nothing else, Lawrence owes him a nice bottle of whiskey and a thank you as Tebow may have saved his career before it began.
