Why did this team sign Tebow?

edboc · Aug 10, 2013

Couldn't Edelman fill this emergency 3rd string QB role without tying up a roster spot? His throwing ability and accuracy couldn't be that much worse than Tebow's, though he lacks height.

Demosthenes · Aug 10, 2013

Re: Backup QB Situation

Brady6 said:
:nooo: Come on D stop making excuses for the guy it’s so monotonous. He has been here nearly 60 day (participated in OTA’s and 12 practices), he spent his entire rookie season in a McDaniel’s offense, and they’re letting him run plays he is familiar with and not even our primary sets.

Let’s call it what it is; Tebow was horrible, his reads took way to long, his accuracy was terrible, and his decision making was redshirt freshman in college level at best.

Not making excuses, just stating facts. Try this, look at what people are saying about Mallett THIS YEAR. That he looks more comfortable in the offense. That it looks like he's getting a better grasp of it. Yada, yada, yada. Tebow participated in some OTAs and 9 or so practices in TC. He wasn't here for the 12 or so practices in the Spring.

As I think Joker pointed out, he also really hasn't been on the field for over a year given what happened in NY.

IF he's like this at the end of TC, then I'll be a little more concerned that I am now.

Palm Beach Pats Fan · Aug 10, 2013

Jimke said:
No mystery why Tim Tebow was signed. He gives Mr. Kraft a squeaky
clean person to help offset Aaron Hernandez.

So....

we signed Tebow on June 10th, to offset the bad publicity for AH's actions on the night of June 17?

Hmmmm....

Robert Kraft, master psychic!

Brady6 · Aug 10, 2013

Re: Backup QB Situation

Demosthenes said:
Not making excuses, just stating facts. Try this, look at what people are saying about Mallett THIS YEAR. That he looks more comfortable in the offense. That it looks like he's getting a better grasp of it. Yada, yada, yada. Tebow participated in some OTAs and 9 or so practices in TC. He wasn't here for the 12 or so practices in the Spring.

As I think Joker pointed out, he also really hasn't been on the field for over a year given what happened in NY.

IF he's like this at the end of TC, then I'll be a little more concerned that I am now.

Your points contradict each other a bit; Mallett has not been on a field in even longer, and for what it is worth Brady hasn't been on a field in 8 months either.

As far as the suggestion that Mallett is more comfortable that is valid; but why does that matter? Would that increase Tebow’s completion percentage to 50% from 33%? The point I’m trying to make is what I saw from Tebow last night were not problems that time in the offense is going to cure, he has been an NFL quarterback for 4 season, played 4 seasons of college football and his decision making and the speed at which he make his reads both are still unchanged, actually last night suggested a regression.

Jimke · Aug 10, 2013

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:
So....

we signed Tebow on June 10th, to offset the bad publicity for AH's actions on the night of June 17?

Hmmmm....

Robert Kraft, master psychic!

I will amend my remarks to why Tebow will make the 53 man roster and
not be cut on Monday morning like he should.

Demosthenes · Aug 10, 2013

Re: Re: Backup QB Situation

Brady6 said:
Your points contradict each other a bit; Mallett has not been on a field in even longer, and for what it is worth Brady hasn't been on a field in 8 months either.

As far as the suggestion that Mallett is more comfortable that is valid; but why does that matter? Would that increase Tebow’s completion percentage to 50% from 33%? The point I’m trying to make is what I saw from Tebow last night were not problems that time in the offense is going to cure, he has been an NFL quarterback for 4 season, played 4 seasons of college football and his decision making and the speed at which he make his reads both are still unchanged, actually last night suggested a regression.

I didn't contradict myself at all. Mallett was here for spring practice wasn't he? He also practiced in this offense all through last season. Who knows what Tebow was doing in Jets practices. According to Westholf, it wasn't much.

And yes, being new in the offense does matter. He's only had 9 or so practices and last night was the first time at game speed.

Remarker · Aug 10, 2013

Tim has the chops, the tools, and the will. BB and Co. will fix him like they've done with so many others.

Brady6 · Aug 10, 2013

Re: Backup QB Situation

Demosthenes said:
I didn't contradict myself at all. Mallett was here for spring practice wasn't he? He also practiced in this offense all through last season. Who knows what Tebow was doing in Jets practices. According to Westholf, it wasn't much.

And yes, being new in the offense does matter. He's only had 9 or so practices and last night was the first time at game speed.

You ever hear the saying "excuses are for failures"?

He has had 12 practices, and he participated in the mandatory organized team activities. Tebow has had more live game action than 50% of the current roster in is career.

Brady6 · Aug 10, 2013

Remarker said:
Tim has the chops, the tools, and the will. BB and Co. will fix him like they've done with so many others.

He does have the “will”, he may have the “chops”, but he does NOT have the tools. An NFL quarterback must have the mental capacity to move quickly thru reads, make intelligent decisions, and have the ability to envision the direction of a play under extreme pressure. Tebow does not have that, and it is not something that can be fixed in my opinion.

makoute · Aug 10, 2013

To babysit Hernandez, he was too late though.

Brady6 · Aug 10, 2013

Demosthenes said:
I didn't contradict myself at all. Mallett was here for spring practice wasn't he? He also practiced in this offense all through last season. Who knows what Tebow was doing in Jets practices. According to Westholf, it wasn't much.

And yes, being new in the offense does matter. He's only had 9 or so practices and last night was the first time at game speed.

Remarker said:
Tim has the chops, the tools, and the will. BB and Co. will fix him like they've done with so many others.

Even if you believe he is fixable, the real question would be why would we do take the extensive time to fix him? What is the payoff for this franchise if they do the impossible and fix Tebow? He is never, I repeat NEVER going to be better than Brady and when Brady is done playing Tebow will be 30-32 years old, as a running quarterback you’d have to imagine his skillset would be at the end of its shelf life. I cannot see wasting a roster spot and taking on the tedious task of developing Tim Tebow into a competent backup quarterback in may be 2 years when we can sign a competent backup quarterback off the street at the drop of a dime.

RayClay · Aug 10, 2013

Re: Backup QB Situation

Demosthenes said:
I didn't contradict myself at all. Mallett was here for spring practice wasn't he? He also practiced in this offense all through last season. Who knows what Tebow was doing in Jets practices. According to Westholf, it wasn't much.

And yes, being new in the offense does matter. He's only had 9 or so practices and last night was the first time at game speed.

Excuses, excuses. We saw a four year veteran who didn't look like a decent high school quarterback minus the gimmick plays. this is some footage of mallet in his first preseason game two years ago.

It's tough getting time as a backup to keep fluid, but that's a big difference from needing your arm and head fixed before you can play.

Ryan Mallett NFL debut - Patriots vs. Jaguars Preseason 8/11/11 - YouTube

IcyPatriot · Aug 10, 2013

I really don't care what they are doing with Tebow as long as he is not the starter. The kid works hard and is in great shape. Slow decision making and horrible touch ... 2 things even average QB's need. One would have to build an offense around him the way he is now. But ... MEH ... he's good for public relations I guess ... he's a better pet than Rikki Landers or whatever her name was.

Demosthenes · Aug 10, 2013

Re: Backup QB Situation

RayClay said:
Excuses, excuses. We saw a four year veteran who didn't look like a decent high school quarterback minus the gimmick plays. this is some footage of mallet in his first preseason game two years ago.

It's tough getting time as a backup to keep fluid, but that's a big difference from needing your arm and head fixed before you can play.

Ryan Mallett NFL debut - Patriots vs. Jaguars Preseason 8/11/11 - YouTube

And here's some of Tebow from his first preseason with Josh, when he actually had a full offseason, as opposed to 9 practices.

Tim Tebow's Preseason - YouTube

Here's a scoring drive against Pitt in the 2010 preseason.

NFL Preseason: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Denver Broncos: Broncos' third scoring drive - YouTube

Bruins29 · Aug 10, 2013

The Tebow posters are funny i.e demo and Cat and a couple of others. Just can't accept that Tebow sucks and will always suck and will never be anything more than a wildcat type of option or a circus sideshow. He seems like a great guy but that is not the point.

The way the media and certain fans swoon around this guys every move is pathetic and it just goes to show how pathetic society is when people focus so much unneeded attention on someone who does his professional job so poorly. You would think these lemmings would worship people who actually help others doctors, firemen, people who fix lives, save lives than some virgin geek PR machine lousy QB.

With that I am glad he is on the Patriots. He is the best thing that has happened since 16-0. Why you ask? When was the last time all 4 of the Pats preseason games were the national televised game? Answer - Its never happened. It is happening for the first time this year and its not because of Tom Brady.

I love out of MA so for me I have to go to a bar to catch the non-national games. I think we have 8 games this year that are not 1 PM Games. That means I will have a great chance of being able to watch the Pats at my home most of the year.

Also, How many games do you think they will flex to prime time if he just makes the team? As long as TT stays on the bench where he belongs I am fine with the extra hoopla.

Fawn Lebowitz · Aug 10, 2013

RayClay said:
BB likes good character, versatile guys. Of course, versatility without having a one role that gets you on the field is useless (Dan Klecko). rosters are huge in preseason, their's no real risk so why not?

If he can't throw the ball, he can't play quarterback and won't make the team.

By the way, dozens of other players we see won't make the team either. It's not unusual, happens every year.

I can't see any player taking up a roster spot as a specialized scout team simulator. If Tebow makes it for some reason, I imagine he'll have to displace a good special teams player (he's not a viable backup QB now) and that BB and Co. think they can break his mechanics down and that he has enough upside to make it worth their while. I don't see it, but what do I know?

Made me think of former Heisman winner John Huarte who was going to be the salvation of the Patriots. 2nd round pick, traded to the Pats, had a six year career of nothing (24 games, 1 start), running quarterback scrap heap.

Like Aaron Hernandez, Randy Moss, Albert Haynesworth?

Couldn't resist.

PromisedLand · Aug 10, 2013

Re: Backup QB Situation

Brady6 said:
I view Mallett as a disappointment because I had this vision in my mind of us trading him for a 1st or 2nd round draft pick when we drafted him back in 2011, that clearly isn’t going to happen unless he makes drastic changes in the next 3 preseason games and even that would like probably at best bring his trade value back to a mid-round pick.

If you’re not looking at Mallett for trade value or as Brady’s heir apparent and you just look at him as a competent backup quarterback you would not see him as a disappointment, he was 9/18 for 97 yards; his completion percentage would have been higher if not by drops by Dobson, and a couple other receivers. I’m still comfortable with Mallett as our backup quarterback; my disappointment is that we will never get a top 60 draft pick for him, but that may have been a flawed belief from the get.

Tebow is a disaster; I never thought he was any good from the times I watched his Denver games but last night he opened my eyes to how freaking bad he really is. It truly looks like a special Olympics quarterback competition when Tebow is out there, his reads are like watching a MLB pitcher go through the process of throwing a pitch, his accuracy is horrific and when goes to scramble it has just as good a chance of netting you -10 yards as it does positive yardage.

Maybe he can have a chance in the CFL or Arena league where the defense can allow him the time it requires him to make decisions but Tebow clearly does not possess the mental aptitude to play quarterback in the NFL.

I thought Mallett showed reasonable promise as a backup. I also went back and looked at each of Dobson's targets again. There was really only one good opportunity where he didn't make the catch - at 6:00 of the 2nd quarter where he dropped an easy chance, I would guess due to lack of concentration.

Of the other 5 incompletions:
1. the first (at 1Q1:34) was an uncatchable ball thrown behind him by Mallett;
2. the next (at 2Q5:56) was excellent coverage - there was a small chance their but 95% of NFL receivers would not have made the play;
3. the next (at 2Q1:22) was an uncatchable throw from Tebow
4. the next (at 3Q2:22) was a tough chance - throw by Tebow to the end zone on a scramble play - I thought the typical starting WR had a 50% chance of making the play and I would expect him to improve on that kind of chance as he gets more experience and
5. the last (at 4Q13:33) was perfectly defended - the defender got his hands on the ball and blocked Dobson from the opportunity to make the catch.

So, to your point - yes there was one catchable throw by Mallett which Dobson dropped but otherwise Dobson's performance did not affect Mallett's stats.

belichick010405 · Aug 10, 2013

If this was an instance of possibly getting value in a potential backup quarterback from someone who was cut, then this is it.

With that said, McDaniels probably thinks that he can still fix Tebow's throwing mechanics despite his LONG history of poor throwing mechanics that date all of the way back to when he was an underclassman at the UofF.

BTW - Demos, it was well chronicled that Tebow stayed because after his junior year, the pre-draft evaluation indicated that he still had to work on his throwing mechanics. This is not a 2013 issue.

This has been an issue with him going back to 2008 and 2009. I don't know why everyone realizes this but there was a reason why he didn't enter the draft following his junior year.

If he cannot fix his throwing mechanics in the next couple of weeks, then he will not make the final 53. And, please don't think for a second, that the Patriots are not making evaluations as of right now.

Sources:

Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow working on smoother, quicker passing motion - Orlando Sentinel

Charles Davis says Florida tried to change Tebow's mechanics | ProFootballTalk

Tim Tebow works on throwing motion for Florida Gators - ESPN

Patriotic Fervor · Aug 10, 2013

Re: Backup QB Situation

Joker said:
I disagree...how could the Jets be any worse WITHOUT Buffumblechez starting games?

LOL!!! We all stand corrected!

Armchair Quarterback · Aug 10, 2013

AndyJohnson said:
Who?
This is a team that usually keeps 2 QBs.
The 3rd is developmental. Tebow just needs development in different areas than other QBs. If he ends up on the field, we would surely need to run a gimmick offense, so it makes sense to run it now.
I'm not sure what resources we are using that we wouldn't use on any other #3 QB.
Its the #3 QB, does it really matter? Would you be complianing if Kafka was in there running whatever offensive plays they thought were best for him and stinking it up just as badly?

But they're not running a gimmick offense now and the announcers said they haven't all training camp so.... If he needs a gimmick offense, then 1) Why aren't they running one now and 2) Is that the best use of resources if they were/are? A separate game plan for a 3rd stringer. Seems to go against the Patriot way.

It's like trying to convert a wide receiver to an offensive lineman because he's a good guy and hard worker. (As if Tebow is the only one of those). It might happen after years of strength training and being taught how to play the position but would the million to one shot and likely minimal pay off be worth all the time and effort.

Why did this team sign Tebow?

Should the Patriots cut Tebow?

Cut Tebow

Keep Tebow

On the Game Day Roster

Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job

Pro Bowl Player

Pro Bowl Player

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job

Practice Squad Player

Pro Bowl Player

Pro Bowl Player

In the Starting Line-Up

Pro Bowl Player

Hall of Fame Poster

Wall of Fame

Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

On the Roster

Virtual Internet Person

Closed Acccount

2nd Team Getting Their First Start

In the Starting Line-Up

Similar threads