Facing a likely winless season, the Jacksonville Jaguars are close to posting for a quarterback on Craigslist, but some fans hope Tim Tebow will answer their prayers.
Orlando Sentinel sports columnist Mike Bianchi wrote, “When you have nothing, you have nothing to lose.” At the time of his writing, the Jacksonville Jaguars were 0-4. It’s gotten so bad that during their eventual loss to Oakland on September 15th, WKMG-TV in Orlando issued an on-screen apology to its viewers for showing that game instead of the Denver Broncos-New York Giants, a.k.a. the “Manning Bowl.” Since longtime head coach Jack Del Rio was fired during the 2011 season, the Jags went 2-14 in 2012 and fired Mike Mularkey after his first and only season at the helm. This season, Gus Bradley is looking to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and be booted after one season. The Jags have been outscored 129-31 in their four games so far and it’s hard to think that they’ll pass their win total from last season.
That being said, it is imperative that the Jaguars sign Tim Tebow. Plain and simple. If you haven’t heard of him, then you’re not one of the 85% of 1,000 Americans surveyed last month who have heard of him, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. Tebow has become an ultra-polarizing figure, courtesy of his success, good looks, faith, and “never-know-what-to-expect” playing style; all his attributes have made him one of the most popular celebrity athletes.
Going back to Bianchi’s point, what’s the worst that can happen if they sign him? If they’re worried about a circus-like atmosphere surrounding the team—like what happened to the Jets—any publicity for this hapless franchise can only be a good thing. Considering that Tebow grew up in the Jacksonville area, nothing could be better than having a hometown legend leading his hometown team. In terms of marketing and ticket sales, there would be absolutely no downside. Generally speaking, the vast majority of NFL fans do not wish to watch Jaguar games simply because they’re a miserable team to watch. If the Jaguars’ front office decides to finally sign Tebow, ticket sales would go through the roof, television viewership would skyrocket, the media would go crazy, and fans would have something to look forward to each and every game.
He’s a born leader and someone who does whatever it takes to succeed, both on and off the field.
The worst-case scenario would be that even if Tebow did fail, the Jaguars would likely receive the first pick in the 2014 Draft and select either quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville) or defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina), who could be potential franchise players. But even if Tebow plays for half of this season, the potential positives definitely outweigh the potential negatives. In fact, it’s a no-brainer.
Regardless of what your perception of Tebow might be, he’s done nothing but win in his football career. It might not be pretty at times, but he’s gotten the job done. He has the “it” factor. He’s a born leader and someone who does whatever it takes to succeed, both on and off the field. Over the course of his career, his play has inspired teammates and they have improved because of it.
Prior to making it to the National Football League, Tebow was named to the Florida State High School Athletic Association All-Century team, was a member of two national championship teams at the University of Florida, won the 2007 Heisman Trophy, had a record of 35-6 as a starter at UF and held five NCAA, 14 Southeastern Conference, and 28 UF statistical records at the conclusion of his collegiate career. He was chosen with the 25th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and, in the following season, finished 7-4 as the starter to lead his team to an eventual playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, following that remarkable season, he was traded to the New York Jets, where he played sparingly, only passing for 39 yards and rushing for 102. After a frustrating season, the Jets released him and the New England Patriots signed him for the pre-season. Ultimately, after disappointing performances, Tebow was released.
But here’s the bottom line: Tebow will leave everything on the field and will give 110%. Regardless of their win and loss record, the team’s effort level will certainly increase with Tebow as quarterback. I hope that the Jaguars will soon realize that it’s Tebow Time.
I literally got a concussion from reading this post.
“Considering that Tebow grew up in the Jacksonville area, nothing could be better than having a hometown legend leading his hometown team.”
You do realize that most Jaguars fans, the ones who are actually emotionally and financially invested in the team, don’t want any part of the Tebow circus, right? You’re basically calling for the team to alienate their remaining fanbase, all for the sake of selling 5-6k tickets for five more home games. Yeah, remind me not to go to you for business advice.