Tim Tebow UFL Star Or NFL Backup?

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Category : NFL Draft / Off Season, Other Leagues

Tim Tebow UFL Star Or NFL Backup?Tim Tebow

It’s a fair question. And quite honestly, based on Tim Tebow’s decision to return for his senior season at Florida, one that actually warrants a careful response. We will undoubtedly have to wait until next April’s NFL Draft to find out for sure, but the question remains: Would it be better for an under-hyped college football star to take the short route to pro stardom and join the UFL, or take his chances in the NFL Draft and be a back-up?

Or worse—possibly not even make an NFL roster?

While Tebow is a household name (and not just in Florida) you may be surprised to learn that some draft experts pick him as a mid-rounder, at best, and some even say he won’t get drafted as a passer. The trick with the NFL is if you don’t make an impression immediately, you will likely go one of two routes: you’re either a project, or you’re a pre-determined failure.

See: Eric Crouch

See: Jared Zabransky

See: Any other option quarterback, or running back under 5′10″.

Whether we like it or not, the NFL is famous for profiling players. Whether it’s size, speed, race, or size of school, every player is held under a microscope, and even for guys with names like Tim Tebow, the tiniest of flaws are sometimes blown into insurmountable mountains. But before we get into the flaws that could see Tebow elect for a league like the UFL (despite Jacksonville’s claims) let’s look at the good.

1. Is he big/tall enough to see over defenders?

Um, yeah. Tebow is 6′3” and 240 pounds, and at only 22 years old, already possesses the size, strength, and experience that most future NFL starters at the same position only wish they had. Compare those (get ready, Al Davis) measurables to guys taken in the first round before him (Eli Manning, Mark Sanchez, etc.), and Tebow looks like a mammoth of a man towering over grade-schoolers.

2. Does he have the numbers to back up the hype?

Where do we start? Tebow has three Bowl Championships, including two of the last three BCS Titles. Not impressed? In 2007, Tebow put up 3,286 yards passing and 32 touchdowns to only six interceptions, while also running 210 times for 895 yards and another 23 touchdowns.

Tim Tebow even better for 2010

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Category : NFL Draft / Off Season

tim-tebowTim Tebow even better for 2010

Every year there are a handful of college juniors that declare for the NFL draft, who probably should stay for their senior year of school. The early jump to the pros usually results in a slide in where they’re drafted, whether it’s from being too immature, a lack of experience, or the fact that they could return for a bigger year that could prove their real value. Tim Tebow has accomplished more than enough to brag about, winning two national championships and winning the Heisman Trophy in 2007. Tebow was the first underclassman to have ever won the Heisman Trophy, he finished the regular season as the only player in FBS history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in both categories in the same season. He had 32 passing touchdowns and 23 rushing touchdowns; he was in essence two players, a running back and a quarterback. Not to mention the endless awards including the Maxwell Award (2), Wuerffel Trophy, Davey O’Brien Award and countless player of the week and year awards. Tim Tebow has won or has been in the running for almost every college player accomplishment there is.

So with such an impressive college resume, why would Tim Tebow return for another college season? While Florida fans could care less for the reason, experts think he could use his senior season to not only win it again, but improve his skills for the next level. Believe it or not, even with all of his awards and touchdowns, Tebow isn’t an NFL quarterback prototype. The spread offense is staple of the college game, but it’s not used much at the pro level. History has shown that players entering the NFL draft with theGators spread offense as their main knowledge of the game have either fallen deep into the draft or have been asked to convert to a receiver. Experts had projected Tebow to be drafted in the late second to early third round of this year’s draft.

The decision to stay is a wise move for Tebow; he can finish any remaining school, as well as show scouts that he is mature enough to realize his potential at the next level, and he can continue to grow into more of a pocket passer. The only problem will be trying to convince his coaches that he wants to throw more.