Tim Tebow came home on Friday night with a message that’s become a recurring theme in his ministry.

NFL quarterback or not — and he’s not right now after being released by the New York Jets — Tebow’s going to continue using the platform that he’s been given to make an impact any way that he can.

Tebow spoke at New Life Christian Fellowship as part of his Inspire series. Recently named the world’s most influential athlete by Forbes, Tebow didn’t talk about his lofty status, or future as an NFL player. While the debate about where the former Nease High and University of Florida star will end up continues to drag on, that wasn’t the message.

Tebow instead chose to share numerous stories from his well-known words of faith and hope. Tebow, who wasn’t made available to the media, talked about everything from his competitive nature as a 4-year-old tee-ball player (his coach thought Tebow’s mentality was a little too much), to his most forgettable recruiting trip in high school (Notre Dame). Most of the stories began with sports and ended with some tie to faith or humility.

For many in the audience, it was a chance to see and hear Tebow without “Jets” or “Jaguars” or “throwing motion” attached. It was a simple night that several people said was like a conversation around a table with an old friend. New Life’s Melodee Nobles said that 750 people attended the event.

“It was fun out there, how can it not be with that guy out there,” said Denny Thompson, a Providence assistant football coach who helped WJXL radio host Joe Cowart with an auction of Tebow-related memorabilia that raised $12,700. “It was a great night out there.”

Providence junior Jack Halton, a tight end on the Stallions football team, said the night allowed the audience to hear Tebow, unscripted, talk about more than just football.

“You don’t get to see who’s behind the pads and we got a chance to see that,” Halton said. “He goes out of his way to reach out to kids. It’s just great to see that even someone [famous] like him will do that. I thought he was great.”

Outside of the Florida-Florida State zingers that drew the most applause, Tebow’s football line of the night came when Erik Dellanback asked about the most memorable moment of his 2011 season with the Denver Broncos.

“One of my favorite stories, ironically, was against the New York Jets,” Tebow said of a Nov. 17 game, a 17-13 Broncos win.

“And probably my greatest Jets highlight, I guess.”

Dellenback, executive director of Tebow’s foundation, said that some of the most special events that Tebow takes part in are those like Friday’s. Tebow does about 20 events every year like the Inspire forum. “We get to play a small part in making a difference,” Dellenback said. “God changes people we just get an opportunity to plant the seed.”

Source: Jacksonville.com

Tim Tebow has a chance to start over, as former NFL quarterback and partial owner of the Philadelphia Soul (Arena League) Ron Jaworski has offered him a roster spot.

The Philadelphia Daily News’ Ed Barkowitz reported this story on Monday after speaking with Jaworski, who said, “I haven’t heard back from him and I’m not going to push it. If he decides he wants to play Arena Football, we’ll make a spot for him.”

Kurt Warner was an Arena League quarterback before becoming a Super Bowl winner and multiple-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler. It’s the road less traveled, to be sure, but a new beginning with Jaworski’s Soul could be just the fresh start Tebow needs to get back into the NFL.

At this time, Tebow isn’t receiving any interest from NFL franchises. The circus that surrounds him isn’t something teams want to deal with from a backup quarterback, which is what Tebow has become in the last year-plus.

Yahoo! Sports’ Michael Silver recently wrote a column in which he pontificated about whether or not Tebow is being “blackballed” by NFL teams who don’t want to deal with Tebowmania.

The truth of the matter, however, is that Tebow’s troubles don’t stop with the media throng that shadows his every move.

He’s simply not a good quarterback at this point in his career.

With a career completion percentage of 47.9 and an elongated, slow windup, Tebow doesn’t scare NFL defenses with his arm. This is a big reason why Jaworski believes a stint in the Arena League would do Tebow a world of good, per Barkowitz’s report:

“One [criticism] of Tebow is that he is slow and methodical. He would be forced to quicken it up in this league and it would be good training for him. You can learn a lot in this league. It’s about processing information and getting the ball out . . . or you get whacked.”

Jaworski isn’t wrong.

Tebow needs to work on his mechanics, his field vision and his accuracy. A year or two in the Arena League would certainly help him improve in those areas.

At this time, Tebow has yet to respond to this offer, but it’s an offer he should strongly consider.

Source: Bleacher Report

Well, it happened. Tim’s a free agent without a team. Where do you think he’ll end up?

The Jets released popular backup quarterback Tim Tebow on Monday morning, The Post has learned. The move comes three days after they drafted Geno Smith in the second round to compete with Mark Sanchez, David Garrard and Greg McElroy for the starting quarterback spot.

It ends Tebow’s 13 months with the Jets that were more memorable for all of the headlines than anything that actually happened on the field. The Jets acquired him from the Broncos in March 2012 for a fourth-round draft pick (the two teams also swapped later draft picks).

The Jets confirmed the news with a press release that included a quote from coach Rex Ryan.

“We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow,” Ryan said in the statement. “Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we all had hoped. Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this offseason. We wish him the best moving forward.”

Tebow reported to the Jets training center in Florham Park to work out this morning, according to a source. Before he made it to the weight room, he was summoned to general manager John Idzik’s office where he was informed of his release by Idzik and Ryan.

The arrival of Tebow last year was marked by a splashy news conference that irritated some who believed the Jets were making too big a deal of a backup quarterback. The Jets sold the move by saying they would use Tebow in a variety of roles, including running the wildcat formation, but it never worked.

Tebow played just over 70 snaps on offense. He also served as the personal protector on the punt team until injuring his ribs in November. He completed 6-of-8 passes for 39 yards and ran the ball 32 times for 102 yards. He did not score a touchdown.

The Tebow acquisition had far-reaching consequences. Former offensive coordinator Tony Sparano never figured out how to use Tebow, and it cost him his job. Former general manager Mike Tannenbaum lost his job after the season in part because of the Tebow trade. Starting quarterback Mark Sanchez also regressed greatly in 2012, and many believe Tebow’s presence contributed to that.

It was a comedown for the Heisman Trophy winner from 2011 when he led the Broncos to a division title. But after the team picked up Peyton Manning, Tebow hit the trading block and the Jets grabbed him.

Tebow’s time in New York will be remembered for the massive coverage it drew during training camp, including a memorable shirtless run through the rain, rather than football.

The whole experiment really failed in December when Ryan decided to make a change at quarterback, but passed over Tebow for McElroy. Tebow told Ryan he did not want to run the gimmicky offenses anymore and just wanted to play traditional quarterback.

By the time the season was over, everyone, including Tebow, seemed miserable that he ended up a Jet. Now, Tebow is now a free agent. It will be fascinating to see if he gets picked up.

It caps a remarkable eight days for Idzik, who traded start cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Buccaneers on April 21, drafted Smith in the second round of the Draft and now jettisoned Tebow.

Source: New York Post

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Tim Tebow plans to report for the New York Jets’ offseason workouts Monday with a “great attitude.”

Speaking at his annual charity event in his hometown Friday night, Tebow offered little insight into his feelings about the Jets signing quarterback David Garrard or about the rampant speculation that his time in New York might be ending after one disappointing and unproductive season.

“It’s nothing I can control, and like I’ve said ever since I was at Nease High School, I really try not to worry about what I can’t control,” Tebow said. “Just try to have the best attitude, have the best effort, a great work ethic, and so far, this offseason has been a lot of fun. Been my best yet.”

Tebow ran for just 102 yards, completed 6 of 8 passes for 39 yards and scored zero touchdowns for the Jets last season after being acquired in a 2012 trade from the Denver Broncos.

Tebow went from being considered a key part of the Jets’ offense to almost non-existent. Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano didn’t know how to use Tebow effectively, and Tebow wasn’t particularly productive when he got his few snaps in the Wildcat-style formation. He made his biggest mark on special teams as the personal punt protector and did all he could to hide his frustration at not playing.

The popular and polarizing player didn’t even get a chance when Jets starter Mark Sanchez was benched for the first time in his NFL career. Instead of going with Tebow, the No. 2 quarterback on the Jets’ depth chart, coach Rex Ryan went with third-stringer Greg McElroy.

Acquiring Tebow ultimately led to Sparano and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum losing their jobs. And the one failed season clouded Tebow’s NFL prospects. No matter what, though, he insists he’s a quarterback.

“It’s always been my dream, always will be,” Tebow said, essentially nixing any thoughts about him switching to tight end, fullback or safety.

After the Tim Tebow Foundation Celebrity Gala & Golf Classic at TPC Sawgrass, Tebow will return to New York and join his teammates for offseason conditioning. The Jets’ quarterback depth chart certainly is more crowded than ever, with the team bringing in Garrard to compete with Sanchez for the starting job. The Jets also have Tebow, McElroy and Matt Simms on the roster.

“Yeah, I’ll be there Monday ready to work out and have a great attitude,” Tebow said.

Tebow also downplayed the difficulty of the last few months, which included the signing of Garrard, his uncertain NFL future and even his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars publicly saying they have no interest in signing him even if he is released.

“It’s been a great offseason,” Tebow said. “I’ve had a great time.”

Source: NFL.com

If the NFL doesn’t work out for Tim Tebow, the 25-year-old will not be short on job offers.

During an offseason in which Tebow spoke to more than 10,000 people at a recent event at Liberty University, the backup New York Jets quarterback was also offered a contract by an AFL team.

And in case he’s bored with football and the speaking circuit, Tebow could always begin anew in Hollywood. According to TMZ, Tebow received an offer from faith-based director David Dginguerian to star in one of Dginguerian’s future films.

“You are an inspiration to so many on the field and off,” Dginguerian wrote. “and I am certain that your passion will also come through in films.”

Much remains unclear about the movie, including what Tebow would be paid, when the movie would shoot and what Tebow’s role would be.

Source: The Post Game

Tim Tebow’s days as a New York Jet are essentially over (there are now four quarterbacks on the roster), and no one really knows where he will end up.

It turns out that the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League would welcome him with open arms.

“Tim would certainly want to first exhaust his opportunities in the NFL, but we’d love to have him,” Predators owner Brett Bouchy told the Orlando Sentinel. ”I think he would definitely improve as a quarterback in our league. Kurt Warner told me once that when he got back to the NFL after playing in the Arena League, the NFL game was like slow motion. Everything in the Arena League is just so much faster and quicker and predicated on accuracy. Whenever Tim is willing, we have a contract waiting for him to sign.”

Source: Predominantly Orange

Tim Tebow’s highly-anticipated convocation speech at Liberty University on Friday has been described by students as “inspirational” and “amazing,” with many taking to Twitter to express their excitement at witnessing the evangelical NFL player speak at their school.

While Tebow’s speech took place at the private, Christian university at 10 a.m., photos posted on Twitter show a line of students stretching for blocks outside of the university’s auditorium hours before the event, hoping to get a good seat for the athlete’s convocation talk.

Many tweets indicated that Tebow, who was described by some students as a “role model,” received an endless amount of applause from those in attendance, especially from the female members of the audience.

Others sought to share some snippets of Tebow’s talk with the rest of the Twittersphere, evidently feeling inspired by his statements.

“I honestly do think Tim Tebow is an amazing man of God. Thankful for the chance to hear him speak,” tweeted one Liberty University student.

“Don’t be normal, be an example,” another student quoted Tebow as saying at the convocation.

“In the end, football is just a silly game. Greatness comes from serving,” Tebow reportedly told the crowd, according to another Tweet by a university student.

Tebow, who is currently the quarterback for the New York Jets, faced criticism for his decision to speak at university, located in Lynchburg, Va., with some arguing that the university’s traditional stance on marriage, which seeks to preserve marriage between one man and one woman, is “anti-gay.”

Earlier this month, Tebow pulled out of a speaking arrangement at First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas after liberal commentators argued that the church’s pastor, Robert Jeffress, was “anti-gay” for also agreeing with the biblical teachings regarding homosexuality and marriage.

Still, in spite of an online petition urging Tebow to cancel his speaking engagement at Liberty, the sports star fulfilled his commitment, evidently to the satisfaction of students.

Liberty University is one of the largest evangelical colleges in the world, founded in 1971 by televangelist and Southern Baptist leader Jerry Falwell.

The university was recently described by The Washington Post as an “evangelical mega-university with global reach” due to its extensive online program.

Tebow will continue his stay at the university this weekend to participate in the Wildfire Weekend for Men conference, taking place at the university’s Vines Center and featuring Willie Robertson from the A&E reality show “Duck Dynasty,” as well as former major league baseball pitcher John Smoltz, among others.

The men’s only conference is described on its official website as a “weekend where men, life, God, and the great outdoors come together.”

Source: Christian Post

NAPLES, Fla., Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — One of the country’s leading speaker series is making a major commitment in the fight against hunger. Naples Town Hall, which will feature Tim Tebow at their signature event at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, FL on Saturday March 9, 2013, today announced that they will be supplying 100,000 meals for the hungry in support of the good work of the Taste of the NFL and the Kick Hunger Challenge. Town Hall president, Rick Borman cited their common goal of eradicating hunger in our lifetime and engendering public generosity through their access to world-renowned celebrities, and celebrity chefs.

“Who could say no?”, explained Mr. Borman, the producer of Naples Town Hall and the weekly host of “The Rick Borman Show” which airs on 92.5 Fox News in Ft. Myers, FL. “The NFL connection enlightened me to the Taste of the NFL and there are so many synergies. It’s not just the meals; I want to share the awareness. Technology is an enabler to help us scale and do things we couldn’t do, even a year ago.”

The Taste of the NFL has selected Uptown Network as their exclusive interactive media partner to develop their mobile iPad App that is available for free on Apple’s iTunes App Store . Each free download of the App provides one free meal to help kick hunger. Just as hunger is a 24x7x365 issue, the App will keep the world engaged and also provide great backstage access to high profile events and celebrities united in this common goal.

Rick, who recently assisted Glenn Beck with his Mercury One Restoring Love events attended by nearly 100,000 people, is donating his time to go to New Orleans. He will be the Reporter-at-Large for Uptown Network broadcasting live video and performing interviews of celebrity chefs and NFL players for Uptown’s exciting iPad App that will act as your complete guide to Taste of the NFL. All of the videos, chef and player pairings, and a complete guide to the entire weekend can be viewed through the Uptown Network App.

For more information on Tim Tebow ‘s appearance at Naples Town Hall or to order tickets please visit NaplesTownHall.org or call 239-659-6524

Source: PR Newswire

If the New York Jets are successful in moving quarterback Tim Tebow this offseason, there’s still hope that the 25-year-old can have a successful career behind center in the NFL.

It appears that the Jets have no plans to cut Tebow before March, and instead will continue to look around for potential trade partners, per Adam Schefter of ESPN:
The New York Jets do not plan to release quarterback Tim Tebow before the start of the new league year in March and instead will hold on to him with the hopes that they can trade him, according to league sources.

Tebow is coming off a season in which he wasn’t utilized all that much. The backup signal-caller only threw eight passes during the 17-week season and saw much of his action on the field running the ball from the Wildcat package.

The biggest knock on Tebow is that he can’t throw the ball with any accuracy, but if he can fix that problem, he can still make an impact in this league.

The 2012 season was the start of a new era in the NFL that could benefit Tebow.

Quarterbacks such as Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick ran the read-option with a ton of success; it has opened the door for athletic quarterbacks to have a bigger role in the pro game.

While Tebow doesn’t throw the ball anywhere near as well as the two quarterbacks mentioned, he does have the kind of speed that dual-threat quarterbacks need.
Other teams could look at Tebow and see him as a potential fit in that system should they choose to run it. That might have been an afterthought before this season, but the read-option system has been proven to be an intriguing approach on the offensive side because of the level of unpredictability it affords.

All that Tebow needs is another opportunity on a different NFL team. Granted, he won’t be traded for in order to be a starter right away, but perhaps Tebow can prove himself in practice once he earns his spot on the roster.

No team will give him that chance unless his game improves. Tebow needs to work countless hours with the ultimate goal of improving his accuracy when making throws from the pocket. Being able to make those routine throws with consistency will add the much-needed second element that he’s currently lacking.

Without it, there’s no hope for Tebow in this league—and he might as well start thinking about playing another position if he wants to stay in pro football.

Source: Bleacher Report

Former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum clearly stated that it was his decision to trade for backup quarterback Tim Tebow, and in hindsight, this was not one of Tannenbaum’s major mistakes.

Tannenbaum told WFAN’s Mike Francesa (via yesnetwork.com) that he had discussions with the Jets’ coaches about Tebow, and the final decision to make the deal was his.

The ousted GM also noted that the New York brass came to a consensus that Tebow would be a quality replacement for Brad Smith—who signed as a free agent for the Buffalo Bill prior to the 2012 season.

While Tebow attracted a media firestorm, a locker room with quality leadership would have started downplaying his presence from the first day of training camp, deflecting every question about the quarterback until he proved something on the field.

Put simply, there is no way a quality football team’s season could be derailed by a player who totaled eight passing attempts in all 16 games.

Tebow had a very small effect on the Jets’ misfortunes in 2012, and the ultimate cause of the team’s decline was Tannenbaum’s strategy of aggressive trades and free-agent signings to improve the roster.

The 2009 offseason offers the clearest example of Tannenbaum’s strategy. His marquee move came in the draft when he sent the Jets’ first two draft picks and three players to Cleveland Browns in order to move up and select Mark Sanchez.

He also spent a combined $54 million on veteran defensive players Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard, in addition to surrendering two draft picks in a trade for Lito Shephard.

But this was a continuation of a trend for Tannenbaum, who made a big splash in the previous season when he signed free agents Alan Faneca, Calvin Pace and Damien Woody and traded for Kris Jenkins.

At the time, all of these moves seemed like good ideas, and the Jets made the AFC Championship game in both 2009 and 2010.

Tannenbaum then doubled down on his strategy by signing LaDainian Tomlinson and trading for both Santonio Holmes and Antonio Cromartie after the 2010 season. But then the ugly side of the tactics showed up.

The vast majority of Tannenbaum’s acquisitions were defensive players, leaving Sanchez without much help to progress as a passer.

In addition, giving up draft picks and eating up cap space with free-agent signings severely limited the team’s depth. With all of his veteran signings a few years older in 2011, injuries hit the Jets hard due to the lackluster backups on the roster.

Currently, trade rumors are swirling around Sanchez and Cromartie, and if both leave the team this offseason, Holmes and Pace would be the only remaining members of the long list of Tannenbaum’s major acquisitions through trades and free agency.

While all of these moves ultimately had varying degrees of success, they all came as part of Tannenbaum’s larger strategy that featured a willingness to part ways with draft picks and spend big money each offseason in free agency.

This has left the Jets with a weak roster in the past two seasons, and that is the main reason for the team finishing 8-8 in 2011 and 6-10 in 2012.

Each free-agent contract Tannenbaum handed out and each high draft pick he gave up caused the Jets to miss out on a young player who could grow and develop into a productive member of the team.

For this reason, players like Tebow and Holmes—who were acquired relatively cheaply—should be ranked low on Tannenbaum’s list of mistakes.

Source: Bleacher Report