Should Tim Tebow Be Released After Friday’s Performance?

August 17, 2013 4:01 am EDT by Will Gellman gplus

Howard Smith- USA TODAY Sports

After Tim Tebow struggled in the New England Patriots‘ preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, his supporters said it was just one bad game and he would figure it out next time.

His naysayers, however, said that he stinks and will never be able to play in the NFL. While many NFL fans still believe in Tebow, they are quickly being outnumbered by harsh critics. After Friday night’s dismal showing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that list of critics will certainly be growing.

Tebow looked completely lost as soon as he came into the game Friday. He severely underthrew his receivers all night, and for the second-consecutive game, held on to the ball way too long. He ran the ball effectively, but that will not be sufficient to play quarterback successfully in the NFL.

Perhaps Tebow’s critics have finally gotten to him, as even they have to admit, he looks worse than he ever has right now playing the quarterback position. In the game, he also threw a critical interception that could have cost the Patriots the game. Although many will say that the preseason score is meaningless, and they are right, if you are Tebow, you cannot make that pass under any circumstance.

Even though Bill Belichick has hinted that Tebow will make the 53-man roster as the third-string quarterback, things can always change after a player struggles consistently in the preseason. To say that he struggled in this game would be a massive understatement.

He finished the game 1-for-7 for negative-one yard, one interception and zero TDs. If you are the Patriots, you have to at least consider cutting bait with the controversial QB at this point, given what you have seen.

Do you think that the Patriots should release Tebow following his second dreadful preseason performance in a row? Should they keep him and take their chances? Feel free to comment on the subject in the “comments” section below.

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C-spot

There really isn’t anything more to say. Tebow isn’t a very good QB. He won’t ever start in the NFL again, and it has zero to do with his belief system.
nate

No, he should not be cut yet. He needs to settle down and not press so hard. The pressure is intense and he has effectively been in a closet since he last played for Denver. Give him some time and a little mentoring by the right people and he may be an effective contributor to the Pats.
- Farva55
  
  So, the excuse is now…he’s pressing so hard! I’m sure he’ll be pressing really hard holding a clipboard or watching games from the couch. Nice kid- will do good things in life outside of football, just not a QB.
http://KIDK.com Racyman

Tebow looks really bad. He just can’t play QB, in the NFL, with maybe the worse passing skills I have ever witnessed in the league. He may be valuable to help the Pats prepare for option offenses, but the other guys who run the option, in the NFL, can complete a pass and, in fact, are all good passers. I just can’t see a valuable roster spot given to him. I have absolutely nothing against him personally and, in fact, feel bad for him, but if he hasn’t improved by now, he ain’t gonna.
WhatUp

I used to be a pretty ardent defender of Tebow…but now I have to ask myself why in the hell does he get so much opportunity? Even last year in NY…how in the hell could Rex Ryan jump to the third string guy?! Now we know why. This guy was a first round pick. First freaking round. I didn’t listen to anyone when he was coming out of college…”he’s a stud…stop hating…give him a chance” is all I could say. But it turns out it wasn’t just people hating…they’re really right. He’s just not cut out, and it’s not fair to others out there who are a little bit better than Tebow but do have whatever enchanted mystique it is that he possesses that somehow got him signed to the best team in the league.

He should be grateful he’s lasted this long.
mark

I have not been able to figure out WHY Tebow is the only QB that everyone in the NFL thinks has some faults. The way eveyone makes it sound is that he is the only one that ever makes an incomplete pass or throws an int. For goodness sake people give it up.yes I’m a die hard GATOR fan and i follow Tebow, but it’s amazing that just because he’s not in the news like (manziel) or (ray lewis) everyone wants to criticize him on his mistakes and it’s all due to his belief and the fact that eveything he has claimed to be has been true. People can’t understand that there is a man that went thru college and wasn’t in the news for partying and taking money for signatures, but finished college good his diploma and went on to the NFL, and the life that he says he lives is actually how he lives it’s not a show for people or a publicity stunt, he’s the real deal!!! Will Tebow have a life after football, most definitly! Will all the guys that went to the NFL the same time he did or before or after him probably not. It’s just embarassing that we are so quick to judge a man on his mistakes just because he’s open about being a christian and living his life for GOD. I’m a christian and i wish i had half the strength that he has had to have to put up with all the difficulties that he’s went thru for just being open in the sports industry about his religous beliefs.
- Pete Miesel
  
  Considering the number of Gators who got arrested or suspended while Tebow was the team leader, maybe that aspect of his personality shouldn’t be given so much run.
  - mark
    
    I understand that the QB is the leader of the team. But he’s not the babysitter of these MEN. They were in college and mommy wasn’t there to ground them when they got in trouble for doing something wrong and the last time i checked it wasn’t the QB responsibility to babysit.
    - George Chidi
      
      Basically, you’re arguing that Tebow should keep his job, even though he’s underperforming, because he’s a Gator and you like Gators, and because he’s a Christian and you like Christians, neither of which has anything to do with winning football games. Noted.
- BigManStan
  
  He’s an awful quarterback!
Pete Miesel

Nice cop out. Throughout Tebowmania his supposed profound influence on society was jammed down our throats. So when reality throws a monkey wrench into that image, suddenly it’s not his responsibility? Timmy was always in it for himself, and he is getting his just desserts for his inflated ego this year.
- Jim B
  
  While you make a good point about the monkey wrench in people’s image of Tebow, you must realize that it’s not his ego in the way. Maybe a lack of one.
  
  How many times did Pacman “I shot and paralyzed people” Jones get to play, even while hiding behind a self-righteous ego that claims he was innocent?
  
  He’s been coddled, sure. But when he needed to be fixed, Denver dropped him and the Jets let him waste away.. blame it on Rex Ryan for not releasing him earlier, if you want.
  - Farva55
    
    The difference? Jones is an above average player where he plays and the things he can do. Tebow is not.
    
    It’s no ones fault. Not everyone can be Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
captaindandan

TRUE: Tim Tebow was one for 9 for minus one yards. BUT did you check STARTING QB for T.B. Buccaneers, Josh Freeman: completed two passes.

I saw the pass Tim threw to the right and it ended up in the down & distance marker! Do YOU believe Tim just is a bad QB and threw the ball ”wrong”? or OR do YOU believe that Tim called a down & IN and the receiver ran right past the stop & turn.? Or Tim just called the wrong play for the right wide-out.
TIM was the 2nd leading rusher with 50 yards, NO FUMBLES.
If Tim keeps struggling, he needs an MRI on his left (throwing ) shoulder. A torn rotator cuff will make the ball flutter and go off target.
Would somebody at the Patriots organization send Tim Tebow for a MRI ??

One other thing I NOTICED is Tim’s helmet seems mal-adjusted and down almost covering the top of Tim’s eyes: I recommend a new helmet and Tim get your eyes checked. Contacts or LASIK if needed.
SOMETHING drastically changed since Florida Gators.
- George Chidi
  
  The quality of the opposition changed. As did the complexity of the expectations. Plus the Gators were a bit crooked, as I recall.
- Farva55
  
  Haha, Dr. Captain Dan Dan says Tim Tebow is hurt. Nice.
- Michelle Ryan
  
  I agree with you about the helmet, I thought I was the only one, it just looks wrong, no? As far as his eyes….I would think if he needed correction that it would be done or he’s wearing contacts. I know there was a photo a while back of him in glasses. He may also be having some problems with his throwing arm due to the muscle he’s acquired. The thing that’s also drastically changed is not only the players he’s around, but the fact his throwing motion has been tampered with. It was working in college, powers that be attempted to change it since it wasn’t appropriate for the NFL, and I think it’s done harm. Maybe after a year of working it into muscle memory, it will all work out , but I think that’s the difference right now.
  - captaindandan
    
    Michelle, my belle, etc:
    
    It is REFRESHING to find a lady who enjoys football! Congratulations, you have my respect!! And thank you for not being NASTY like some of the male gender writers & name calling & back stabbing.
    I personally had a problem with my right (throwing arm) shoulder. We found after many wobbly passes, off target passes that I had torn my right rotator cuff. A simple MRI proved it and a simple arthroscopic surgery corrected it. I never played at the level Tim is playing but I swuspect you’re correct that Tim has to overthink each pass; just go back to the way he wound up & passed at Florida Gators.
    Get your eyes checked Tim. And get an MRI on your left shoulder. That’s all. If he checks out medically, then maybe the Pats should make him a fullback / running back like Miami Dolphin’s LARRY CSONKA.
    
    NOTE: When USC talks about their QBs they always mention Carson Palmer, Matt Leinhart, Mark Sanchez and Matt Barclay.
    There was a QB between Leinhart & Sanchez named John David Booty. He did wonderful I think the Trojans were 10 – 2. But Booty hurt his throwing hand on the helmet of a defender and Pete Carroll left him in that game and in the UCLA game which USC lost.
    Last I heard BOOTY was backup / training team for the Vikings. But a simple hand injury can make a good QB look like a chump.
    ’nuff said, I HOPE Mr. Tebow can succeed. And the naysayers remember two things: Bob Griese the Super Bowl winning QB for 1972 Dolphins has a completion percentage of 54.6% and
    AND go to http://www.timtebowfoundatiion.org and SEE what this man is doing all over the planet! AMEN?!?
    - Farva55
      
      The difference between knowledgable football fans and homers:
      
      Knowledgable football fans don’t make excuses for bad play. They don’t take into consideration what he does OFF the field and use it to plead for playing time. Sorry, this isn’t high school. It’s not college. There is no trophy for finishing second and there’s no participation medal for finishing last. Fact: Tebow is not a QB. Fact: Tebow does not have a torn rotator cuff. Fact: it’s not his helmet.
      
      Homers: ignore the reality because of biased attitude. Homers use what he does OFF the field (which are ALL good things.) to try and get him playing time even though he’s not good enough.
      - captaindandan
        
        ……and YOU KNOW about Tim’s left shoulder…how?
        How EXACTLY do YOU know about Tim’s throwing shoulder?
        
        “Congratulations, ‘doctor’ ”
        
        I HAD a torn rotator, I HAD trouble throwing the football.
        I HAD an MRI and arthroscopic surgery.= 100% fixed.
        
        It’s called personal experience. (I’m 63 y/o now.)
        
        But YOU KNOW apriori that Tim does NOT have a rotator problem.
      - Farva55
        
        Interesting. Just as if you KNOW “Tim “(didn’t know you were on a first name basis with him- HA!) DOES have a rotator cuff injury when nothing has ever been reported.
        
        As I said, you are not the definition of a true football fan. Just an apologist.
      - captaindandan
        
        An “apologist”?? WHERE did YOU learn that BIG word, sonny boy?
        
        Back in high school (late ’60′s) i played same year as Jim Fassel (ex-NY Giants head coach!) Our fullback was Tom Fitzpatrick CIF player of the year for the entire state of Calif. Fassel went to F.J.C. (now called Fullerton College) and to Stanford.
        I went to FJC and went to USC and quit sports for the OCS (Officer Candidate School)
        Earned my rank of captain in Nam.
        
        BUT, I know a thing or two about football: I HAD a torn rotator cuff–but I could still block and run.
        And yes I am on a first name basis with Tim, he is a Christian and will probably ending up as a pastor of a super-mega church. I, too, am a believer and contribute regularly to Tim’s non-profit: http://www.timtebowfoundation.org.
        So, big mouth, if YOU want to see what Tim is doing world wide, go to the web site. I dare you.
        Tim doesn’t have a Lamborghini, or a Maserati, or any exotic car: He puts his excess $$ into the foundation providing food and water and building a hospital in the Philippines.
        It doesn’t matter what Tim does –he does it 100%.
        
        Now, CAN YOU think of any reason why all of a sudden here in the NFL professional football league: “TIM TEBOW CAN’T THROW PASSES” ??? Torn rotator cuff sound logical / possible to you.
        Well, DOES IT, punk!?!
      - Farva55
        
        Old man river, shut it, or I’ll break your hip.
        
        Bye Bye Tebowwwwww.
      - captaindandan
        
        You would have a very hard time breaking this hip.
        What makes you think Tebow is ‘gone’ ? Huh??
      - Farva55
        
        Uhhh…because he’s teamless?
        
        Isn’t murder, she wrote on?
    - Farva55
      
      Bye Bye Tebow.
  - Farva55
    
    NOW IT’s THE HELMET?!?!?!?!?!?!??!1
    
    LOLOLOL. You Tebow fanatics are hilarious.
Jim B

Give the guy the rest of the preseason to adjust. Remember that his talent and athletic ability was basically rotting away on the Jets’ bench while they trained everyone but Tebow.

He’s back with McDaniels, he can work with some unique packages.. just allow him to readjust to actually being with a real team that can win.

Then, if he doesn’t work out, I’d love to see him in the CFL. With the growing television rights and the need for more athletic players – not massive monoliths that the NFL relies on – Tebow can still be a huge hit in Canada. And his salary will be enough until he gets some more endorsements to crush the NFL minimum salary.
- Jay Pee
  
  The CFL? The field’s longer and wider and only three downs instead of four? It’s a passing QB’s wet dream … unfortunately this will more likely highlight Tebow’s weakness.
  - Jim B
    
    Have you watched any CFL games – actually watch them, not just the rare highlights that ESPN takes from TSN? The athleticism of Tebow can come out more.
    
    And, perhaps, there’s a coach who can fix his mechanics just for that type of field – without ESPN persistently reporting every minute detail in real time.
- Farva55
  
  Yeah. Tebow did a ton of adjusting in game 3. If he could play, New England of all teams would play him. He can’t play and all the crying and excuse making won’t change that.
westseadoc

Hard to say … I’m a Tebow supporter but that support is wearing thin. It is possible that he is struggling by trying too hard. We don’t see how he is doing in practice. His poor practices led NY to refuse to play in a game. It is possible that he is practicing well enough to warrant playing him during the game. He has value that Belichick wants for now and he’s pretty prescient with players. It does depend on what they will have to let go to keep him. If it is a toss -up, then keep Tebow; if there is no doubt regarding playing potential, then it should to to the other player. Taxi squad maybe?
westseadoc

… even as a Tebow fan, the rationale for keeping him is wearing thin .. BUT it might be a little unfair to judge him on a couple of short series … his prior stint in Denver does afford him at least a little more rope to hang himself. That being said, if they have to let a significantly superior talent go to keep him; well, he’s had his 2nd chance and if flopping magnificently. Still, it is his 2009 season that is buying him the time now, not his hype and you can only ride such coattails for so long. Still, I think we haven’t seen him play as he can because he is pressing too much. Right now, if you didn’t know anything about his last season, where would you put Colin K for the Rams? His rating this year is pretty low, too.
- Farva55
  
  Without the Denver defense, Tebow is out of football.
  - Michelle Ryan
    
    Stop. Just stop with how phenomenal the broncos defense was. That is insane. They got better than they started out, BECAUSE of Tebow, not in spite of Tebow. Is he doing well now? No. He’s been basicalky doing nothing “in actual game” situations since early 2012. I think the patriots defense is a bit better than the broncos defense of 2011, no?
    - Farva55
      
      The defense got better because of a QB? Really?
      
      Really.
      
      Really??
      
      If Tebow was “good”, he’d be playing somewhere because teams want to win. You are not more knowledgable than talent evaluators, front office personal, and coaches that have dedicated their life to this game. There is no conspiracy.
      
      Fact: When a defense holds a team to 14 points or less, they will win more often than lose.
      
      Scores of tebow’s game:
      
      Week 7: W 1`8-15 in OT. Defense wins that football game.
      Week 8: L 35-10 OUCH. 10 points? Really?
      Week 9: W 38-24 Nice win by the offense
      Week 10: W 17-10 Defense wins that football game.
      Week 11 W- 17-13 Defense wins that football game
      Week 12: W 16-13 in OT. Defense wins that football game
      Week 13: W 35-32 Nice win by the offense.
      Week 14: W 13-10 in OT Defense wins that football game along with Barber running out of bounds with denver out of TOs.
      Week 15: L 41-23. No chance
      Week 16: L 40-13 No chance
      Week 17: L 7-3!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA. 7-3!!!!!!
      
      Playoff game: 29-23. It was a nice win. Tebow made a nice read and the WR did the rest.
      Playoff game- L 45-10.
      
      So in 13 games that Tebow started in, the broncos averaged…17 points. How many teams are going to be super bowl contenders scoring 17 points a game? They need one heck of a defense right?
      
      Anything else you’d like to contest? Didn’t think so.
    - Farva55
      
      Yeah- that’s right. Don’t respond. Bye bye Tebowwwwwww.
BigManStan

Tebow is not a good quarterback! a fantastic christian! but a terrible quarterback people just need to face this
Ken Smallwood

no
captaindandan

WHO else on the Patriots team gets 5 yards everytime they run with the ball?
captaindandan

WHO else on the Patriot’s team gets 5 yards per carry when running the ball??