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New York Jets Should Sign Tim Tebow

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By @MWCompton

Tim Tebow

Rob Foldy-USA Today Sports

Tim Tebow has never given up on returning to the NFL. The way the embattled New York Jets‘ quarterbacks are playing, there may soon be an opening.

Currently, a college football analyst for the SEC Network — and a contributor to ABC’s morning show, Good Morning America — Tebow hasn’t taken an NFL snap since he was a member of the Jets in 2012. One of the greatest college football quarterbacks of all-time and the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, Tebow is likely capable of stepping in and running the Jets’ offense more efficiently than Geno Smith or Michael Vick has this season.

The Jets need to do something before Rex Ryan loses the fans and the locker room. Smith has generated far too many headlines for the wrong reasons — he missed a team meeting and blamed the time change on the West Coast as the reason, he lost his cool and cursed at fans leaving the field after the Jets lost to the Detroit Lions. Today, he blamed the media for contributing to his struggles. Vick, who was brought in to mentor Smith, admitted to being unprepared when his number was called in Week 5 against the San Diego Chargers – some mentor.

Tebow should be given a shot to resurrect his NFL career with the Jets. His widely-respected work ethic would instantly bring an attitude of honor back to a once-proud locker room desperately in need of leadership.

While Tebow’s toughness and conditioning have never been questioned, his awkward mechanics have. Tebow has never stopped trying to improve his throwing ability and, as recently as this past summer, he said he was in the best shape of his life and throwing the best he ever has. Of course, that’s simply his opinion and he would need to back up that claim on the field before any final assessments are formed, but isn’t Tebow worth a gamble in comparison to what the Jets’ quarterbacks have put on film this year?

Despite his shortcomings as a pro quarterback, Tebow, who is built more like a fullback, is a playmaker and a winner. He’s a dedicated team player who makes others around him better; traits lacking in Smith and Vick at this stage of their respective careers.

A first-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos, Tebow enjoyed his finest season in 2011, throwing for 1,729 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air and 660 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, while defying his critics and leading the Broncos to the playoffs and a first-round win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Instead of having the opportunity to build on the momentum the following season, Tebow was shipped off to New York when Denver signed Peyton Manning. While that move has worked out alright for the Broncos, Tebow’s career fizzled. He threw just eight passes for the Jets in 2012 and rushed 32 times for 102 yards. He was released and later signed with the New England Patriots before he was cut prior to the 2013 season.

According to an ABC release, Tebow’s segments for GMA feature motivational stories of “individuals and their amazing stories of triumph.”

An amazing story of triumph would be if Tebow and the Jets were both relevant in the NFL again. Granted, Tebow may not possess the proper skill set for long-term success as an NFL quarterback, but he is a competitor and he won’t miss team meetings and won’t step on the field unprepared.

Just imagine Tebow and Ryan each taking a knee and pointing skyward after a big win? “Tebowing” is certainly better than players and coaches pointing fingers. Besides, what do the Jets have to lose except more games?

Michael Compton is a Jacksonville Jaguars writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter at @MWCompton and connect with him on Google.

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