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So Tim Tebow is going to New England. Interesting stuff. Let’s take a closer look at this developing story . . .
First off, it makes Mike Silver’s contention that Belichick “hates” Tebow as a player look foolish.
I “hated” that Yahoo story, and I didn’t buy it.
Belichick is good friends with Urban Meyer, the former Florida coach, who coached Tebow in Gainesville.
Belichick had so much respect for Meyer, there is no way he would dis Tebow like that, to anybody. That isn’t how he rolls.
Also, while Tebow has flaws as a quarterback, he is Belichick’s kind of football player – tough, hard-working, good character and will say all the right things to the media.
Before we continue, let’s be clear about something – Tebow needs to go out and make the team.
I know that is sacrilege to some, but that is how Belichick operates.
He doesn’t care what any reporter or fan has to say. He doesn’t govern by public opinion polls.
If he determines in August that Tebow can’t help the Pats, he will release him.
It never crosses Belichick’s mind, “If I make this move, how will it play with the media and public.”
He will do what he thinks is best.
And I do think part of this Tebow signing is, in small part, a “bleep you,” to Silver.
I’m not joking.
That story, that claimed Belichick “hated” Tebow as a player, really, really “irked” Belichick, who has tremendous personal respect for Tebow and Meyer.
“For anyone to have represented that is the way I feel about Tim Tebow is completely untrue, baseless and irresponsible,” Belichick said last week. “It is unfortunate that something so inaccurate was reported.”
Belichick is big on sticking it to people. Remember when he said those vile things, to his son, about Rex Ryan, running off the field a couple of years ago after a win over the Jets. It was so vile, I can’t repeat it here. Let’s put it this way, he loved sticking it to the “defensive genius.”
And a long-time agent, who knows Belichick well, told me just last week, “Belichick wears that hoodie because he knows people hate it.”
That agent actually referred to it as a “bleep-you,” move.
That story pissed off Belichick so much, what better way to strike back at the writer, than to sign the player the national scribe said you reportedly “hate.”
Belichick despises the media. He considers them a necessary evil. To be able to make a national writer, and television analyst, who honestly can be a trouble-maker, look bad, would bring him great joy.
Because honestly, signing Tebow in June, doesn’t really mean anything. Like I said before, Belichick could always cut him late in the summer, and not blink. Tebow has to make the team to get paid.
Belichick didn’t make some bold move today. Tebow is guaranteed nothing. Belichick is essentially kicking the tires.
People can talk about a circus. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN UP THERE. No way. They have the strictest media rules in the league by-far. They control the media. The media doesn’t control them.
I tweeted before that Tebow will have to make a position change to make the Patriots.
He might be listed as a quarterback coming in, but there is no question that some fullback and tight end will be part of the conversation.
YOU DON’T TAKE TOM BRADY OFF THE FIELD – EVER.
Plus, Brady is awesome at converting third-and-one, fourth-and-one QB sneaks. He has a knack for it.
So for Tebow to hang round New England, he will need position versatility, something very important to Belichick.
How does this impact the Jets?
Well first of all, it creates a big distraction at the first day of their mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday. It will be all Tebow questions, all the time (and Belichick will love that it creates a distraction for the enemy).
But from a football standpoint, probably not much.
The didn’t think much of Tebow because they released him after just one season, so why would they fear him in New England?
It’s like when Bill Belichick cut Drew Bledsoe and he went to Buffalo. Belichick didn’t care because he didn’t fear Bledsoe.
Plus, as I’ve said repeatedly, Tebow needs to make the team. There is no point in the Jets’ coaches even thinking about him until he’s on the roster facing them in Week Two.
June 10, 2013
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