Done with Jets, 6 job possibilities for Tim Tebow

NEW YORK (AP) — Tim Tebow was "excited" about coming to the New York Jets. So much so, he used the word 44 times in his introductory news conference in March 2012.

Well, he must be pretty thrilled to leave.

After a failed one-year stint with the Jets, who never found a consistent or effective role for the backup quarterback, Tebow is free to explore other options after New York released him Monday.

Tebow spent most of his time on the sideline with the Jets, except when he was serving as the personal protector on punts, and never earned the confidence of Rex Ryan even when Mark Sanchez was benched. Meanwhile, Tebow did all he could to not show that he was, well, the opposite of excited.

Tebow believes he is still an NFL-caliber quarterback and it appeared his hometown of Jacksonville would be the obvious landing spot — until new general manager David Caldwell insisted that wouldn't happen.

There are plenty of opinions on what the football future holds for Tebow, but here's our Pick 6 of potential job opportunities:

CHICAGO BEARS

The presence of new coach Marc Trestman and former Jets QBs coach Matt Cavanaugh make the Bears a possibility to sign Tebow, who would be a backup again behind Jay Cutler. Trestman worked with Tebow at the Senior Bowl and before the NFL draft in 2010, and raved about his work ethic and potential to become a solid passer.

Trestman, the former coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, has a track record of developing quarterbacks and has also worked with the likes of Cutler, Jason Campbell and Brandon Weeden in recent years as a consultant when they were coming out of college.

Tebow might make for a good fit as the No. 2 quarterback after Campbell signed with the Browns. Whether Trestman would want to start his Bears career by bringing in the hype that comes with Tebow being on the team could be a deterrent.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Philip Rivers took a major step back last season for the Chargers, but still can be one of the league's most productive quarterbacks when he's on his game. So, it's unlikely new coach Mike McCoy will look elsewhere for a starter.

However, McCoy knows all about what Tebow can do when given an opportunity. The two were together in Denver when Tebow pulled off comeback after comeback during the 2011 season and led the Broncos to the playoffs. McCoy, then Denver's offensive coordinator, worked the offense around Tebow's strengths and appeared to be a magician in the process.

While it never truly appeared Tebow was a threat to Sanchez in New York, he could prove to be just that to Rivers — especially with a coach who believes in his abilities. Whether the Chargers, who just drafted Manti Te'o, would want any added attention remains to be seen.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

OK, so it's not exactly the homecoming playing in Jacksonville would be, but Tebow would surely be a big draw in his home state — even if it's as a backup to Josh Freeman.

The Buccaneers' current backups are Dan Orlovsky, Adam Weber and third-round draft pick Mike Glennon, and Tebow might feel he could overtake them on the depth chart as the No. 2.

Tebow has also spent time this offseason working out in Tampa with a former Buccaneers (and Jets) quarterback: Vinny Testaverde.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Sure, it's a long shot, but Tebow wouldn't be brought in to challenge Tom Brady, of course.

Bill Belichick has a knack for bringing in players that other teams discard — Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead, Randy Moss, Corey Dillon, Aqib Talib — and reviving their careers in New England. Tebow has always said he just wants to win, and the Patriots have sure done their share of that. So, playing on special teams — and perhaps as a fullback/tight end — and being a mere piece to the puzzle could satisfy Tebow if the W's pile up.

Two other factors to consider: Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels drafted Tebow out of Florida while he was the coach in Denver, and being able to tweak the Jets always makes Belichick grin a little under his hoodie.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

The Alouettes hold exclusive negotiating rights to Tebow in the CFL, where some think he might ultimately end up.

Alouettes GM Jim Popp said his team would welcome Tebow — but as a backup QB, since 40-year-old Anthony Calvillo is entrenched as Montreal's quarterback. There's some debate, though, whether his game might be better suited there as a quarterback. With the CFL's wide-open fields and pass-heavy offenses, Tebow's run-first approach could further expose his passing deficiencies. But, he somehow seems to make things happen — when he actually gets some snaps — and might be able to run all over the place in Canada.

He could also consider the recent offer made by Brett Bouchy, the owner of the Orlando Predators who'd love to see Tebow playing in the Arena League.

LECTURE CIRCUIT

This will always be an option for the ultra-popular Tebow, who attracts huge crowds whenever and wherever he speaks at churches and events. He's not shy about sharing his strong Christian beliefs, and his multitude of fans extend far beyond the football field.

Tebow is extremely active with his Tim Tebow Foundation, trying to help and inspire people around the world. When Tebow is done playing football, which he doesn't believe will be anytime soon, he could surely turn appearances as a motivational speaker into a full-time gig.

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Tebow Time in New York over after Jets cut QB

The possibilities appeared endless for Tim Tebow.

Here he was, perhaps the most popular player in the NFL, in New York as a member of the Jets and maybe the biggest thing to hit Broadway since Joe Namath himself.

There were billboards outside the Lincoln Tunnel in New Jersey welcoming Tebow, and sandwiches named after him at Manhattan delis. He also had a legion of fans who followed him because of his strong Christian beliefs, and in New York, he would be able to take advantage of countless media and marketing opportunities.

And then, it all went terribly wrong.

Or, more like it, the whole idea was completely flawed from the start. For Tebow. And for the Jets.

Tebow was waived Monday morning, the end of an embarrassingly unsuccessful one-season experiment in New York that produced more hype and headlines than production on the field. And it all ended quietly, with a three-paragraph news release.

"Unfortunately," coach Rex Ryan said in a statement, "things did not work out the way we all had hoped."

It also left Tebow's football future very much in doubt.

A year after he threw a TD pass to win a playoff game in overtime for Denver, the Heisman Trophy winner with two college national titles at Florida and a nationwide following may have suited up for the last time.

Tebow took to Twitter a few hours after being waived, citing a bible verse: "Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding," Tebow wrote, "in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

No NFL team has made a pitch to get him. The only nibble so far came from the Montreal Alouettes. They hold his rights in the Canadian Football League and said he could come compete for a job — as a backup.

"Had this happened back in February, he might have had a chance to at least participate in free agency," said 2002 NFL MVP quarterback Rich Gannon, now an analyst for CBS Sports and SiriusXM NFL Radio. "I don't think there would have been a strong market for him, but at least he would've had that opportunity."

Gannon added that it's an even tougher situation for Tebow now because more than 20 quarterbacks were either drafted or signed as undrafted free agents in the last few days.

"Look, it's a two-way street, though," Gannon said. "It's a business. The Jets were trying to find somebody, a dance partner. Sometimes that goes into the draft and teams are calling around. I'm sure the Jets were trying to shop Tebow, and I'm sure they kept getting denied."

This is the same guy who led the Broncos to the postseason in 2011, but became expendable when Denver signed Peyton Manning as a free agent. The popular backup quarterback was acquired by the Jets in March 2012 for a fourth-round draft pick and $1.5 million in salary. He was introduced at the Jets' facility to plenty of fanfare at a lavish news conference, with Tebow repeatedly saying he was "excited" to be in New York.

It turned out to be one of the few high points in Tebow's stay with the Jets. Along with his shirtless jog from the practice field in the rain during training camp, of course.

The Jets never figured out a way to use Tebow effectively, and he never forced the issue by being a good enough player in practice to make Ryan and his coaches put him on the field more in games.

"If he were to happen to call me, I would say, 'Look, you're starting over,'" former NFL GM Ted Sundquist said. "Tim Tebow needs to redefine who Tim Tebow is, in my opinion. He's no longer a first-round quarterback."

Even recently retired Jets special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff labeled the way the team used Tebow an "absolute mess."

It all cost Tebow his job, along with former general manager Mike Tannenbaum and former offensive coordinator Tony Sparano — both fired in part because of their roles in what was one of the NFL's messiest quarterback situations in recent memory. It also seriously clouds Tebow's NFL future, which might be extended only, in some people's opinion, if he considers a position change.

"I don't see any team giving him a chance because teams don't want to deal with the following that comes with Tebow," ESPN analyst and former NFL offensive lineman Damien Woody said. "Maybe Canada."

Added Gannon: "I don't know. He's just in a bad spot."

Tebow was brought to New York to be a dynamic addition to the offense, a complement to Mark Sanchez and a merchandising touchdown for the Jets. Instead, he attempted just eight passes for 39 yards and rushed 32 times for 102 yards — and stunningly had no touchdowns.

Through it all, Tebow tried to hide his frustration, but acknowledged late in the season that things didn't turn out quite how he expected in New York.

"I think it's fair to say," Tebow said, "that I'm a little disappointed."

It's an amazing fall for a player whose No. 15 Broncos jersey ranked second in national sales to Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers in 2011.

"He seems like a great kid," Sundquist said, "and it seems like he could bring some positives to a club if he can just bury this whole thing about him being in your quarterback mix and just let him be No. 39 on your roster, one of your back-end guys who can go somewhere and help you win."

The Jets and new general manager John Idzik drafted former West Virginia star Geno Smith in the second round of the NFL draft Friday, giving New York six quarterbacks on its roster — and creating uncertainty about Sanchez's future as well.

Tebow, who dropped about 15 pounds in the last few months, arrived at the team's facility in Florham Park, N.J., early Monday and was told he had been cut.

"Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this offseason," Ryan said. "We wish him the best moving forward."

But, where to next for Tebow?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have already ruled themselves out of giving Tebow a happy homecoming. But maybe the Chicago Bears, whose new head coach Marc Trestman tutored Tebow before the NFL draft in 2010, could give him a look as their backup.

Perhaps the San Diego Chargers would take a chance on him, adding to the circus-like atmosphere they'll likely have because they drafted Manti Te'o. New coach Mike McCoy was Tebow's offensive coordinator in Denver during the 2011 season, when the quarterback took over the offense and led the Broncos to comeback after comeback.

What about Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots? They're no strangers to turning discarded players — Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead, even Randy Moss — into big-time playmakers, and it would give Belichick another chance to tweak the Jets.

Then, there's always the Canadian Football League, but whether Tebow would even be open to a move north of the U.S. border is uncertain.

"If you can find a club that's mature enough to handle it as an organization, then you're going to find the right spot for him," Sundquist said. "What I mean by that is all the media mania and that sort of thing. The club says, 'Look, this is the reason we're bringing him on. We feel he can bring X, Y, Z and A, B, C to the table.' Explain it to Tim, explain it to the media, explain it to your fan base and explain it to your organization."

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Tebow Time over in New York as Jets cut quarterback

 The New York Jets cut quarterback Tim Tebow on Monday, ending his ill-conceived stint in the Big Apple and leaving one of the most hyped players in the National Football League (NFL) facing an uncertain future.

The Jets notified Tebow of their decision to waive him after just one season at a voluntary team workout on Monday morning.

"We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow," Jets' head coach Rex Ryan said in a 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."

The decision to release Tebow came just two days after the Jets acquired West Virginia University quarterback Geno Smith at the 78th annual NFL Draft.

The Jets already had five quarterbacks, including former first-round draft pick Mark Sanchez, who struggled so badly last season that he lost his starting spot, prompting speculation that someone had to go.

It was little surprise that it was Tebow, who won the Heisman Trophy as most outstanding U.S. college football player in 2007, that got the chop.

His tenure with the Jets was brief and hugely unsuccessful, both for him and the team. One New York newspaper described it as a circus.

Tebow, a devout Christian whose public displays of religiosity polarized public opinion, did not make any public comment about his axing but did post a Bible verse on his Twitter account.

"Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding...in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight," he tweeted.

CULT FIGURE

Tebow had previously been with Denver, taking the Broncos on an improbable run to the 2011 playoffs, despite criticism and reservations about his ability as a passer.

He had quickly become a cult figure. Deeply religious and with a clean-cut image, he became a magnet for sponsors, signing a range of massive endorsement deals, which earned him an estimated $4 million a year.

His jerseys were among the biggest sellers in the NFL and his trademark touchdown celebration, where he kneeled down in prayer, became known as "Tebowing."

In early 2012, the Broncos signed future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning after he had become a free agent, and traded Tebow to the Jets.

The Jets said they planned to use Tebow on special teams and 'wildcat' plays, as a complement to Sanchez, but the experiment failed and Tebow-Mania never quite took off in the New York.

Tebow, 25, spent most of each game stuck on the bench and the Jets, who missed the playoffs, were ridiculed for acquiring him and not playing him when Sanchez struggled.

Tebow's immediate future remains uncertain. Most NFL pundits said he was unlikely to be claimed in the short term because of his high salary, but once he clears waivers, he would be able to sign with any team as a free agent.

He had previously linked with the Jacksonville Jaguars, his hometown team, but the Jaguars had ruled that out. Other teams have said they might interested in him, in a different position from quarterback.

FINANCIALLY SECURE

Another option could be the Canadian Football League, although he would not be guaranteed a starting spot there either.

"If he wants to come to Canada he would be in the same situation as the one he was in with New York," Jim Popp, the general manager of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, told TSN.

Financially, Tebow's future looks secure. Of his five corporate sponsors, three did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and two said they were undeterred by the quarterback's departure from the Jets.

" is not based solely on football and Tim exceeds his status as a football player," said Steve Wymer, a spokesperson for TiVo.

"Hopefully he'll have a better season this coming year than he did last year, since this clearly this has been a crazy season with the NY Jets."

Lan Kennedy-Davis, the chief executive of SOUL electronics, said her company was "100 percent behind Tim Tebow regardless of his team."

"We support Tim, we like Tim, and he's our ambassador because he stands for greatness - not just in football but in what he does in his life," she said.

(Additional reporting by Atossa Abrahamian in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)

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Tim Tebow appears at lecture, but no word on plans

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Eleven days after he was cut by the New York Jets, Tim Tebow's future plans remain up in the air.

Since his release, Tebow has not spoken publicly about the dismissal or what his next move will be. Does he feel jilted by the Jets? Does he have any other NFL prospects? Would he consider the Canadian Football League?

Tebow didn't offer any insight Thursday night during a roughly hour-long keynote address before a crowd of about 3,000 at Lake Michigan College. The lecture was part of the Economic Club of Southwest Michigan's annual speaker series, and Tebow had been booked last summer, when he was still an active NFL player.

Tebow accepted no questions from the press at the event, and was quickly whisked out a back door by police escort afterward.

Instead of discussing the past two weeks or his future, the 25-year-old, wearing a dark suit and purple tie, sat on stage and engaged in an easygoing exchange with a moderator. Tebow spoke of his intensely competitive nature, his Christian faith, his love of family, and his record-setting high school and college careers. He only briefly touched upon his rookie season with the Denver Broncos, when he led the team to an improbable playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But he said nothing about the Jets.

The closest Tebow came to shedding light on what he might do next was when he repeated one of his favorite sayings: "I don't know what the future holds, but at the end of the day I know who holds my future."

Tebow says it's a reference to a strong faith that remains a driving force in his life.

Last season, Tebow got few chances from Jets coach Rex Ryan, despite starter Mark Sanchez struggling throughout the season while leading New York to a dismal 6-10 record.

Still, a Forbes.com survey released this week called Tebow America's most influential athlete. Tebow finished ahead of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps (25 percent), Jamaican track star Usain Bolt (23 percent) and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (22 percent).

"That's a huge honor," Tebow said. "I see it as a great responsibility to be a role model for future generations. That's something I care about more than winning football games. If I can take the game of football and can transcend football . go to hospitals and make kids smile, I'll be doing things that matter."

He hinted about finding a life of fulfillment after the game.

"What I want to do with my life is impact lives. When a kid in a hospital is fighting for his life and I'm trying to win a football game, what really matters? This game isn't as important as a lot of us make it out to be. If I can give him a little bit of hope, I can do something that matters. That's what I want my legacy to be about. That's how I want to be remembered."

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