Tim Tebow cut from Patriots, ESPN reports. Now what?
Tim Tebow was cut from the final 53-man New England Patriots roster Saturday, according to ESPN. Is this really the end of Tim Tebow's NFL career? Or is it the start of another career?
New England Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow (5) looks for a receiver as New York Giants defensive end Justin Trattou (69) closes in during the third quarter of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, in Foxborough, Mass. The Pats won 28-20.
Mary Schwalm/AP
The New England Patriots have cut Tim Tebow from the team, according to ESPN.
There's no official confirmation yet, but that hasn't stopped the fan reaction – and speculation about what's next for the former Heisman Trophy winner.
The Twittersphere lit up. Initial reactions came from fans focused on the start of the college football season, expressing their discontent that ESPN coverage of a third-string QB's employment situation might be upstaging coverage of their Saturday games.
"Tebow getting cut is ESPN's cruise missile strike" tweeted Will Bunch.
Tebow led the Denver Broncos to the NFL playoffs in the 2011-12 season, but saw little action – and little success – last season with the New York Jets. After the Jets let Tebow go, few NFL teams showed any interest. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gave Tebow another shot. But after a less-than-impressive 11 completions out of 30 attempts in preseason games with the Patriots, Belichick apparently decided he really didn't need a third-string quarterback as much as he needed depth elsewhere on the team.
What will Tim Tebow do next? Is his NFL career over? More important, is this the end of Tebowmania?
It's not the end of Tebow's NFL road, said ESPN analyst (and former Jets and Chiefs coach) Herm Edwards.
"He's an injury away" from getting on a team, Edwards said. He noted that Tebow could be a fit with the Buffalo Bills, if their starting QB is injured. Even in New England, said Edwards, if Tom Brady gets hurt, Belichick could bring back Tebow as a backup quarterback to Ryan Mallett.
Fans on Twitter weren't as optimistic. Some suggested, as they have in the past, that Tebow should go north, and hone his skills in the Canadian Football League (as Doug Flutie did) or even the Arena Football League (as Kurt Waner did), before returning to the NFL.
Others suggested that it's time for him to hang up his football helmet and go into politics.
Others advised him to take up the full-time Christian ministry.
Prior to the final preseason game Thursday with the Patriots, Tebow was asked what he would do if he was cut.
"I'm blessed, because of my faith, that I don't have to worry about the future because I know who holds my future," Tebow told reporters. "It's something I try to live by. It really gives you a lot of peace in whatever circumstance I'm in."