The Jaguars are still fine without Tim Tebow
Coming home today, I was listening to the radio. I guess Gene Frenette’s Q&A with Tim Tebow has reignited Tebowpalooza as people were calling in spouting the usual rhetoric for both sides. However, what got me was the argument being made that the Jaguars should have taken Tebow in hindsight. Well, it wasn’t said outright. Instead, it was put as “Well, the main argument against the Jags taking Tebow was that the 2011 class would be so awesome.”
I swear I tried to not talk about Tim Tebow again, but after listening to that go on for twenty minutes, I need to say my peace. For one, I don’t remember that being the MAIN argument against Tim Tebow coming to Jacksonville.
I remember people questioning how Tebow’s game would transition into the NFL, particularly his throwing motion, ability to take snaps under center, and taking hits from NFL linebackers. Plenty of others pointed out how Tebow wouldn’t be a savior, just a terribly short sighted business decision. Sure, the 2011 class was brought up as a reason to not take Tebow, but it applied to Jimmy Clausen too.
For the Pro-Tebow crowd, have any of those questions been answered in his first few games in the NFL? I certainly don’t think so, and if the current rumor mill is correct the new regime in Denver agrees with me. He had one great highlight run vs Oakland and another good passing game against the only pass defense worse than Jacksonville in 2010.
I’ve seen plenty of people point out his game against San Diego as proof of future greatness. His stat line was 16-36 for 205 yards, 2, TDs, and 2 INTs. Sure, he ran the ball 13 times for 94 yards but a QB can’t do that every week in the NFL.
If a team is willing to bail on a 1st round pick, even as they are also considering trading their current starter, what does that say to his skills as a NFL QB?
Remember, coming into the year the last three home games had a considerable amount of tickets available. But thanks to the Jaguars getting into the playoff hunt, it helped make those a valuable commodity. Would 10,000 Gator fans come to Everbank just to see a 2-12 Jaguar team led by Tim Tebow? I doubt it.
As for the 2011 class, to say that it’s shortcomings would excuse the Jaguars taking Tim Tebow is just without merit. Is it the blockbuster class people were expecting? No. However, there are still quite a few solid prospects that could become starters.
If the Jaguars had taken Tebow, it could’ve been a move that would’ve likely sunk the franchise that much faster. Plenty of non-Gator fans would’ve seen the move as a bush league gimmick and abandoned ship. Once the novelty of Tebow wore off, all of those Gator fans wouldn’t have renewed their season tickets, causing the team to be back at square one. By then Weaver would likely be looking to sell the team actively and without any real fan presence off the Jaguars would go.
I have nothing against Tim Tebow. However, the Cult of Tim has made it so infuriating that it can spill over. The Cult of Tim has caused the “Us vs Them or “Jags vs Gators” mentality many Jaguar fans now possess.
At the end of the day, the main reason everyone pegged Tebow to the Jaguars was ticket sales. The Jaguars got every game on TV in 2010 and will be working hard to truly sell out the stadium in 2011. They will do so with a major cornerstone on the defense in Tyson Alualu. And most importantly, they will be selling the product on the field rather than what a guy did on another field a few years ago.
-Jonathan Loesche
