In this Monday April 15 2013 file photo New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow arrives on the first day of NFL football offseason workouts at the Jets practice facility in Florham Park N.J. The New York Jets waived Tebow.(Photo Mel Evans AP)
For the first time in his NFL career Tim Tebow is a free agent.
The former New York Jets and Denver Broncos quarterback/H back/punt protector/wide receiver cleared waivers Tuesday afternoon as expected. No team put in a claim for Tebow meaning he's now free to sign with anyone.
It won't be easy for him to find his next job especially if he's unwilling to switch positions from quarterback. But Tebow slimmed down this offseason and worked with a quarterbacks coach which indicates he doesn't believe Rex Ryan's passing over him for Greg McElroy when Mark Sanchez was benched last season is an indication his time as an NFL quarterback is done.
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But his prospects aren't that hot. If they were a team would've claimed him Tuesday. No quarterback with a value to a roster passes through waivers especially at a bargain price of less than $3.5 million in base salary the next two seasons.
While I was here Jets general manager John Idzik said Tuesday he was slated as a quarterback.
Tebow's chances of finding the field in the NFL seem much better if he would switch to a full time role as a utility player. Even then though he probably wouldn't be viewed as a must have piece for many teams for a few reasons.
First there's the media circus he brings into the locker room something Sanchez indicated recently was a distraction for him and even for Tebow.
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Secondly Tebow struggled when he did play a utility role He ran for only 102 yards on 32 attempts last season.
And third Tebow struggled with his route running. A pass from Sanchez doinked off his helmet as he failed to locate the ball on a quick out route against the Miami Dolphins last season.
But Tebow has a track record as a winner and save for his understandable disappointment late last season when he was passed over is a team player who won't do anything to hurt his teammates. Maybe there's a team that would at least be intrigued about the possibility of adding him to the roster.
The San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots would make sense. Chargers head coach Mike McCoy was Tebow's offensive coordinator in Denver. And if anybody could curb the sideshow Tebow would bring it would be Bill Belichick who has welcomed plenty of attention grabbing players into his team first locker room in recent years.
That said Tebow is now at the point where he might have to prove what he can do athletically. That could mean working out for teams instead of just strolling into the facility taking a physical and signing a contract.
Or it could mean a stint in the Canadian Football League or Arena league.
But get the GPS ready. It should be an interesting spring and perhaps summer tracking Tebow's whereabouts as he makes the free agent rounds for the first time.
Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter MikeGarafolo
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