While head coach Bill Belichick is remaining tight-lipped over the recent signing of quarterback Tim Tebow, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is letting everyone know how excited he is to have the player on the team. while the media circus is circling the Patriots' practice field trying to get a chance to talk with Tebow, Kraft is laying out his hopes for the the quarterback's future in New England.
While on CNBC's "Summer on the Street" program, Kraft discussed the team's highly publicized move of signing Tebow months after he was released by the New York Jets. Most NFL experts believed Tebow's NFL chances were pretty much finished so the signing came as a shock to some.
"I don't get what people won't relate to this guy big time. For us, it was a great opportunity that he was on the street, not hired, and to have him come to our franchise. We like to collect people of good character. He's the real deal and we have a lot of other players like that," Kraft said.
The fact is Tebow has very little chance of seeing the field much this season. The Patriots have the one of the best quarterbacks in the league with Tom Brady and a very decent No. 2 option in Ryan Mallett. For Tebow to even make the 53-man roster and still be on the team when Week 1 of the 2013 season rolls around feels like a strong long-shot. Kraft is hopeful that the coaching staff can work with Tebow enough that he is there when the season starts.
"We want high quality people who work hard, are team players. I don't think there is a nicer person that I've ever met, and now he'll get to compete with all the other people at the position, and our hope is that he's on our 53-man roster," Kraft said.
The Patriots have no intentions of forcing Tebow into switching positions and playing anything other than quarterback. With Josh McDaniels running the offense, he might be the only coach that can make the Tebow situation work.
Kraft explained a lot of the thought process of signing Tebow. He recalls Brady going do with a bad knee injury a few seasons ago and feeling very corned with what to do for the remainder of the season. He has been searching for quality depth and he thinks he found it with Tebow.
"I think Tom Brady, we're privileged to have the best quarterback in the history of the game. But we're a physical game. Injuries happen. We have another very good quarterback in Ryan Mallett. We're allowed three quarterbacks. We're in the business of quality depth management."