The trade rumors about Tim Tebow have grown in recent weeks as the New York Jets try to find a trade partner, but the future of the NFL quarterback could be in a different league all together, as he was offered a job in the Arena Football League by the owner of the Orlando franchise.
According to ESPN.com, Tebow was offered a job by Orlando Predators owner Bruce Bouchy in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel. Tebow was in the area promoting a training camp with fans at one of his training facilities in Florida and the owner said he would be welcome in the league and with the team.
Tebow is currently a New York Jet, but after the team barely used him last season, his future in football is likely with a different team, with possibilities being the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals. Although Tebow would be stepping down into the AFL, it wouldn't be as if he was the first quarterback from the pro ranks to play there.
"Tim would certainly want to first exhaust his opportunities in the NFL, but we'd love to have him," Bouchy told the newspaper. "I think he would definitely improve as a quarterback in our league. Kurt Warner told me once that when he got back to the NFL after playing in the Arena League, the NFL game was like slow motion. Everything in the Arena League is just so much faster and quicker and predicated on accuracy. Whenever Tim is willing, we have a contract waiting for him to sign."
Warner was one of the most prolific players in AFL history and when he transitioned to the NFL he brought that success with him, guiding the St. Louis Rams into "The Greatest Show on Turf" while winning the Super Bowl and leading the Cardinals a few years later to the game as well, losing to the Steelers.
Tebow is currently in a log jam at quarterback with the team, sitting on the roster with David Garrard, Mark Sanchez, Matt Simms and Greg McElroy. The team barely used him last year and he gained just 102 yards on the ground and 39 in the air without scoring a touchdown. He led the Broncos to the playoffs and a postseason victory two years ago, but since then he has not had the chance to start.
Warner made it to the Arena League and played for the Iowa Barnstormers after not being able to catch on in the NFL and eventually went from bagging groceries to the Super Bowl after getting success with the Rams. Warner was a success in the AFL, taking Iowa to two Arena Bowl appearances while also being named First-team All-Arena in the 1996 and 1997 seasons.
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In 2011 he was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame and during his career he had some great seasons, including in 1997 when he set records with 4,149 yards and 79 touchdowns. During his debut season he had 2,996 yards and 43 touchdowns and set a league record for passing yards in a game.
Tebow could also benefit from playing in the Arena League, as he would bring the sport attention and he likely would be able to thrive and start, something NFL teams have kept him from doing mostly through the past few years. The Jaguars and other teams haven't expressed interest in him, so a return home could mean a start in the AFL.
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