Tim Tebow is a quarterback without a job and even though some Pittsburgh Steelers players said that they feel he can still play in the league, the only offers he has received lately include the Canadian Football League, Arena Football League, a radio hosting job with Glenn Beck and a spot on Urban Meyer's staff at Ohio State, but so far none from the NFL.
Tebow was one of the most popular players in the league and still is and despite getting cut by the Jets, many feel that he has an NFL future, even though one report from ESPN said that people in the quarterback's camp feel that his career is already over with. The media hype surrounding Tebow has made it hard for team's to show interest and many have declined even considering signing the quarterback due to the potential media presence and attention, which has effectively blackballed Tebow from the league for the time being.
One person who has been astounded by all the attention on Tebow is someone who saw it first-hand while working close by the quarterback while he was in college, as former Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy was with the team during Tebow's time at the University of Florida with the Gators. Van Gundy spoke with the Orlando Sentinel sometime ago on their radio show about Tebow and the media attention surrounding him, saying it was like nothing he has seen before during his career. Van Gundy said that it was something new to see the college popularity follow a player into the NFL like it did with Tebow after he won national championships and the Heisman in Florida.
The former Magic coach also remarked about how the media attention and hype surrounding Tebow has stopped him from getting offers in the NFL and said that he feels the quarterback hasn't changed from his time in college. He said that Tebow has still remained true to his core beliefs and that he has been a good teammate on the teams he has been with. Van Gundy added that the biggest issue is the media attention surrounding him turning into distractions that teams do not want to get involved in.
CLICK here for the (Audio) interview with Van Gundy.
Tebow has had to deal with a number of media stunts since he has been released, including Jaguars fans petitioning the White House to get the team to sign him and prominent area attorney taking out a TV ad. Tebow has also been given offers to the CFL, AFL and even the Omaha Beef in an indoor league in Nebraska.
"He really hasn't changed," Van Gundy said of Tebow. "He's stood for the same things and tried to be a good teammate wherever he's gone, but there's just so much that follows him that turns every situation into a major distraction. I think what people in the NFL are saying now is ... 'Why would you bring him in? If he's not starting you're going to have a circus on your hands. It's just not worth it'
"Unfortunately for Tim Tebow, he's probably good enough to be in the NFL at least as a backup, but the phenomenon created by his great college career and who he is as a person is going to make it impossible."
