The New England Patriots released Tim Tebow before final roster cut downs on Saturday and now that the quarterback is a free agent again, one can't help but wonder how things might have turned out if he was never traded to the Jets from his original team in the Denver Broncos.
Tebow was traded to the Jets after Peyton Manning was signed, meaning the question really comes down to: would Tebow still be playing for the Broncos is Peyton Manning was never injured? That question could reverberate around the NFL for plenty of time, not just for Tebow, as the Colts likely would not have went 2-14 if Manning never got hurt, he would have never been signed by the Broncos or even released and that means someone else entirely might have Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. See, these questions never have one answer.
But let's keep it simple. Would Tebow still be playing quarterback for Denver if Manning was never available? Yes, if he was still winning. So let's call it a maybe. Either way, his last Denver moment will be the highlight of his career and he may have been able to take the momentum from that amazing win against the Steelers into the next season.
As a starter for the Broncos he led them to a winning record and a division title while he was under center, but after Manning was available, the team couldn't let that opportunity go and Tebow time was over in Denver. John Fox was fine to change the offense for Tebow when he was winning, but things may have changed had the team lost, but now no one can ever really know.
Tebow was released by the Patriots after throwing for 145 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason and while Belichick liked what he saw in practice, there wasn't enough to justify using him as a backup or a third quarterback on the 53-man roster. The team could try and bring him back as a practice squad player, but all reports say he will continue trying to make it in the NFL as a quarterback.
