Given the recent release of Tim Tebow by the New York Jets,
many football leagues have sought free publicity by “recruiting” Tebow to play
in their leagues. This would include the
CFL (but only as a backup), the Lingerie Football League as a quarterbacks
coach (yeah, like that’d actually happen), and the Omaha Beef, an indoor
football league team that probably wouldn’t generate enough publicity.
Seemingly the most serious offer was from the Arena Football
League’s Philadelphia Soul, when co-owner Ron Jaworski offered Tebow a job, but
only for goal-line plays similar to what Tebow experienced in New York. Didn’t Jaworski once rate Tebow the 30th
best quarterback in the NFL? Not that I
disagree, but it seems like if Tebow would only be in on gimmick plays, this
doesn’t help Tebow, it’s to sell tickets only. Despite Kurt Warner as an outlier,
indoor/arena really does not develop quarterbacks for the NFL or there would be
a lot more of them.
I don’t see Tebow as a victim. Like Heath Shuler, Tebow had a lot of success
in college, but didn’t do as well in the pros.
However, Shuler used his networking to become a successful businessman,
and was then elected to Congress. Tebow
is already investing in businesses, including a Florida chicken restaurant
chain, and certainly has an audience down the road for a potential political
career. So I’m not shedding tears for
Tebow. If there was a true minor league
where Tebow could work on his deficiencies as coaches seem them, it could do
wonders for his career.
One league not mentioned as much in the media, but perhaps
should, is the proposed A11FL (www.a11fl.com).
This league would legalize the A-11 spread offense seen in many high
schools and some lower-level colleges.
As such, it opens up the defense by creating many potential formations,
which could greatly highlight Tebow’s running skills.
The A11FL seems like the only truly viable minor league
option right now for Tebow or anyone else.
The United Football League had a poor record of not paying bills. The supposed reborn United States Football
League’s website is currently down, and not much real evidence exists they will
ever play. The A11FL website is by far
the best of them, as is their Facebook page which in a just a few weeks has
over 4,000 fans. It is believed a lot of
them are Tebow fans.
As I have been observing, the A11FL wishes to stage
exhibition games next spring in four cities for a full launch in spring of 2015,
and claimed a yet-to-be-announced venue in Tebow’s home state of Florida is
secured for one of those games. If Tebow
decided to play a game or two, it could show scouts he has or has not worked on
the deficiencies that caused him to be cut in the first place.
Even if Tebow doesn’t play, he could have a far bigger
impact in football as an investor. There
is a huge market for minor league football, with many stadiums (that taxpayers
paid for) left vacant in the spring. Top
minor league baseball clubs are worth over $20 million. Golf’s minor league, the Web.com Tour, is
making money. NASCAR’s Nationwide Series
makes money. The major league
counterparts bring long-term sponsorships and stability.
The problem with minor league football today is too many
groups are not professionally run. If
Tebow were to support a legitimate minor league, it would bring other investors
from his vast network, which could offer far more veracity than the previous
leagues. Whether that league can be the
A11FL remains to be seen.
