With the final cuts for the 53-man roster four days away, quarterback Tim Tebow's future with the New England Patriots is uncertain. The team's final preseason game on Thursday could be Tebow's last chance to prove himself worthy of a roster spot, the Boston Herald reports.
Tebow's preseason performance has been less than spectacular. Over three exhibition games, the last in which he didn't take any snaps in, Tebow completed 5-of-19 passes for 54 yards and one interception, while add 61 yards on 10 rushes.
To put it mildly, he hasn't proven himself to be a viable option at quarterback should Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett go down. The Patriots went with just two quarterbacks last season, and the team could use the roster spot at running back or in the secondary.
Yet Tebow appears to still have a chance at making the roster. In the first two preseason games, New England ran plays specifically tailored to Tebow's read-option skill set, which suggests the Pats believe Tebow is worth investing in.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who is notorious for his vague answers, wouldn't hint at Tebow's fate.
"I think there are a lot of conversations still going on. I don't think there's a whole lot that's set," Belichick told The Herald. "There's a lot of things we're still kicking around. Some things will take care of themselves; some things will settle themselves. Other things we'll have to make a decision on. When it comes time to make that decision, we'll get as much information as we can, and try to make the best decision we can for the team."
Tebow said his concern isn't the impending cuts, but rather preparing for Thursday's preseason finale against the New York Giants.
"Just prepare, get ready, and go out there and do the best you can with any opportunity you're given," Tebow told The Herald. "Focus and prepare, understand the game plan and what you're trying to accomplish, and do all the same things.
"... I love playing, I love competing; everybody does in this locker room," Tebow said. "We all love the game. That's why we're here. So you just want to not focus on that, but on the preparation right now, and that will take care of itself."
Teams must submit their 53-man roster to the NFL on Aug. 31 by 6:00 p.m. ET.
