Given the New England Patriots depleted offense, Tim Tebow may find himself this season catching passes from quarterback Tom Brady. How likely is it?
Brady's options on offense have dwindled. Wes Welker is gone, Rob Gronkowski's availability for the beginning of the season is questionable and Aaron Hernandez is now off the team following his arrest on Wednesday. Out of 637 pass attempts last season, Brady targeted the aforementioned three players 337 times - 52.9 percent of his throws.
There is no go-to receiver anymore, and Brady is now without his proven tight end tandem.
Jake Ballard, Michael Hoomanawanui, Brandon Ford and Daniel Fells are the only other tight ends on New England's roster. If Gronkowski is out (forearm, back surgery), Ballard becomes the best of the bunch - which is a far cry from Gronkowski and Hernandez.
So could Tebow line up in the tight end position?
Rotoworld reported on Friday: "Per (ESPN's Mike) Reiss, the Pats have 'made it pretty clear' Tebow is in Foxboro to compete for third-string quarterback duties. There are no imminent plans for a position change."
The report was from Friday, however, before the Patriots released Hernandez. Besides, if New England was thinking about putting Tebow at tight end, coach Bill Belichick wouldn't announce it.
It wouldn't be out of character for the coach to line Tebow up at tight end, either. He's done stranger - linebacker Mike Vrabel lined up as a tight end in short-yardage situations and caught touchdowns; Julian Edleman, a quarterback in college, played receiver and had stints as a defensive back.
George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel thinks the Tebow switch might happen.
"...I am thinking tight end. Two-time NFL All-Pro Rob Gronkowski may be out indefinitely following his recent forearm and back surgeries. ... It all leads back to Tebow, who would have to be able to make the position switch of course.
"That plan already seems in the works. After the Patriots traded for Tebow, Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com, citing a source, reported that New England's plan is for Tebow to 'study a great deal at end.'"
College quarterbacks have converted to receivers before (Joe Webb, Ronald Curry, Josh Cribbs, Antwaan Randle El) and Belichick is known to use players for multiple position. Tebow is a football player. He has the size to play H-back or tight end, and he's best when using his legs.
Is Tebow destined to replace Hernandez at tight end? Probably not. But don't be surprised to hear of Tebow taking tight end reps during training camp, if only to sate Belichick's curiosity.
