Patriots to sign Tim Tebow: report

In this file photo of Monday, April 15, 2013, quarterback of the New York Jets, Tim Tebow becomes the first day pre-season NFL training soccer on-site practice of Jets in Florham Park, New Jersey New York Jets say, Monday, April 29, 2013, have given up Tebow. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, file)

Tim Tebow still has a future in the NFL after all.

New England Patriots seem to think so and plans to sign it on Tuesday if he passes a physical examination.

It won't be from a quarterback, of course, with Tom Brady in Foxborough. But it is certainly a fascinating restoration project - another chance for coach Bill Belichick to torture to the Jets in New York, who could not find a role for Tebow last season.

And that it would make a good match of te-arco of Boston.

A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday that Tebow join the Patriots Tuesday minicamp and sign with the team, pending the medical examination. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement was made. Even when Tebow signs, there is no guarantee that will play for the Patriots.

ESPN first reported that Tebow would sign with New England.

Former general manager of Broncos Ted Sundquist sees the logic in the move.

"If you can find a club that is mature enough to handle an organization, then you will find the right place for it," said Sundquist. "What I mean is all craze of the means of communication and that sort of thing. The club says: ' look, this is the reason that we bring in. We believe that it can bring X, Y, Z, A, B, C to the table. "Explain to Tim, explain to the media, explaining to its base of fans and explain your organization."

That description seems to fit perfectly New England.

One of the most polarizing players in the NFL, Tebow last season lost in 2012 with the New York Jets, playing sparingly behind Starter struggling Mark Sanchez. Some fans thought that he was unfairly and deserves more of one chance; others thought that it lacked the skills to be a pro quarterback. He was released in April with barely a shrug - hardly the end most Jets fans expected taking into account his super hyped welcome to the Big Apple.

Tebow won two national titles at Florida and was a draft of the first round of the year in 2010 by Denver. As a rookie, Tebow threw only 82 passes in nine games, starting three. But in 2011, he started 11 games for 12 touchdowns and six interceptions and took the Broncos to a wildcard on Pittsburgh victory before a loss of of New England AFC divisional playoff, 45-10.

Despite the Broncos playoff run, it was changed to New York the next offseason when Denver signed Peyton Manning. Tebow threw only eight passes for the Jets, completing six, ran 32 times for 102 yards and was used primarily to protect the gambler.

"Unfortunately", Coach Rex Ryan said in a statement when Tebow was released, "things didn't work out what all we expected."

The Patriots have Ryan Mallett as the backup to Brady; on Monday they released QB Mike Kafka.

Asked if Tebow had signed, spokesman for the Patriots, Stacey James said: "Do not anticipate any additional transaction to announce tonight".

Tebow NFL career appeared over when the Jets will not trade at the time of project and ended up cutting off the left-handed quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy in 2007. But now he went to New England, where the man who drafted him as coach of the Broncos, Josh McDaniels is an offensive Assistant under Belichick.

And apart from winning the Super Bowl, Belichick likes nothing better than to hit the Jets. He had a fight with Ryan almost four seasons running, in part because once you told Ryan that was not contracted to kiss Belichick's rings.

Belichick was Jets coach for a day in the year 2000, sadly give up with a written note by hand. Soon he joined New England and has been regularly beating the Jets for more than one decade.

Revitalization of Tebow's career would be another great step towards the humiliating archrival of New England.

Tebow has been criticized for his movement to launch, but has said he wants to play quarterback, change positions. Still, the Patriots need help at tight end since Rob Culpepper underwent a fourth operation of a broken forearm and faces behind surgery. 6-Foot-3, 236 pounds, Tebow has the size to play there.

Belichick values versatility in their players, have used receivers Troy Brown, Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater in the defensive back when injuries hit that position.

Belichick has also been willing to bet the players discarded by other teams. Some have been successful, such as wide receivers Wes Welker and Randy Moss and running behind Danny Woodhead. Some are not, including all the receiver Chad Johnson and defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth.

The media circus that surrounded Tebow in Denver and the Jets could also be minimized by Belichick, who keeps a lid tight players interactions with reporters.

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AP Sports writers Dennis Waszak Jr. and Howard Ulman contributed to this story.

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