Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow created a dynasty with the Florida Gators as they won two National Championships together.
SEE MORE:
Tim Tebow in Philly: Mark Sanchez says team told him Tebow is just a camp body
Oregon HC says Eagles’ coach Chip Kelly “not insane” despite signing Tim Tebow
QB Tim Tebow to sign with Philadelphia Eagles on Monday
Ohio State Buckeyes football head coach Urban Meyer said that the excessive media attention that his former college QB Tim Tebow received in the NFL turned off many teams.
In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show, the former Florida Gators head coach said that Tebow’s popularity with the media even though he was barely playing in the NFL was a drain on teams.
“I talked to many of the coaches involved, and one thing every coach wants is lack of distraction so they can focus on their team,” Meyer said. “And when all of a sudden ESPN has live people watching practice, and every time you wake up there’s ‘Tim Tebow this, Tebow this, Tebow this’ and you’re talking about a backup quarterback. And that did wear on people.”
Meyer coached Tebow from 2006 to 2009 while the two were with the Florida Gators. Tebow emerged as a top contributor for the Gators in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, a 41-14 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes. The following season Tebow won the Heisman trophy as the Gators’ starting QB, and the year after that Tebow won another National Championship.
After the 2009 season, Tebow declared for the 2010 NFL draft, where the Denver Broncos traded up in the first round to take him. Tebow would lead the Broncos to an AFC West division title in 2011, but was never really considered a legitimate NFL QB.
“The problem with Tim — and this is the only problem — he creates so much conversation and distraction that I think that spooks some teams… And I think we’re that far beyond it now, that that’s not that big of a distraction anymore. He’s just a quarterback trying to make a team now.”
Tim Tebow was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles last week, but Eagles QB Mark Sanchez publicly said that Tebow is only there as a camp body while expected-starting QB Sam Bradford recovers from injuries.
COMMENTS