Peyton Manning Headed to Denver, Will the Patriots Pursue Tim Tebow?

I figured I would just get the mandatory Tim Tebow article out of the way now.

In case you haven't heard, according to multiple reports, former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has chosen the Denver Broncos as his next destination. From a Patriots perspective, this effects the team in multiple ways. First of all, the Broncos will certainly be better in 2011. The Patriots destroyed them in the Divisional Playoffs in January, but that was with the relatively inconsistent Tim Tebow at quarterback. For the Broncos, having Peyton Manning no doubt makes their offense scarier... and did I mention that the Patriots will play Manning's Broncos in 2012? Should be one of the most anticipated games of the year.

With Peyton Manning in the fold, the Denver Broncos are also quickly trying to move on incumbent starter Tim Tebow. The Patriots are quickly being identified as a potential suitor for his services. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk writes:

For that reason, don't rule out the Patriots, who could trade for him and move him to a new position and cash in from Tebowmania while also being competitive. It's not like he can make a case for sending Tom Brady to the bench, and Tebow would be reunited with Josh McDaniels, who drafted Tebow two years ago. So Tebow would have to smile and bear it, and play whenever and wherever he gets a chance. (Given Bill Belichick's fondness for two-way players, Tebow could also play a little linebacker, in theory.)

Look, I'm not a huge fan of giving up anything for substantial for Tebow. The Patriots already have three quarterbacks that would be ahead of Tebow on the depth chart in Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, and Ryan Mallett. If Tebow were to come to the Patriots, I would only approve if it were at a position other than quarterback. If Patriots coach Bill Belichick thinks he can make something of Tebow, then I'm not totally opposed to giving it a try. But the bottom line is, that given the current construction of the Patriots roster, I don't really see where Tebow would fit. So again, if it were a bargain deal, and Tebow was willing to play a position other than quarterback (as Florio suggests), I wouldn't be totally against it. But I just wouldn't count on such a deal going through.