Tim Tebow released by Jets

Ron Jaworski wants Tim Tebow to play for his Arena Football League team -- but not as a starting quarterback, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. The owner of the Philadelphia Soul has apparently reached out to Tebow about a role that would see him as their primary backup with a few specialty sets.

Jaworski, an NFL analyst for ESPN, worked with Soul coach Clint Dolezal on piecing together a series of plays designed for Tebow, which they sent over to the free-agent quarterback. But they specified that they still expect Dan Raudabaugh, a Miami (Ohio) product who currently starts at quarterback for the squad, to remain the team’s starter. Jaworski elaborated on how playing Arena Football can help Tebow:

“The fit, obviously, wasn’t perfect or he would still be there,” Johnson said, via ESPN New York. “It’s just one of those things. You make a lot of decisions in football that aren’t going to help, that aren’t helpful, and you have to move on from those decisions.”

Johnson, who spoke to a group of reporters at the NFL’s Career Development Symposium on Tuesday, said teams have to learn how to move on from bad personnel decisions. His comments on Tuesday came roughly seven months after Johnson said Tebow would be with the Jets through 2014.

Last season, Tebow threw for 39 yards while having a QBR of 17.9, both career lows.

It doesn’t appear Tebow has too many teams going after his services despite his pedigree of being a winner as a Heisman Trophy recipient and a two-time national champion with the Florida Gators in college.

If Tebow would agree to play a position other than quarterback, specifically tight end, full back, or H-back, he would likely find several teams calling his agent, but as of now he has refused to make a position switch.

Now that Tebow has cleared waivers, the Jets owe the Denver Broncos $1.53 million for a salary advance given to Tebow in 2011.

But the Beef are also being pretty realistic about it. Per the AP:

They are willing to let Tebow play quarterback, so there’s that.

“We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow,” Ryan said in a statement released by the team. “Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we all had hoped. Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this offseason. We wish him the best moving forward.”

Tebow always showed up early and stayed late at practice, working hard to improve as a quarterback in the NFL. It simply didn’t work out. Ryan didn’t use Tebow often in his only season with the Jets. However, he always acknowledged his work ethic and dedication.