Fansided

5 Olympic sports Tim Tebow should try instead of baseball

By Steven Kubitza

Dec 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida Gators former quarterback Tim Tebow on the sideline during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2015 SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida Gators former quarterback Tim Tebow on the sideline during the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2015 SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 9, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; United States forward Danny Barrett (3) tries to contain Argentina forward Axel Muller (5) during a rugby sevens match between USA and Argentina at Deodoro Stadium in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; United States forward Danny Barrett (3) tries to contain Argentina forward Axel Muller (5) during a rugby sevens match between USA and Argentina at Deodoro Stadium in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

This one’s almost too easy. Even to the novice sports observer, Tim Tebow trying to play professional rugby makes a lot more sense than him trying to play baseball.

While Tebow has no experience in the rough-and-tumble sport, football is basically rugby with pads and a helmet anyway, right? (Wrong, but sure.) Indeed, Tebow always seemed more natural as a runner. Given proper training, there’s every reason to believe he could stick on a professional rugby squad.

After beginning his career as a rugby player, Nate Ebner of the New England Patriots made the jump from football back to his first love, where he’s currently suiting up for Team USA in Rio.

As Tebow wouldn’t have to rediscover how to play an entirely new sport (like he has to do with baseball, which he has not played since he was a teenager) rugby sure seems like an ideal fit. He would just need to take some time to learn the rules. Easy as that, right?

The problem for Tebow would be adjusting to the physicality of rugby. If he were a linebacker or a special teams player in the NFL, the adjustment might be a bit easier. But going from being a quarterback, where you’re not even allowed to be touched in practice, to being exposed on an open field with no pads could prove to be too much of a change for Tebow.

Not to say he wouldn’t try to do it, but rugby players may laugh if Tebow thought the transition would be an easy one.

Next: 4. Handball

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