Fansided

Jon Gruden thinks he can “win some games” with Tim Tebow

By Philip Santomauro

Aug 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tim Tebow (11) throws during warm ups before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tim Tebow (11) throws during warm ups before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s that time of year again, when Tim Tebow is drastically trying to pursue his dream of being a professional athlete and we’re all forced watch.

The New York Mets announced on Thursday that they have signed the former NFL and University of Florida quarterback to their instructional league team.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson isn’t the only one who still believes in the former Heisman Trophy winner. Jon Gruden recently made an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” speaking highly of Tebow stating “I could get Tebow and come back to the league someday and win some games.” Skip Bayless can rest easy knowing Tebow was endorsed in his absence.

On the surface, Gruden’s praise for Tebow is laughable and fans may want to question his credibility. But take a closer look at Gruden’s resume as a head coach and his comments begin to seem less ridiculous.

You may remember a quarterback by the name of Rich Gannon. Gannon spent 11 years as a journeyman playing for Minnesota, Washington and Kansas City. Occasionally he’d get the chance to start, only to tumble back down the depth chart. That all changed in 1999 when Gannon was signed to the Raiders, uniting with Gruden for the first time. He would go on to make four Pro Bowls, two AP All-Pro teams and have a 2002 MVP season resulting in a Super Bowl matchup against the very man responsible for his success.

Gruden was on the winning side of Super Bowl 37 with another journeyman quarterback. Brad Johnson, similar to Tebow, spent the early years of his career scouring the globe for a potential job as a starter. That included time with Minnesota as a backup to Gannon, and starting for the World League’s London Monarchs.

His return to the NFL had its fair share of highlights including a Pro Bowl season with Washington in 1999, but his full potential wasn’t achieved until he teamed up with Gruden in Tampa Bay.

Let me make this clear. Tim Tebow is not Brad Johnson or Rich Gannon. Both of Gruden’s Quarterbacks were known for their accuracy. Unlike Tebow who owns a 47.9 career completion percentage in 16 starts.

In the extremely rare event that Gruden and Tebow both decide to come back to the league, at the same time, on the same team, it is not out of the realm of possibility that the two could “win some games.”

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