Tim Tebow of the Broncos deserves a shot to play prominently somewhere in 2011 or 2012 regardless of whether his playing time increases this season or not - I know most won’t agree with me but I’m standing by that conviction and I’m going to list five teams below that should inquire about his availability as soon as the off-season is in full swing.

Maybe this is because I have a soft spot for the underdog - the humble, hard-working, coachable players who never take plays off and would be willing to do whatever it takes to win a game but I have a gut feeling that if a team with a need for a QB just gave this kid a chance he could shock the league.

Doesn’t anybody remember Kurt Warner? That’s a great story of a guy who, when finally given an opportunity, flourished beyond our wildest imaginations.

Tebow, of course, is currently one polarizing sports figure - the debate over whether he has the potential to be an effective, franchise-level QB in the NFL is about as polarizing an argument that exists in professional sports.

There are those who are devout followers of this kid from his triumphant days at Florida where he finished his college career by amassing over 500 yards of offense in a Sugar Bowl victory over Cincinnati and broke the all-time SEC rushing record formerly held by Herschel Walker.

Then there are the critics who, despite his tireless work ethic, leadership abilities, and obvious future potential, refuse to admit that he indeed might thrive if he continues to develop and is placed in game-type situations. With the recent firing of Coach Josh McDaniels, an ardent supporter of Tebow, NFL folks are questioning whether Tebow will ever receive a shot.

To me, that is a damn shame.

Look, I don’t follow college football religiously but I watched enough games and highlights of his time at Florida to know that the potential this guy possesses is vast and, while I understand his throwing motion needs work, I can think of a few off-season situations where Tebow might thrive in 2011 and at the latest 2012.

Would he need time to develop and a coach with patience, job security (I know… laugh away), and success developing quarterbacks or assistants who excelled in that area?

Of course.

He could also turn out to be a complete disaster and be swallowed up by NFL linemen as quickly as JaMarcus Russell just woofed down that cheeseburger and fries.

That being said, I’m betting that he would succeed in the right situation and here are the five teams I think should consider his services if the Denver Broncos desire to deal him:

Here they are:

1. Seattle Seahawks

CURRENT QB ROSTER:

Matt Hasselbeck J.P. Losman Charlie Whitehurst

Pete Carroll reportedly had an interest in Tebow before the NFL Draft and while Matt Hasselbeck is still a decent QB his days are numbered as this team’s definite starter, whether he departs after this season as a free-agent or not. Charlie Whitehurst, whom Seattle acquired in the off-season for a king’s ransom from the Chargers, has not inspired confidence in his limited playing time and would not be a guarantee to earn the starting spot next year. Carroll is a high-energy guy who appreciates hard work and passion - I would bet that he would be willing to work with Tebow over the next couple of years if the opportunity presented itself. He took a flyer on Mike Williams so why not Tebow?

2. Arizona Cardinals

CURRENT QB ROSTER:** **

Derek Anderson Max Hall John Skelton Richard Bartel

The Cardinals QB situation is an absolute disaster and is there anyone out there who feels Tebow could perform any worse than Derek Anderson? Arizona has tremendous red-zone woes and I have no doubts that Tebow could help in that department. Plus, Coach Ken Whisenhunt isn’t asking for an air-out type QB right now - he just wants some consistency from the position, for goodness sake! If there were any doubts about Kurt Warner’s greatness before this season I hope they have disappeared.

3. Carolina Panthers

CURRENT QB ROSTER:** **

Jimmy Clausen Matt Moore Keith Null Tony Pike Brian St. Pierre

They will probably opt to take a quarterback with the first pick in the draft next year and I can’t say I blame them given how horrendous Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen have played this season. When you have to pull Brian St. Pierre off his couch to play on short notice you know you have problems. Obviously, if John Fox and his staff are fired after this season we won’t know if Tebow would develop properly but his chances to start would be there. Plus, when at their best, Carolina owns one of the best ground games in the business, which would allow Tebow some breathing room.

4. Minnesota Vikings

CURRENT QB ROSTER:** **

Brett Favre Tavaris Jackson Joe Webb

Why not? Brett Favre will be long gone after this season (we think) and who knows if Tavaris Jackson will prove to be a capable starter for the Vikings long-term. I know the Vikings believe they have the talent to compete for a title right now but would Tebow have really been that much of a downgrade over the ineffective Favre? Probably not. This is another coaching situation that might fluctuate so you never know if Frazier or the new head-honcho will be a Tebow supporter.

5. New England Patriots

CURRENT QB ROSTER:** **

Tom Brady Brian Hoyer

This would be a long-term project location, of course, as perennial MVP candidate Tom Brady is a few years from relinquishing his spot, barring another catastrophic injury. However, if Tebow doesn’t land somewhere that allows him to compete for playing time at least he can learn from one of the greatest of all-time. Plus, Belicheck’s friendship with Florida Coach Urban Meyer might persuade him to at least give the kid a chance for a roster spot. The “Hoodie” actually had high-praise for Tebow in March, stating to ESPN: *“I think it’s obvious that within the last six weeks, that he’s worked on his mechanics and they’ve improved, which is a credit to him. He’s very coachable and he works very hard. I’m sure that whatever he feels he needs to do, he’ll work very hard at, whatever that is. Athletically, he tested very well at the combine, which you can see on the field.” *This scenario actually represents the safest and possibly best long-term option for Tebow’s future.

ALSO CONSIDERED:

  • Cincinnati Bengals (Will the old Carson Palmer please stand up?) and Buffalo Bills (Is Ryan Fitzpatrick really the long-term answer?)

No matter what happens I would love to see Tebow succeed. I hope somebody takes a chance on him.

Do you think Tim Tebow will be a legit NFL player at some point or is he destined to become a collegiate-legend-turned-NFL-bust in the Tim Couch-mold?