As NFL free agency arrives, and as we inch closer to spring, there’s been a lot of talk about quarterbacks in both the CFL and the NFL. One name that persists is Tim Tebow, who is rumoured to be on the next flight back to Denver — or to Chicago, or Cleveland, or Montreal.
I’m not busy preparing poutine and pancakes with maple syrup for anyone just yet, but consider the pot stirred. I do think it’s worth it to say that the CFL needs talent like Tim Tebow and the much-maligned, Johnny Manziel at the quarterback position.
Tim Tebow
I’ve never been a fan of Tebow, but I don’t hold the grudge against him that many do. We know he’s a bit of a scrambler and his abilities are clear. We also know he’s got a knack for exciting finishes. I’m not sure exactly why but he’s got an entire fan army behind him. Many have fallen in online battles over the years, but there are still many defenders in his corner. Enough flattery. Let’s skip ahead to the skepticism.
He’s been criticized widely for his downfield accuracy and the CFL quarterback must regularly throw screens or 40-yard out patterns, two seconds after the snap. No one has ever seen Tim Tebow make that throw. He might be capable, or he might not.
Some seem to think it would be a lot of fun to find out if he and a CFL offensive coordinator could work together on an offence tailored to suit his skill set. That is a long shot because of the huge commitment and investment for any team to spend on two individuals forging while under the pressure of winning. I wouldn’t be overly excited to see him on my team, but I wouldn’t be upset either.
Johnny Manziel
Cleveland released Johnny Manziel on Thursday night. I am a fan of what Johnny Manziel did at Texas A&M. I’m not a fan of what Manziel has done in his time as a pro with Cleveland. Putting his name and “pro” in the same sentence is almost an insult to the professionals in the game.
That said, he’s likely still got NFL options. Would he even entertain the idea? Only Manziel himself knows the answer to that. He needs a million things according to a million different people but one popular theory has been that he needs to get away, mainly from the people who seem to be adding to his off-field troubles.
Welcome to Saskatchewan, buddy! I think he does need to get away, but I’m not expecting him to land with the Riders. It’s just the last place you’d imagine the kid flashing the money signs on NFL draft day to end up. His CFL options depend on which team holds his negotiation rights. Any CFL club should be interested in a youngish prospect like Manziel as a long-term project and a youth-geared marketing machine.
The Call
The CFL needs guys like these. Notice the “like” in the statement? I’m not entirely sold that it’s either one of these guys. You have to love the big-name NFL players, if for no other reason than the American media that follows them up to Canada and expands our brand in the American market in doing so. It can be a tough sell for the players themselves at times but, as history shows, not an impossible one. It would have to be a decision made with playing time and goals in common with the club.
The goals for the clubs would be to sell tickets and to continue to provide opportunities for players who’ve faced the odds in their careers. I love some of the depth in the CFL quarterbacking club, so it pains me to say this: if you look around the CFL, you don’t see much depth, no matter what personnel comes in to raise the talent. Given that no contract is guaranteed until around Labour Day, CFL teams can afford to, and should, take risks more often and stay at least competitive at the position.
Some teams do have a two- or even three-deep depth chart at the position today. Others do not. Perhaps the beefy offensive line and the cliche, “keeping the quarterback on his feet,” is the best remedy. Ask Saskatchewan, B.C., and Winnipeg whether you can afford to count on your hogs? I don’t think you can, considering those teams’ records after being decimated at the position.
Maybe it’s time to look at changing the CBA removing the O-line from the salary cap for organizations to be able to afford the muscle it takes to protect the starters. I cant see the players association grumbling. Newly promoted CFL “change maker” Glen Johnson has been put in a position where changes to our game quite probably will become the immediate norm.
You’d have to put limits on the offensive linemen as well. A cap around $2M would sign five or six NFL practice roster guys who get a year of actual game play and game film. Would it break CFL teams and defeat the purpose of a cap? I don’t know, but something has to happen to keep the number ones around the league from missing significant portions of seasons. That’s the call on the play!
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