The Tim Tebow era is over in New England after the Patriots have decided to cut the former Heisman winner from the final roster.
Tebow struggled throughout the preseason completing only 11 of 30 passes for 145 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in three games. He also rushed 16 times for 91 yards.
"It's not just one game although every game is important," Belichick said Friday about the player evaluation process. "But the body of work, the camp, the rate of improvement, the ability to do the things that players are going to be asked to do at their respective positions."
The Patriots have gone with two quarterbacks on the roster three of their past four seasons, and will have Ryan Mallet backing up long-time starter Tom Brady.
Mallet went 42-for-76, completing 55.3% of his passes, with three touchdowns and one interception throughout the preseason, assuring his place on the roster.
Tebow could sign with another team but had drawn little interest after the New York Jets had previously released him. Tebow will be competing with Vince Young (cut by the Green Bay Packers), Mike Kafka (cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars), Matt Scott (cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars) Jordan Rodgers (released by the Bears and Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers' sibling), and Jimmy Clauson (cut by the Carolina Panthers) for open NFL spots throughout the league.
One possible landing spot could be Tebow's hometown Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars signed Ricky Stanzi on Tuesday, after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs and clearing waivers, and have Chad Henne as the backup to Blaine Gabbert. With the third-stringer barely having taken a snap with the team, Jacksonville may want to take a look at the hometown hero.
The Buffalo Bills may be another spot willing to gamble on Tebow, considering that injuries have decimated their roster at that position. The Bills have been scrambling for a quarterback since their first-round draft pick E.J. Manuel has been hobbled with a knee injury during the preseason and Kevin Kolb placed in the injured reserved due to post-concussion systems.
The Bills plan to start undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel on Week 1 and made a trade with the Detroit Lions for Thad Lewis to be the back-up Tuel until Manuel is ready to play.
Despite Tebow's accuracy deficiencies, Tebow has a wealth of experience over Tuel and Lewis, including an overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2012 AFC Playoffs. Tebow, the Denver Broncos quarterback at the time, threw an 80-yard touchdown pass over Steelers' cornerback Ike Taylor's head to receiver Demaryius Thomas in overtime to win the game.
Tebow seemed at peace with whatever the Patriots decided, when asked about the possibility of getting cut, on Thursday.
"I'm blessed, because of my faith, that I don't have to worry about the future because I know who holds my future," Tebow told reporters. "It's something I try to live by. It really gives you a lot of peace in whatever circumstance I'm in."