Tim Tebow has officially turned down the Moscow Black Storm's offer to play American football in Russia.
"Unfortunately agents of Tim Tebow turn down our proposal," said Black Storm owner Mikhail Zaltsman in an email to Russia's R-Sports Web site. "I hope that it's Tebow's agents' fault that the contract wasn't signed and Tim couldn't do anything about it. If it was his decision - it's very upsetting. And in this case we don't want him in our team anyway. We are looking for the people who pursue their dreams, not the ones who talk about it."
The former quarterback for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and New England Patriots was offered $1 million to play in the semifinals of the American Football Championship of Russia playoffs against the Moscow Patriots, as well as the league championship game should the Black Storm advance in the postseason.
"I talked with him personally and he wanted to go," had said Zaltsman to media last week. "[His agents are] thinking of using him as a motivational speaker. They don't want him to play football."
Tebow has not garnered interest from other NFL teams since he was released by the Patriots but has received an offer from the expansion Arena Football League team LA KISS, co-owned by Gene Simmons.
"Acquiring Tebow would not only be a great investment for the team, but his exciting style of play would definitely send shockwaves through the league," said KISS band member Gene Simmons in a statement. "We're excited for the opportunity to see him with an LA KISS uniform on, and for the LA KISS fans to be rockin' their Tebow shirts and jerseys."