It seems like every day someone new is stepping forward to opine on the NFL prospects of Florida’s Tim Tebow. A few days ago it was Florida governor Charlie Crist. Today it’s someone with slightly better credentials to analyze the quarterback position.
Phil Simms, the former Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback of the New York Giants, appeared on the Dan Patrick Show and offered his own assessment of Tebow, saying that while quarterback is the right position for him in the NFL, he’s going to need a lot of fine-tuning.
“He’s going to make it in the NFL as a quarterback. Somebody will take him,” Simms said. “I think it’s a pretty tough road ahead. I think he has to make some changes as far as how he throws if he wants to be a successful NFL quarterback.”
Simms takes issue with those who think Tebow can succeed simply because he has the character and leadership of a successful quarterback. Simms says character and leadership aren’t nearly as important as the ability to throw the football. And Simms questions whether Tebow has that ability.
“It’s about the arm,” Simms said. “It’s about the arm. Let’s just get over that. . . . It’s not a powerful arm, by no means. It’s not quick. He’s just really got to control the football better. He doesn’t control it as well as he should to really be a top-flight NFL quarterback, but that can change.”
Simms doesn’t think Tebow has to change positions to play in the NFL. But he does think Tebow has to change his throwing motion. That takes time, and that means any NFL team that drafts him had better be patient.