Sports

Is Tim Tebow an NFL QB?

And other topicsof the day

Bill Burt
Published: January 12, 2009

It was another eventful weekend of sports, here and everywhere.

There was the annual college football playoff debate. There was the NFL draft debate. There was another disheartening Celtics loss. And there was another dominating Bruins win.

And lest we forget about our teams on vacation, the Red Sox and Patriots, they were hot topics this weekend, too.

Here are a few weekend topics still worth discussing:

1. Tim Tebow is not an NFL quarterback

Back in 1999, I wrote a story about the influx and then-recent success of "mobile" quarterbacks. I called Hall of Famer Phil Simms, who I believe is one of the most astute and pragmatic football minds in the world. Before I got on with my first question, he stopped me cold.

"I understand where you're going with this," said Simms. "But let me make this simple. You want to be a good quarterback in the NFL? Here's what you have to do. It's near the end of a playoff game, you're down four points and it's third-and-14. Can you deliver the ball to the receiver? Can you make that pass for a first down?

"Sure, it helps if you can run a little bit, get a first down here and there," said Simms. "But if you're going to play quarterback in this league at a high level, you have to be able to make that big pass."

I bring this up as it pertains to University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and the possibility of him becoming a quarterback at the next level.

One NFL scout recently told me, "I love the kid. He's tough. He makes plays. But he won't play quarterback in our league. He can play in the NFL. He could play some quarterback in special situations. But he relies too much on his ability to run. You can do that in college with success. In the NFL, you will eventually get stopped or hurt. Or both."

2. Patriots as good as anybody left

Just as we suspected. The remaining four teams in the playoff have something in common. None are better than the New England Patriots.

That's not to say the Patriots would have been crowned Super Bowl champs, but it is to say the Patriots' chances of winning would have been as good as any.

I believe the Patriots would have matched up well with the Ravens defense, mainly because of Josh McDaniels' spread offense. The Patriots would have nullified their strength, which is run defense and pressure on the quarterback. A quick passing game with some delayed runs (see: Kevin Faulk), in my opinion, would have been successful.

3. Kotsay best Sox offseason move

It got little press at the end of last week, but it was substantial — the Red Sox re-signed Mark Kotsay to a one-year deal to back up Kevin Youkilis at first base.

The Red Sox acquired Kotsay, an outfielder, on Aug. 27 from the Atlanta Braves, we thought, as insurance. But Theo Epstein informed him, when the trade was made, that he would be playing first base, a position he played only 26 games over his 12-year career.

With Mike Lowell hurt, Kotsay was able to handle some duty there in September and October while Youkilis was moved to third base.

It was thought the Red Sox wouldn't have a shot at Kotsay, who wanted to play full-time somewhere. But that opportunity never came and he re-signed with the Sox last Friday.

He gives the Sox versatility as a potential right-fielder, a left-handed bat off the bench, and as Youkilis' backup. And if Lowell can't get back to 100 percent, he can play full-time at first base.

4. Pierce is key to C's

Of all the Celtics' problems of late (energy, bench and scoring), Paul Pierce's dominance might top the list.

Kevin Garnett was the Celtics MVP of the regular season in 2007-08, but Pierce was the MVP of the playoffs.

While there have been flashes of brilliance, there hasn't been enough.

As was noted here last week, James Posey is missed on defense. Well, Pierce needs to pick up that slack as well as be the go-to guy in the fourth quarter.

While he has probably been the most consistent of The Big Three, Pierce had an emotional start to the season (see: ring ceremony), but it's time for him to be a superstar, on both sides of the floor.

5. B's are no fluke

Both the Celtics and Bruins appeared to be in a funk last week. We found out this weekend the Celtics are alone. The Bruins are just fine.

Their 6-4 win on Thursday and 5-1 win on Saturday spoke volumes of their consistency since the end of October.

Of course, we will measure this success and failure of this season come playoff time — they must win several series to make it happy one.

The best part is the Bruins aren't relying on one player or even one line on the offensive end. Of the 11 goals scored in their last two wins, eight different Bruins scored goals.

They host the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night in an expected sellout. The B's are 2-0-1 against their Northeast rivals since their epic series last April.

6. Don't fault Coach Jags

Boston College left the Big East four years ago because of millions of dollars, much to the chagrin of their former brethren from UConn and Syracuse.

Can you blame BC for the move? No. That's what big-time college sports is all about, bringing in lots and lots of money.

So when its football coach, Jeff Jagodzinski, saw the many openings in the NFL, which pays two and three times what college coaches make at a school like BC, and inquired, should anybody be surprised? No.

Promises aside, college coaches jumping ship is the rule, not the exception.

As long as BC has what is perceived as a "very good" coach in football or basketball, this will always be possibility.

Athletic director Gene DeFilippo was upset, because he went out on the limb to hire "Coach Jags," but it's part of doing business.

7. It's OK to root for Reid, McNabb

The fact that Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb are still together, in Philadelphia, despite some rocky weeks, months and even years, deserves some recognition.

It is rare these days that coaches and quarterbacks, both of whom have their struggles, hang around as long as these two have.

The pair have now combined for five NFC Championship games over the last decade. It is remarkable that on Nov. 23, they weren't talking to each other after McNabb was benched.

In fact, ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported it was the unofficial end of McNabb's tenure in Philadelphia. Well, they've won six of seven games since then, including two in January.

I say, "Go Eagles."

8. LT's greatness in question

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson is a Hall of Famer.

But you have wonder if he is anywhere close to being the "all-time greatest running back" that former Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer called him a half-dozen seasons ago.

Some of the Chargers' best, most recent playoff moments have come with Tomlinson on the sidelines with injuries.

He has rushed for 25, 42, 28 and 5 yards in each of San Diego's last four playoff games. Even his last great game, 123 yards on 23 carries and 2 TDs against the Patriots, ended up being a loss (24-21 on Jan. 14, 2007).

We don't call quarterbacks "great" unless they've won "The Big One." Well, he hasn't even been to a Super Bowl.

He has appeared to have lost a step from those Schottenheimer days, and Darren Sproles has rightfully earned a much bigger role in the offense, and that makes you wonder if LT's best days are officially behind him.

9. Asante might have made Pats champs

What would have happened if Asante Samuel was a New England Patriot in 2008?

I'll take a stab at that one: They probably would have gone to the Super Bowl.

He is the one playmaker the Patriots had on defense and it was the most glaring hole on this team in 2008.

Would his contract (six years, $57 million) have upset the apple cart in Foxboro? Probably. Coach Bill Belichick has been very careful to keep salaries at affordable rates for every "star" on the team, including Tom Brady.

Samuel's outlay would have gone over that limit.

But he really is a special player. He has been the difference on the Eagles defense. And as we saw yesterday, his first quarter interception and return to the 1-yard line was one of the key plays in the Eagles' win over the Giants.

The Patriots defensive backfield, while it improved much in December, was a mess when some keys losses (San Diego, Jets and Pittsburgh) mounted.

E-mail Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.