The next step in Tim Tebow's struggling NFL career is uncertain at the moment, but it looks as though playing in Russia will not be something he decides to do.
According to the Russian news service R-Sport, Tebow turned down an offer from the Moscow Black Storm that would have paid him $1 million for just two games of service.
The team's owner, Mikhail Zaltsman, had some harsh words for Tebow and his people, per the same report:
“Unfortunately agents of Tim Tebow turn down our proposal,” Zaltsman said in e-mailed comments. “I hope that its Tebow's agents’ fault that the contract wasn't signed and Tim couldn't do anything about it.”
He added: “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.”
Despite Zaltsman's words, Tebow and/or his people made the right call here. Going to Russia in order to play two games and be a motivational speaker for an astounding $1 million amounts to nothing more than Tebow being a sideshow for the benefit of the Russian squad.
While the price was right, Tebow looks better after avoiding the deal in what would have been a lose-lose in regard to his dream of being an NFL quarterback.
If he succeeded, Tebow would have gotten no credit from teams in the states since it would have been against weak competition. If he failed, Tebow would have been ridiculed nonstop and his already faded stock as a QB would have taken a fatal blow.
So, if it's just quarterback Tebow is interested in, here is what he should do to make his dream come true.
Tebow has some options that he would be wise to explore.
The first of which would be playing in the Canadian Football League. Granted, Tebow hasn't shown much interest in playing in the CFL, but with offers drying up from NFL teams, he should take a crack at it and look to join a roster.
After the NFL, the CFL presents solid competition and certainly some of the best as a secondary league in North America. Should he prove to be effective in the CFL, Tebow could follow the path of other quarterbacks who used the league as a stepping stone to the NFL like Hall of Famer Warren Moon, Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia.
Should Tebow desire to start off against a bit easier competition, then the Arena Football League would be perfect for him. As a step down from the CFL, the AFL would allow Tebow to work on improving his skills as a passer with little threat of being replaced by a backup should he struggle out of the gate.
Kurt Warner is the most notable name who went on to have a great NFL career after playing in the AFL. It remains to be seen if Tebow can accomplish that same goal, but it's certainly a promising example to point to in favor of the argument that he should move to the AFL.
Tebow has already received an offer from the Gene Simmons and the AFL's LA KISS to be their No. 1 quarterback as the team prepares for its inaugural season in March of 2014.
That situation would be perfect for the former Florida Gator, as he would be the face of the franchise and his potential struggles could be masked somewhat with a new team looking to gain traction in the league.
Whatever the case may be, Tebow should latch on to a team in either of these leagues. It's important for him to do so in order to avoid becoming completely irrelevant as a result of remaining inactive in football altogether.
This guy is becoming a national joke 
