Tim Tebow is the most controversial and intriguing player in the NFL.
Last season he helped spark the Broncos to a division title and a playoff win, but this season he was relegated to the bench behind Mark Sanchez and was passed over to start at quarterback for third-stringer Greg McElroy. Tebow now appears as if he is a man without a purpose, as the Jets showed last season they had no idea how to use him.
Tebow was seen on Monday in Arizona training during the offseason, fueling speculation that a possible trade to the Cardinals could be in the "cards." According to multiple reports from TMZ and Fox Phoenix, Tebow was seen working out at Paradise Valley Community College in the area, fueling speculation that he could become a Cardinal sometime in the future.
The Cardinals could be an interesting spot for Tebow, considering the team will be bringing in a new coach and a new system after firing head coach head coach Ken Whisenhunt following a second straight 5-11 season. Arizona was one of the worst offensive teams in the league and was ranked 32nd in the league in rushing and 28th in passing while averaging just 15 points per game, second worst in the league. The team wasn't able to use wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as much as they wanted to because of the quarterback play, limiting him to just 71 catches for 798 yards and four touchdowns.
The Cardinals split time between John Skelton, Kevin Kolb and Ryan Lindley, all of whom were not consistent or successful in the offense. Arizona started off as one of the surprise teams in the league after going 4-0, but lost 11 of the final 12 games to finish 5-11 for the second time in three seasons. The only win for the team over that stretch was a 38-10 victory over the Detroit Lions on Dec. 16.
Whisenhunt went just went 45-51 in six seasons with the Cardinals, but there were deficiencies on both sides of the ball and suffered one of the worst losses in history when they were defeated 58-0 by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15.
Tebow offers an interesting set of skills and if a team built their offense around him, there is a chance he could succeed. But would Tebow have succeeded while playing for the Cardinals this season despite all their struggles?
Let's look at some of the games the Cardinals played this year and analyze if Tebow could have been better at quarterback or if he could have affected the outcome of the games for Arizona.
Week 1: Arizona Cardinals 20, Seattle Seahawks 16
It's pretty amazing to look back on the year and see a team like the Cardinals defeat the Seahawks, who made it all the way to the divisional round of the playoffs before losing to the Atlanta Falcons on a last-second kick. Arizona won this game, but it took a touchdown pass with five minutes left after Kevin Kolb entered the game for an injured John Skelton.
Tebow is at his best in close games and although Kolb proved to be good enough to seal it with a game-winning touchdown, Tebow may have been able to keep the Seahawks defense off-balance, allowing the Cardinals to build a lead rather than have to come from behind. If he was the backup, Tebow would have been thrust into the game after Skelton went down. The Cardinals only gained 253 yards in the game, including 210 through the air.
Week 6: Buffalo Bills, 19, Arizona Cardinals 16 (OT)
Here is where Tebow could have been the most effective. He plays his best when the game is getting close to the end and he proved to be solid in overtime as well during his year starting for the Broncos. The Bills were able to kick a field goal in overtime, but Tebow would have been able to make some plays in the fourth quarter for the Cardinals that may have ended the game in regulation instead.
Arizona had only 150 yards passing and threw two interceptions, giving the Bills extra chances to drive down the field on offense. Although Tebow is a below-average passer, he does a good job of keeping the ball protected and could have affected the outcome of this game by just being on the field.
Week 13: New York Jets 7, Arizona Cardinals 6
This is the most interesting to look at, because Tebow actually might have played in this game of he hadn't hurt his ribs the previous week. After three first half interceptions from Mark Sanchez, Rex Ryan benched him in favor of Greg McElroy.
If Tebow was on the other sideline, he may have been able to spark something in the Cardinals that brought them into the endzone, rather than getting beaten by one point in a low scoring game to one of the worst teams in the league. The Jets took the lead on a touchdown from McElroy, which was the only touchdown of the game.
The Cardinals only had 56 yards passing, one of the worst performances for any team this year. Even though Tebow is not a great passer, he likely would have been able to avoid more pressure than the other two Arizona QB's, who took way too many sacks this year. His scrambling ability allows him to keep plays alive and make things happen for his squad.
Week 14: Seattle Seahawks 58, Arizona Cardinals 0
Tebow likely wouldn't have helped in this game, but there is no doubt he would have been better than Ryan Lindley, who went just 8-of-17 for 59 yards in relief of John Skelton, who passed for 74 yards and four interceptions. The team only gained 111 yards through the air and were dominated in every phase of the game.
While Tebow wouldn't be able to defeat the Seahawks all on his own, he likely would have provided something of a spark to the team, much like he did against the Miami Dolphins last season when he led dramatic comeback victory after being down 15-0 in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter.
Check out the POLL below and decide if the Cardinals would have been better with Tim Tebow in 2012.
