Tebow the Jaguar?

I really feel for Jaguars fans right about now. Just 2 years ago the team was headed in the right direction after a playoff win against the Steelers. After that win they gave their QB David Garrard a 6 year, $60 million contract. Now just 17 games later, the team is in turmoil. They lost 17,000 season ticket holders (mostly because of the economy) and now may not have a home game televised in Jacksonville all season. Hard to keep a fan base energized if the games aren't on TV. Wayne Weaver, the teams owner, has a way to re-energize the organization. His solution is to draft local hero Tim Tebow.

"Star power is incredible, and Tebow is an iconic figure. He clearly is an outstanding football player and would be an asset to any football organization." The game is such an important part of this community, and Tebow is such an iconic figure that people would legitimately think, 'Wouldn't it be great if he was a Jaguar. I'd be silly to sit here and think that's not going to be a huge thing. Clearly there's going to be a groundswell for Tebow, and we'll have to make that evaluation if we have a draft pick that's going to be anywhere near him."

Most optimists would give the Jaguars 7 wins which would put them somewhere around 12the in next year's draft. Considering most think Tebow at best is a late first round pick, they will have an opportunity to draft him. The only problem is that he doesn't project to be a NFL type QB (system issues, arm strength, accuracy, etc.) and they will have to pay him a lot of money at that spot. Do they draft Tebow just to sell tickets or do they draft the player that can help the team win? It is an interesting case study in what is more important, winning or selling tickets?

Now that the owner has come public with his love affair for Tim Tebow, how does he pass on him? They HAVE to draft him now or else they might lose whatever fan base they have left. Also, they just gave their QB a $60 million contract! How does it make any financial sense to have that much money tied into the QB position when neither one of them are going to be elite players? It is going to be a rough stretch to be a Jaguar fan.