Tim Tebow has been a symbol for change off the field, it’s part of the reason a circus of FANatics and media follow him everywhere. Teammates are now charged with being asked one, or maybe four, additional questions they normally wouldn’t get, and it’s all about a guy who may not even play this year. Or even make the team for that matter. Here’s the thing, the signing of Tebow by a team like New England, with a coach like Bill Belichick who has total control, and a system in place from top down, may shed some light on how to handle another bubbling firework ready to explode, the announcement of the NFL’s first openly gay player.

Denver didn’t want him. John Elway had someone else, of course when that someone else is heading to the Hall and trying for one last push to the Super Bowl Big Game, it’s a no-win situation. Off to the Jets! I don’t know what the hell happened there, and I’m not sure anyone really does, including the major players mind you. Tim Tebow brings controversy, media hype, and constant distraction with questions to coaches and players the likes of “When will he play?” The Jets messed up from day one, they blew it. Parading out Tim Tebow on his own, and setting him up as a star was the biggest failure they made during the entire Tebow era. The bottom line was neither Rex Ryan nor his bosses knew what to do once they started this downhill process. They failed, miserably. The Jets made Tebow the story from day one, putting their other quarterback behind the eight ball, and foolishly let the story control them. So what does this all have to do with Tebow finding a new home up north in New England? What can the background of a guy who won a playoff game then was relegated to….well whatever he was in New York last year, teach us about another issue the NFL is dealing with right now? Control folks. It’s all about the difference between being a ringleader in the circus, or a bystander watching the story steamroll you over like a herd of elephants. Bill is a ringleader, Rex got steamrolled. It only took one day, one press conference, for me to see we could be on the verge of breaking down another barrier. One that Tim Tebow of all people would be instrumental in destroying.

The quotes were priceless, after ten questions we get about Tebow, “I think we’ve already talked about him enough” I think for the first time I enjoyed hearing Bill Belichick give the media absolutely nothing. It was the first day of camp, and not even real training camp, so understandably there was plenty of interest in plans for Tebow. Here’s the reality, Belichick nipped that sucker in the bud right away, diffused the press conference from the start. Players do it, coaches do it, GM’s do it. Easiest way to take the media, or nasty fans, out of an equation is to jump on it ahead of time. “Man, I really screwed up with that last shot, I should have passed it to my teammate, selfish of me… any questions?” We see it, and one of the masters did it again Tuesday in New England. Let’s go back to the circus, because that’s the crux of the issue here. The biggest concern we heard, beyond ability to throw the football, was whether a team was willing and able to handle what came with signing Tim Tebow. Not many squads have a grounded QB where signing a guy wouldn’t challenge him, combined with an already established line of success from coach to said QB to locker room, combined with total autonomy. Looking around the league, options begin to dwindle, and if you have the Broncos on your mind just refer to the very first sentence in this post. So what just happened? Bill Belichick stopped any madness before it even began, at least with him. He set the tone, unlike Rex Ryan, who’s tone was deaf most of the season. The Patriots signing works because of the head coach first and foremost, he proved it Tuesday the first opportunity he got. Will the media back off? Probably not at first, but they don’t have the time to sit out Belichick. Bill? He’s got all the time in the world, probably would live for that battle too.

One of the biggest social issues the NFL has dealt with in recent years, when will the league have it’s first openly gay player. One that unlike a Jason Collins, doesn’t have to wait until the twilight of his career to make such an announcement. Without going down the road of Asante Samuel or Adrian Peterson took us, there is a real concern from GM’s and coaches about the nature of a distraction if a gay player came out while playing. While the reaction would not be as polarizing, I hope, as the Tebow signing, and it does depend on what player makes this announcement, the constant questions and other positive “distractions” be it a book or movie or anything else that comes with overnight stardom will exist. Without knowing nor wanting to delve inside the mind of someone else, it could be playing a role in why someone has yet to come out in the NFL. Or maybe not. But one thing we do know, the NFL does not like guys talking about or doing anything that isn’t football. Look around, the guys making noise and pushing for social change, were phased out. The team wants you focused on the next game, not changing the world. Here’s where we may be able to learn from how the Patriots handled day one of the Tebow signing, and get a glimpse into the (near) future.

The general consensus seems to be that a tough son of a bitch needs to be the one to make the announcement. A middle linebacker, strong safety, a guy that just wants to hit you in the mouth every single play. It’s absurd, but this notion seems to be predicated on an easier acceptance of a gay player if he’s tough. I guess it would lead to the general acceptance of a not so tough openly gay player? But maybe we are looking at it from the wrong angle. Instead of it being certain criteria the player needs to fill, how about the team and head coach? Everything that was said about the Patriots and why signing Tebow made sense, can be used to support why the right team having that gay player will diffuse the circus from day one. From the head coach and his tone all the way down to the 53rd man on the roster, the media may try to pry and ask other guys, but it won’t work. It’s a long war to fight. I’m guessing if the same scenario were to play out in New England, replacing Tebow with the name of the first openly gay player in the NFL, we would all smile as Coach Belichick deflects question after question. Ultimately bringing the conversation back to football. Will the players hold up as well? On a team like New England, with a coach like this, and a system like the one they’ve built, I’ll take those odds.

pic c/o (www.trendmixer.com)