Tim Tebow finally connects in preseason: How Gronkowski's injury will effect whether or not Tebow makes the team

My father and I sat sunk into our couch. 

The New York Giants were leading 20 to 10 and things were not looking good for the Patriots. Tim Tebow was QB, the Patriot needed to get out of their own territory and as crazy as it was, Tebow was not the guy who looked like he could do that. 

I sighed making jokes at Tebow's experience as he and his Patriots fell to an abysmal 3rd and 10 on their own 48 yard line. 

Tebow back to throw, receivers running down field as the Giants scrambled to cover their assignments. "Oh no, WAIT oh YES!!" 

As Tebow's pocket protection assembled firmly around him, wide receiver Quentin Sims called for the pass as he ran across the 1st down marker and deep into Giants territory. Tebow stepped back whipping his arm forward and delivering what was indisputably his best pass of the preseason. Sims leaped into the air snagging the ball between his hands and breaking free from a Giants tackler that was wrapped around his ankle. Upon dodging the safety, Sims was off to the races marching past the 20, the 10 and into the end-zone. 

Tebow pumped his fist yelling in delight as fellow QB Ryan Mallett sprinted down the sideline both hands held high in the air mouth falling open. For the first time Since January 21st 2012 Tim Tebow had THREW a touchdown pass. Tebow would add another touchdown pass before all was said and done drawing equal reactions from his teammates and fans as was prevalent with the 1st touchdown. 

"He’s my teammate. Quentin [Sims] made a great catch and then made a great run. Tim, he had the boo birds out the play before and then he comes back and throws a touchdown. It just shows what kind of player he is, his character. It was a great play and a great throw overall." Mallet said when asked about his excitement over Tebow's first TD pass.

 "There’re a lot of guys that deserve to be on this team. Everybody has been working hard." He then went on to say before once again eluding to the fact that he really was thrilled when Tebow hurled those TD passes. "We're a pretty close-knit team all the way around. That’s what makes our team great to be on, great to be a part of, is how close we are. We’re never not cheering for our teammates. That doesn't make much sense to us."

But the praise for Tim Tebow did not stop with just Ryan Malett.

“Me and Tim, we pretty much all training camp have been working together." Quinten Sims said after already speaking of the technicalities of both his hook ups with Tim Tebow.  "I’ve made plays for him and he makes good throws for me, so we got good chemistry and he knows to look for me.” 

There is no doubt about it, Tim Tebow is a man whom his teammates love. He is a team player and from what we have read from the press conferences and quotes of Tebow he never takes anything for granted, is always looking to get better all while never pinning HIS  mistakes on any of his teammates. When he was in Denver running the ball and winning games while it was fun to make fun of him, he was also fun to root for. So as it stands that intangible fact of Tebow's game may be one of his biggest tools that may be used in surviving the brutal roster cuts set to commence on Saturday.

“Anyone who’s met him, he’s a very special young man. I’m rooting for him big-time. He’s been a real joy to have around here. I see why he has such a strong national following. He’s just a great, great young man, We’re also privileged to have Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett. I like our position. If you look around the league . . . I just give thanks for the position we’re in.”  Bob Kraft said a few weeks ago when asked about Tim Tebow. 

OK, so we know this now, and it was proven once again last night. Bob Kraft roots for Tebow, and the entire Patriots roster roots for Tebow but from what we have learned over the past few years, Bill Belichick will firmly make the decision that he believes will better his football team not his locker room. He will not play favorites.  

So what does Tim Tebow have working for him?

NFL Network columnist: Bert Breer came on 98.5 The Sports Hub to explain his thoughts on the Tebow situation. 

"Im still on the fence. If I look at it logically I know they're gonna keep Gronk on the 53. They already have a quarterback in Ryan Mallett so there's another roster spot taken away from Tebow. It's a number's game with Tebow and I think that's gonna kill him." He said. 

Breer has a point. With Rob Gronkowski currently rehabbing from an off-season back surgery, the Patriots must have their roster cut down from 75 to 53 by late Saturday afternoon. Now with Gronkowski they have two options. As it stands New England's Pro Bowl tight end could be back as early as week 4  or possibly week 6. By putting Gronk on the 53 man roster the Patriots would be allowed to carry him and play in whenever they feel ready. But there is a problem there. Putting Gronkowski on the 53 man roster would mean that until he was healthy they would in essence have one 52 players that could actually PLAY in a game. So with that in mind, the other option comes into play. The Patriots could put Gronk on a list named the PUP list or the Physically Unable to Play list. This would allow them to not count Gronkowski against their 53 man roster but it would also come with a price. 

While listed on the PUP list, Gronkowki would not be ALLOWED to play until week 7. This would keep him out of 7 games against the Bill, Jets, Bucks, Falcons, Bengals, and Saints . Meaning that even if he was able to play by week 4 against the Falcons (a game the Patriots could use him in) he would not be able to play for 3 more weeks until the week after their week six meeting with the Saints. 

When looking at these two options both have their perks but as it stands the Patriots seem to be leaning towards not putting Gronk on the PUP list. This means that regardless of Tebow's 91 yards passing day he might still not make the team. 

But if you are a Tebow fan you still can hope. 

“I’m just taking it one day at a time and be able to enjoy playing this game tonight and come in here ready to work out tomorrow.” Tebow said after last night's game