UPDATE: Brady Tweaks a Knee: What Does It Mean for Ryan Mallett?

New question: What does a Tom Brady injury mean for Ryan Mallett and Tim Tebow?

Here’s the latest news on what looked to be an injury of Tom Brady during practice Wednesday, as reported by the Boston Globe.

The Patriots are dealing with their greatest scare of training camp.

Tom Brady left the field with a left knee or ankle injury early in 11-on-11 drills this afternoon. Brady threw an incompletion to rookie Aaron Dobson on the right sideline on his second pass of full team drills, and then the quarterback hit the ground clutching his left leg.

Brady gingerly limped off the field and met with head trainer Jim Whalen. He returned to the field after just one play, though the limp was still noticeable.

Brady completed his next three passes before the series ended, and he huddled with Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels before leaving the field with Whalen.

CBS Sports is reporting:

[tweet https://twitter.com/JasonLaCanfora/status/367771198240739329]

Here is video of the injury and the fans’ reaction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIqfOwhA41Q#action=share

News broke earlier this summer that the New England Patriots had picked up recently dropped New York Jets backup quarterback and former SEC and college football superhero, Tim Tebow.

The question on Arkansans mind is ‘What does Tim Tebow to the Patriots mean for Ryan Mallett?’

Does Tim Tebow to the Patriots mean that backup QB and former Razorback Ryan Mallett should be looking over his shoulder?

Does Tim Tebow to the Patriots mean that backup QB and former Razorback Ryan Mallett should be looking over his shoulder?

 

Ryan Mallett discusses his new teammate, Tim Tebow, in the video below, and transcript of additional comments are below the video from Patriots Insider.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPYT2yPPhWk

“There’s always competition at every position so you know it is part of the job,” said Mallett, drafted in the third round (74th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Patriots. “I’ve continued to improve to get my body in shape … You want to do your best and perform. I’m going out to help the Patriots. I’m a Patriot. All this other stuff being talked about, I don’t have anything to do with it. I come to work every day as a Patriot and try to get better.”

“He’s a great player,” said Mallett. “Tim is a student of the game. He asks question to Tom and to me. He’s had a little exposure (to the New England offense), but not a lot. I’m just trying to help him out.”

Mallett is entering his third season as a Patriots backup quarterback. He said Brady has been a great influence on his growth as quarterback in the NFL.

“Of course, I would loved to have played when I came in, but seeing how the game works … I feel it’s like something that has helped me,” said Mallett. “I can hear Tom all the time. He’ll give me little pointers and I’ll ask him some times when we’re watching film and I’ll ask him what should we do right here. He’s great guy and a great teammate. He helps out and its fun playing with him.

 

Here is video of Tebow discussing his new football home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko6fWPL3fso

 

News reports from New England also indicate the Patriots have released one of their backup quarterbacks, Mike Kafka. Analysis from WEEI radio in Boston goes like this:

The fact that the Patriots released a quarterback in Mike Kafka is a small sign he should get some reps under center, and could in fact set up an intriguing preseason battle with Ryan Mallett for the job of backup quarterback. At the same time, when it comes to Tebow as a quarterback, all the same things apply now as opposed to when he was under center with the Broncos and Jets. He’s completed less than 48 percent of his attempted passes over the course of his career as a pro, which runs so against the grain when it comes to what the Patriots look for in a quarterback — accuracy above all else — I’m not sure what to think. When it comes to pro-style readiness, his mechanics are still a mess — his elongated windup has to be shortened and economized before he has a shot at playing long-term in the NFL. And while there would be some adjustments on both sides, the idea of Tebow taking over a New England offense (in other words, going from Tom Brady to Tebow) would necessitate a colossal change in philosophy.

Two things that could be in his favor when it comes to possibly developing him as a quarterback: one, few coaches know him better than offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who hitched his wagon to Tebow after taking him in the first round of the 2010 draft and was his first professional head coach while with the Broncos. It figures that if anyone knows Tebow’s ability, it’s McDaniels. (And for what it’s worth, how much of this decision was made with McDaniels’ input?) And two, if he is just a quarterback in the New England system, he will get a chance to sit behind Brady and learn from a Hall of Fame quarterback. Unlike the circus of New York, he will be as far out of the spotlight as a third-string quarterback chooses to be, and have a chance to spend hours working in the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse.

From the New York press:

For the Jets, Tim Tebow is the ghost of last season, but he’s now set up to haunt his old team at least twice a year.

The Patriots always seemed a logical fit for Tebow because of Belichick’s ability to use his players’ versatility coupled with the fact that Belichick and QB Tom Brady are both secure in their roles. He’ll also be reunited with the man who drafted him, Josh McDaniels, the former Broncos head coach who is now the Pats’ offensive coordinator and QB coach. Tebow also has old connections to Belichick, who is good friends with Tebow’s college coach Urban Meyer. Tebow certainly won’t be in the competition for starting QB with Brady around. Ryan Mallett, who wears Tebow’s No. 15, is listed as the backup on the Pats’ depth chart. They cut Mike Kafka on Monday.

And from CBSsports.com columnist, Pete Prisco, we get this:

I just don’t understand the (Tim Tebow to the Patriots) move. The Patriots have a young quarterback in Ryan Mallett behind Tom Brady, and he’s a far more polished passer than Tebow. Who’s he replacing as a tight end in New England? Rob Gronkowski or Aaron Hernandez or anybody? He’s never played the position and has no suddenness to his game. Can he catch? Who the hell knows?

 

[tweet https://twitter.com/SportsNation/status/344458750209449985] [tweet https://twitter.com/georgediaz/status/344462096840392705]

 

Update: Here is a transcript of Bill Belichick’s press conference June 11, 2013 regarding Tim Tebow:

What can you tell us about your decision to sign Tim Tebow? What is it about his personality or attitude that leads you to believe that he can contribute to the team?

Belichick: Anything we do is what we feel is in the best interests of the team. Tim is a talented player that is smart and works hard. We’ll see how it goes.

How much of a consideration was the attention that was going to come before making the decision to sign him?

Belichick: None, we try to do what’s best for the team.

How do you deal with a player coming in with all this fanfare and celebrity? Do you have to sit him down and talk to him?

Belichick: In all honesty, we’ve been in front of bigger crowds than this before. We’ll just keep doing what our job is. We’re going to try to get better as a football team, individually and collectively, and that’s what we’re going to do.

How do you plan to use him? What position?

Belichick: We’ll try to do what we think is best for our football team. I don’t know, we’ll see.

Is it possible he could be used on special teams or defense in addition to offense?

Belichick: We’ll see, I don’t know.

Specific to his off-field traits, what are some things you liked about Tim Tebow when you evaluated him?

Belichick: He’s a talented guy, he’s smart, he works hard. We’ve all seen him play. He can do a lot of things — we’ve seen that.

Can you talk about your relationship with Tim? You’ve known him a long time, obviously there are things you like.

Belichick: Yeah, I like Tim. I have a lot of respect for Tim.

Have you had a close relationship with him over the years?

Belichick: I’ve never coached him before so I wouldn’t … I’m certainly closer with a lot of the players that I’ve coached through my career.

People around the league question his ability to play quarterback in the NFL. How do you feel about that?

Belichick: I’ve already said that.

I’m talking about specifically at quarterback.

Belichick: I’ve answered the question twice. He’s a talented player who is smart and works hard.

Will you discuss with him some of the ancillary stuff that seems to come with him? You know, the way his training camp was covered last year with the Jets and what he’ll be doing outside of football.

Belichick: We have a team full of players. Everybody has a job to do and I’m sure he’ll try to do it the best that he can. We’ll all try to do our jobs the best that we can.

 

Tell us what you think? Does Tim Tebow to the Patriots spell doom for Ryan Mallett at New England?

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