Agreed.. but that doesn't mean that all other things being equal, you don't choose the path of the player that will cause the least amount of headaches.
Originally Posted by: Pack93z
Corrected that for you. I think that's what you meant anyway. And I completely agree. My point was that in many of these cases, other things
aren't equal. If the goal is to produce the best possible winning product on the field, and you have two players, one of which is a lesser talent but a shining example of uprightness and morality, the other of which is an exceptional talent but perhaps less than stellar in the character department, I think the responsible thing is to take the more talented player.
There are three exceptions to this rule, in my opinion.
The first is when you have reason to believe that the more talented player is likely to lead to dissension in the locker room or mutiny against the coaching staff. I don't think this happens nearly as often as we are lead to believe. People love to talk about what a terrible influence a lot of these more flamboyant players are in the locker room, but there isn't much evidence of that. If anything, those same guys often seem to be among the most popular among their teammates. I suspect that they take the pressure off some of the more reserved guys to entertain the masses, allowing them to focus on their fundamentals.
The second is when the less talented player is more solid fundamentally and/or more reliable; in other words, that they fit the system and scheme better. I have said many times that I would far rather have a team of journeymen who perform their jobs fundamentally well than a team comprised of flashy stars who drop the ball or fail to tackle at key moments.
The third is when the more talented player has a history of being unavailable for whatever reason (usually injury). Like Mike McCarthy, I place a high premium on availability. I don't care how talented a player is if he can't stay on the field. I'd rather have a journeyman ironman than a superstar china doll.
I don't see how a player like Tim Tebow fits into any of these categories as a QB, and therefore, regardless of how high his character supposedly is (he's exploiting and profiting off his Joan of Arc persona, whether he is willing to admit it or not), I see no reason to bring him in even as a backup. If he wants to play a different position to which his talents are more suited -- like tight end -- I would be all for it.