Tebow to Sign With Patriots

Tim Tebow is joining the New England Patriots.

The high-profile quarterback, who spent one season mostly on the sidelines with the New York Jets, officially signed on Tuesday morning, as the Patriots opened up a three-day minicamp.

The team made the announcement prior to coach Bill Belichick's first interview session with the media on the field.

Tebow will be on the roster as a quarterback, though he could be used at other spots if he makes the team. The Patriots have Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett at that position already, but they released quarterback Mike Kafka on Monday.

The 2007 winner of the Heisman Trophy from the University of Florida, Tebow was a 2010 first-round draft pick of the Broncos. He has 17 passing touchdowns and 12 rushing scores in his NFL career.

By joining the Patriots, Tebow, 25, will reunite with his former coach Josh McDaniels, the offensive coordinator at New England.

McDaniels was the head coach of the Broncos when Tebow was drafted as a first-round pick.

When he finally got his start in the NFL, Tebow took the Broncos on an improbable run to the 2011 playoffs, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers before losing to the Patriots, despite criticism and reservations about his ability as a passer.

He also quickly become a cult figure. Deeply religious and with a clean-cut image, he became a magnet for sponsors, signing a range of massive endorsement deals.

He earned an estimated $4 million a year, his jerseys were among the biggest sellers in the NFL and his trademark touchdown celebration, where he kneeled down in prayer, became known as "Tebowing."

In early 2012, the Broncos signed future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning after he had become a free agent, and traded Tebow to the Jets.

The Jets said they planned to use Tebow on their special teams and 'wildcat' plays, but the experiment failed and Tebow-Mania never quite took off in the New York.

He spent most of each game stuck on the bench and the Jets eventually released him after missing the playoffs.