Report: Tebow 'virtual certainty' for Jaguars

Look for Tim Tebow to play next year in Jacksonville.

According to a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen, league sources say it is a "virtual certainty" Tebow will play for the Jaguars in 2013. Tebow reportedly had a choice between his hometown Jaguars and the Jets in the offseason and chose the bright lights of New York.

After a disastrous season that led to locker room in-fighting and snickering, much of it directed at the former Heisman Trophy winner, Tebow will apparently get a second chance to play close to where he became a legend for the Florida Gators. Tebow reportedly will be traded or released after the season, but league sources tell Mortensen the Jets are likely to honor Tebow's forthcoming request to be released and therefore become an unrestricted free agent.

Circumstances in Jacksonville have changed since Tebow chose the Jets over the Jaguars when he was traded by the Broncos in March.

Jacksonville owner Shad Khan wanted Tebow, but there was no assurance from the Jaguars that the former Heisman Trophy winner would get an opportunity to play because the team was still committed to 2011 first-round pick Blaine Gabbert.

In 2013, the Jaguars will have an open quarterback competition and a team source told ESPN it's a "high likelihood" Tebow will be part of the mix. Gabbert was inconsistent again as a starter and eventually landed on injured reserve this season. Chad Henne assumed the starting role and is making his fifth straight start against the Patriots Sunday. 

The Jaguars offered a fourth-round pick to Denver in March and proposed to pay $3 million to the Broncos to compensate for money that had been advanced to Tebow. The Broncos gave Tebow his choice of teams and the former Florida quarterback decided his opportunity to play in New York was greater than Jacksonville, based on conversations with Jets coach Rex Ryan, sources said told ESPN.

The Jets gave up fourth- and sixth-round draft choices to Denver and received a seventh-rounder in return from the Broncos when Tebow chose New York. The Broncos also agreed to pay the Jets $2.53 million, or about half of what had been advanced to Tebow.

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