Carolina Panthers and John Fox Interested in Tim Tebow?

Please, please, please… Say it ain’t so. But the possibility does exist, and reading some of John Fox’s quotes, the possibility is quite real.

To the somewhat relief of the fanbase, the Panthers’ need in the upcoming draft isn’t a project quarterback, which at this point, is precisely what Tim Tebow is.

The Panthers’ biggest needs are at defensive end and wide receiver. And since current receiver Steve Smith was vocal to the Charlotte Observer’s Tom Sorenson about a month ago, as to what position of need the Panthers should address in the upcoming draft: wide receiver. The Panthers would be wise to oil the squeaky wheel and just this one time, take it’s advice.

But the latest quote from Fox was an interesting one, which was taken during the NFC coaches league’s meeting on Tuesday; stemmed from the University of Florida Pro Day workout, is Fox’s opinion on the former Gators’ QB, Tim Tebow.

"“Did you ever watch Bernie Kosar play? Bernie might not appreciate it, but I call it as I see it. He won a lot of games. So it’s not all just how pretty they are (or) how big.”—John Fox; NFC coaches league’s annual meetings."

Bernie Kosar was the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in the mid-1980’s and early ’90’s. He recorded a win-loss record of 53-51-1 as the Browns’ starter, and compiled more than 20,000 passing yards with his unorthodox passing ability.

Is Fox seriously interested in entertaining the idea of drafting Tebow? The Panthers’ first pick in the draft at this point is mid-second-round. Tebow is projected to be around in the draft by some gurus as late as the third- and even fourth-rounds!

So might the Panthers surprise everyone?Or is this more of a ploy to draw other teams’ interest to Tebow in the hopes the Panthers can go after someone else who they hold more hopes and value in?

The need for a quarterback to backup and possibly compete against incumbent quarterback Matt Moore still exists, but I would think the team might try to look into a free agent QB to offer veteran experience as a backup.

The team is trending “young” however, so perhaps a free agent QB is out of the question. Might the Panthers have interest in one of the Eagles’ three quarterbacks? That possibility could exist as well. The Eagles are starting to bend in their asking price for Donovan McNabb, and they are entertaining offers for him as well.

I don’t want McNabb in Carolina, but that’s my opinion. The Panthers’ brass doesn’t take advice from the likes of me, which should come as a relief to most readers.

So assuming (that’s a loaded word) the Panthers don’t trade up to get into the first-round or maybe they do trade-up—yes, trade away 2011’s first-round selection—to get a higher second-round pick in addition to the mid-second-round pick they have already to draft at QB and wide receiver, or to draft at defensive end and receiver, or any combination of the three.

But take the trading-up out of the equation, and let’s just go in there with what “we” have. Let’s hypothesize that the Panthers are going to just make a straight shot at this without any trading around, and go straight down the board second-round, third-round, fourth-round and so on.

Who will the Panthers select with their first pick in the mid-second-round, of the 2010 NFL Draft? Wide receiver? Quarterback? Defensive End?

Like most fans, we’re both probably on the same page. The Panthers need to get younger and faster at the receiver position. I’m keeping my fingers crossed this year, that no matter how they do it, the Cats land a receiver with their first selection in the Draft.

Who might be their target? Notre Dame’s Golden Tate, Mississippi’s Dexter McCluster, Illinois’ Arrelious Benn? And the list goes on.