Tim Tebow Turns Down $1 Million Offer from Russian Football Team

By Lauren D'Avolio
Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow, former QB for the Denver Broncos. (AP)

Tim Tebow can't find work in the NFL, but there's an American football team in Russia that says it will offer him $1 million for two games.

Yes, there are American football teams in Russia.

Mikhail Zaltsman, the owner of one of those teams, the Moscow Black Storm, told the state-owned Russia Beyond the Headlines that he wants Tebow. Zaltsman believes that if Tebow shows up in time to play in the semifinal of the American Football Championship of Russia on September 28, Tebow can lead the team to a victory in the semifinal (against the Moscow Patriots) and then win again in the championship game, according to NBC Sports.

Zaltsman claims he personally spoke with Tebow, offered him more money than he would have made for playing a full season for the New England Patriots, and that Tebow wants to do it.

"We have offered him $1 million for two games," Zaltsman told Russia Beyond the Headlines. "I talked with him personally and he wanted to go."

Then, Tebow reportedly rejected that proposal, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Zaltsman e-mailed Russian sports news service R-Sport on Saturday, writing that Tebow refused his $1 million offer.

"Unfortunately agents of Tim Tebow turn down our proposal," Zaltsman wrote. "I hope that it's Tebow's agents' fault that the contract wasn't signed and Tim couldn't do anything about it. If it was his decision -- it's very upsetting. And in this case we don't want him in our team anyway," reports the Chicago Tribune.

Tebow is currently a free agent after being cut by the New England Patriots at the end of training camp. Prior to that, the former Nease High and University of Florida quarterback was cut by the New York Jets.

"I will remain in relentless pursuit of continuing my lifelong dream of being an NFL quarterback," Tebow said in a message on Twitter after being released by the Patriots. 

Tim Tebow, the youngest of five children, was born on August 14, 1987, in Makati City in the Philippines, to American parents who were there as Baptist missionaries. Tebow was later homeschooled by his mother, who instilled in him the family's Christian beliefs throughout his early years. Those beliefs became a large part of Tebow's life and have often colored the media's coverage of him.

In 2006, Tebow received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida to play for its famed football team, the Gators. He spent his freshman year as a backup, but was named the team's starting quarterback at the start of the 2007 season. That year he won, among other honors, the Heisman Trophy (for outstanding all-around player) and the Davey O'Brien Award (for outstanding quarterback), according to biography.com.

Tebow only played briefly during the 2012-13 season, and not long after the season ended, it was announced that he had been released by the Jets. In June 2013, it was announced that the player had signed a contract with the New England Patriots. After spending only 12 weeks with the Patriots, Tebow was released from his contract.

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