Philadelphia Eagles

Tim Tebow's trainer says he doesn't want to be a 'sideshow' in the minors

Published Aug. 10, 2016 9:26 p.m. ET

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Tim Tebow hasn't played in an NFL game since 2012. He hasn't played baseball since high school. But the former Heisman Trophy winner is trying to make it to the majors while not becoming a "sideshow," according to Chad Moeller, the former major league catcher who's training the ex-quarterback.

One day after Tebow stunned the sports world by announcing he will invite all 30 big league teams to watch him work out later this month in the hopes of one of them signing him, Moeller discussed Tebow's attempt to make it to the majors.

"This is open and out front," Moeller told USA Today on Wednesday. "Now, do I think a team is going to send him to rookie ball? No. You're taking a 28-year-old. You know what you're getting. It's either going to work or it's not, and it's going to have to be fast-tracked."

Big league teams might not be on board with rushing Tebow through the minors to give the former University of Florida star the spotlight of major league baseball. Moeller says all his client wants is a fair shot, not to be part of a circus.

"Do I think (teams are) selfishly going to want to sell some seats? Yeah. And he knows it," Moeller said. "And that's why he really hopes (and) wants a team that thinks he can do this, and not just, 'We're going to send him to every level and sell a whole bunch of seats and sell a whole bunch of merchandise and we're just going to have a sideshow.'

"He knows he's partially a sideshow to start with. But he does want a team that actually thinks this is for real and thinks this is someone that can help us. And he's going to have to go out and perform and show he can do this. There's no way to simulate that."

Footage of Tebow's swing already has emerged, prompting current and former major league players to weigh in.

While former big league slugger Gary Sheffield is a believer in Tebow's baseball ability ...

Orioles All-Star Adam Jones decided to mock the situation.

Moeller believes Tebow won't be deterred in this pursuit and will give the same all-out effort he displayed on the football field.

"This is truly about something I'm certain has been in there for a long time, and I wouldn't see him conceding on this unless it's like, 'You know what? I'm not going to be able to pull this off.' And I don't see quit in there. I can see where in football, OK, he may have read writing on the wall. But I don't see that quit in the personality and the makeup."

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