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It wasn't my turn to cover the scouting combine this year. My Blog Network colleagues kept you apprised of the daily news, and the fellows over at Scouts Inc. broke down the actual workouts as they occurred.

Even from afar, however, it was hard not to see the NFC North connotations to the biggest story of the combine: The transition of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow to the pro game. I'm not ready to suggest Tebow is headed our way, but I think he could do a lot worse than ending up in any number of our cities.

Given the near-constant flow of Tebow-related questions you send to the mailbag portal, I thought he would be a worthy topic for our featured post of the week. In brief: We have one team in Green Bay that already demonstrated success in tweaking the mechanics of a successful college quarterback, and we have another in Minnesota that employs Tebow's favorite receiver.

Before we get to the Packers, Vikings and even the Lions, let's make sure you're updated on Tebow's combine performance. Although he is saving his passing workout for a March 17 pro day, Tebow did produce a 38.5-inch vertical leap -- tying a combine record for quarterbacks. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.72 seconds. The showing mostly confirmed what we already know: Tebow is an elite athlete for the position whose aptitude as a pro passer remains a mystery.

Speaking Monday, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said nothing happened at the combine to alter his original view on Tebow as a secondary prospect who shouldn't be drafted higher than the third round next month. Tebow's elite college career forged a romanticized view of his pro prospects, McShay said on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike in the Morning."

"It's funny because there are so many people that are trying to talk the positives on Tim Tebow," McShay said. "I understand because there are so many positives as a college player, and physically when you watch him in a setting like this. ... But then they follow up and say, 'As much as I love him, he's still a third-round pick.'

"The bottom line is that he's just not an elite prospect and has so much room to grow. As great as he's been [at the combine] and as good as his interviews have gone, ultimately his skill set is a mid-rounder at best as a passer. We've all moved him up in our minds because of intangibles."

Yet it is those intangibles that had Packers coach Mike McCarthy and even general manager Ted Thompson expressing what I believe to be honestly glowing assessments of Tebow's potential. Remember, McCarthy and Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements provided the modern template for developing a young quarterback prospect during two years with Aaron Rodgers. Among the improvements they made was smoothing out Rodgers' throwing motion, now considered one of the prettiest (and most successful) in the NFL.

According to my colleagues who attended the combine interview sessions, McCarthy admitted he doesn't know enough about Tebow to make a full evaluation yet. But, McCarthy said, "I would definitely love to coach him."

McCarthy added: "I think the guy's a winner, just the way he plays the game. I know a lot's being said about his mechanics. Just the way he approaches the game of football, I think he'll do everything he needs to do to improve. But you look for football players. And his record in college, I think, speaks for itself. But I'd love the opportunity to work with a Tim Tebow."

Thompson, meanwhile, said Tebow's college success should merit more credibility than it seems to in public discussions.

"Based on his history," Thompson said, "I think that would be a little bit premature to start criticizing him and doubting his ability to play. He's been playing at a pretty high level for quite some time. Has to go down as one of the great college football players of all time, so let's don't sell him short just yet."

We all know better than to read into what any NFL official says about the draft. As the old saying goes: If they're not lying, then they're not talking. (Actually, I just made that up. But it sounds old and sage-like.)

What it does suggest, however, is that Tebow's ideal landing spot is a place like Green Bay that includes an established starter and a quarterback-friendly coaching staff with proven developmental success.

The Vikings haven't had much success developing quarterbacks -- see Jackson, Tarvaris -- but coach Brad Childress acknowledged he is drawn to Tebow's competitive spirit. Trust me when I tell you coaches revere the so-called "intangible" qualities of a quarterback as much as they do his ability to throw. If a strong arm was the only qualification for NFL success, Ryan Leaf would still be starting.

"I just think he's been -- taking everything else aside -- as good a competitor as I've seen," Childress said. "I've heard about his leadership skills and abilities. But he's as good a competitor as I've seen on the football field, and he competes in a different way and plays a physically-natured game."

In Minnesota, you would assume Tebow would have at least one year to develop behind starter Brett Favre, who seems more likely to play in 2010 than he does to retire. Regardless, I think Tebow would have the luxury of watching from the sideline for at least one year if he ends up in Minnesota.

Again, I'm not suggesting the Vikings will use a draft choice on Tebow, even with the presence of ex-Florida receiver Percy Harvin. But if he does land in Minnesota, Tebow has a better than average chance of developing into a legitimate player.

In fact, I wouldn't rule out Detroit as a positive environment for Tebow -- mostly because of the presence of offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, who will double as the Lions' quarterbacks coach in 2010. Linehan excelled in that role while working with Daunte Culpepper in Minnesota from 2003-04, and Tebow would be in good hands with him as well.

Should the Lions use a draft choice on a developmental quarterback? Given their needs across the board, the presence of young starter Matthew Stafford and coach Jim Schwartz's desire to have a veteran backup, Tebow might be a luxury the Lions can't afford.

But if I were going to draw up an NFC North motto for him, it would go something like this: "The Black and Blue: Tim Tebow could do a lot worse than here."

Ok, I'm off to my second job as an advertising copy writer.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is working to refine his throwing motion. Will he play quarterback or some other position in the NFL? Let's assess his chances of landing in the AFC East.

Buffalo Bills: Logic would suggest the Bills have too many needs to draft a project, but they do need a quarterback and have been susceptible to falling for splashy names that might sell tickets. Tebow's greatest asset is his PR factor. The Bills could use a boost there. Buffalo icon Jim Kelly has declared the Bills' need to pursue Tebow, but I'm not sure he's influential enough to orchestrate a draft pick.

Draft probability: Medium.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins are intriguing because they're the originators of the Wildcat offense. Some scouts believe Tebow has value as a gadget player while he learns how to be a pro-style passer. But the Dolphins made one of those draft picks last year when they took scrambling quarterback Pat White in the second round. The Dolphins can't afford to make that gamble two Aprils in a row, can they?

Draft probability: Low.

New England Patriots: The Patriots are worth considering as a possible landing spot for Tebow. They have only two quarterbacks and, with Tom Brady in his prime, time to develop a raw talent. Patriots coach Bill Belichick showed he can think outside the box last year by drafting Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman and converting him to receiver. So there's that. Plus, Belichick and Florida coach Urban Meyer have a close friendship, leading some to wonder if that would make Belichick more comfortable with Tebow's question marks.

Draft probability: Medium.

New York Jets: For all of the services Tebow can provide, the Jets already have players who do them. They have their quarterback of the future and a loaded QB depth chart. Brad Smith is their gadget player. Dustin Keller is their receiving tight end. Maybe Tebow's off-the-charts intangibles entice Rex Ryan to draft him, then figure out what to do with him later. Move him to safety perhaps? Doubtful, but the Jets have a creative front office, and Tebow sure can capture an imagination.

Draft probability: Low.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is working to refine his throwing motion. Will he play QB or some other position in the NFL? Let’s assess his chances of landing in the NFC East.

Dallas Cowboys: This is Jerry Jones that we are talking about, so Tim Tebow might just end up in Dallas. That’s not an indictment of Tony Romo, but grooming another quarterback for the Cowboys’ stable might not be such a terrible idea this year. Why this year specifically? Well, when looking at each NFL team and analyzing their specific needs, Dallas might just have fewer than anyone else. It would be great to add a real playmaker at safety and adding youth along the offensive line makes sense, but overall, there isn’t one massive need -- outside of kicker -- that Dallas needs to address to be a contender. Plus, that is quite a large stadium that Jones just built and if something were to happen to Romo, having Tebow waiting in the wings would ensure that they keep it packed with paying customers.

Draft probability: Low.

New York Giants: This one doesn’t seem likely to me, but the Giants certainly are in the market for an upgrade at backup quarterback. Still, my guess is that New York will not use the pick needed on draft weekend to secure Tebow’s services. The reasons are simple; they just have too many pressing defensive needs. The Giants would be wise to use the top of their draft to get younger, faster and more talented at safety and linebacker and maybe add a beefy, run-stopping nose tackle. The offensive needs are not as pressing, but using a high draft pick along the offensive line would make more sense than using it on Tebow. But, as I said, they do need to improve the backup quarterback spot. Imagine Tebow-mania in the Big Apple!

Draft probability: Low.

Philadelphia Eagles: As it stands, the Eagles now have more quarterbacks than they know what to do with. But hear me out. Let’s say that the Rams (or another team) offer the Eagles very good value for Michael Vick and the Browns offer up their early first-round pick for Kevin Kolb -- two situations that could come to fruition. Then Tebow could come into the mix as the long-term successor to Donovan McNabb. Andy Reid does value strong quarterbacks who move well -- like McNabb -- and is a collector at the position, but this West Coast scheme is predicated on getting the ball out quickly, which clearly is not Tebow’s strong suit. But the Eagles might take a win-now approach in the above scenario and would be the type of team who could allow Tebow to work on his craft behind McNabb while also taking over for Vick in the Wildcat package.

Draft probability: Low.

Washington Redskins: With Tebow’s long release and inability to get the ball out quickly, he does not appear to be a good fit in Mike Shanahan’s offense (or anyone’s offense) in Washington. However, he does move very well, has a strong arm and off-the-chart intangibles, so he might just pique Shanahan’s interest. This only works, though, if the Redskins decide to make Jason Campbell the starting quarterback for the near future and assemble a supporting cast for him with their offseason resources -- which is what I would do. If the Redskins instead add Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen with their first-round pick, Tebow becomes a nonfactor. But if they hedge their bets, go with Campbell for the short term, use the first-round pick on say, a left tackle, and then use a later pick on a developmental quarterback like Tebow, the former Gator could find himself in Washington, where the owner has been known to like making a splash.

Draft probability: Medium.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is working to refine his throwing motion. Will he play QB or some other position in the NFL? Let’s assess his chances of landing in the NFC South.

Atlanta: Unless Tebow wanted to switch positions and the Falcons thought he could play tight end or somewhere else, there’s no chance of him landing in Atlanta. They’ve got Matt Ryan as their franchise quarterback. Coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey aren’t big believers in gimmicks. They rarely use the Wildcat formation and they’re not going to change and disrupt their offense.

Draft probability: No chance.

Carolina: The Panthers probably are in the market for a quarterback in free agency or the draft. At the moment, they have an uncertain situation with Matt Moore and Jake Delhomme as the only real options to start. Tebow has a history as a winner, and the Panthers have done their homework on him. But coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney have to win big this year, and they’ve always believed it takes too long for a quarterback to develop from the time he’s drafted. Tebow is just adjusting to an NFL throwing motion. It’s very unlikely Fox and Hurney will take him because they don’t have the time for him to develop.

Draft probability: Low.

New Orleans: Yeah, it’s tempting to think about the possibilities of what a great offensive mind like Sean Payton could do with Tebow. But do you really think Payton is going to do anything that potentially would take the ball out of Drew Brees’ hands?

Draft probability: No chance.

Tampa Bay: The Bucs have young quarterbacks in Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson. Freeman clearly is the franchise guy. If the Bucs do anything at quarterback, it will be to add a veteran free agent to help mentor Freeman. They have 10 draft picks and lots of needs. A project at quarterback isn’t one of them.

Draft probability: No chance

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is working to refine his throwing motion. Will he play QB or some other position in the NFL? Let’s assess his chances of landing in the AFC West.

Denver: The Broncos will likely be looking for a quarterback in the first three rounds. It all depends if Denver coach Josh McDaniels believes he can make Tebow a quality quarterback. There had been speculation in recent months that Tebow could fit in with New England. If that’s the case, he’d fit in with Denver. McDaniels is a Bill Belichick protege who believes in the Patriot Way. Denver is looking for a talent it can develop, but there is no major urgency. That could play into Tebow’s favor because he is going to need time before he is ready to play.

Draft probability: Medium.

Kansas City: Kansas City isn’t necessarily looking for a quarterback. There has been some talk the team could be interested in Jimmy Clausen to reunite him with new Kansas City offensive coordinator and Clausen’s former Notre Dame coach, Charlie Weis. But that’s a unique situation. I don’t see Kansas City looking at quarterbacks with other top picks.

Draft probability: Low.

Oakland: This is an interesting situation. Oakland will likely be looking for a quarterback in the early rounds, and we all know how unpredictable Al Davis is when it comes to the draft. It wouldn’t be a shock at all if Davis went against the grain and took Tebow in the second round. Davis doesn’t care if a player is raw or if he is considered an unfinished product. If Davis thinks a player is a winner, he will strike quickly. Yes, the squeaky clean Tebow doesn’t exactly seem like the perfect Raider, but it could happen. What a great story that would be -– Tebow in the Silver and Black.

Draft probability: Medium.

San Diego: The Chargers are set at quarterback and won't look to draft one.

Draft probability: No chance.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is working to refine his throwing motion. Will he play QB or some other position in the NFL? Let's assess his chances of landing in the AFC South.

Houston: Ideally you'd like a backup whose strength matches the starter's. That would be difficult with Tebow in Matt Schaub's offense. The team signed Dan Orlovsky to a pricey backup contract last year, then installed Rex Grossman as the No. 2 when he outplayed Orlovsky in camp. If they are especially active in free agency and whittle down their needs list, maybe they take a late flier on him. But with the crowd at quarterback, versatile Rice tight end James Casey selected in the fifth round last year and a reasonably long list of other priorities, Tebow does not seem like a fit.

Draft probability: Super low.

Indianapolis: A lot of analysts have used the Colts as an example of the sort of team Tebow needs to wind up with. In a stable, winning organization with no quarterback uncertainty, he would have the time to develop and find out whether he's a signal-caller or another niche. That's nice, but the Colts made the rare move of drafting a guy they hope to develop last year in Curtis Painter and then carried three quarterbacks until backup Jim Sorgi got hurt. Dallas Clark is one of the league's top-flight tight ends, and they already have great options out of the slot with Austin Collie and Anthony Gonzalez.

Draft probability: Low.

Jacksonville: The Jaguars drafted a quarterback with a slow wind-up at No. 7 overall in 2003 and Byron Leftwich has been gone a couple of years already. Tons of people automatically put Tebow in Jacksonville because he's a local guy who would be a huge story. But the Jaguars are not going to let their marketing people make their picks. They've swung and missed at a lot of Florida guys. They don't have a second-round pick because they traded it last year for a third-rounder (Derek Cox). They spent a sixth-rounder on quarterback-turned-tight end Zach Miller in 2009 and second-year GM Gene Smith needs another talented class that can contribute right away. All strikes against Tebow in my eyes. If he is to land in Jacksonville, it would have to be in the fourth round or later.

Draft probability: Low.

Tennessee: The Titans could well be in the market for a young backup to develop into an insurance policy behind Vince Young, but because they're dealing with a starter who's not a traditional pocket passer, I'd sure hope they'd think about a traditional pocket passer. If Tebow is to become some sort of H-back , perhaps he'd fit. But right now the Titans are expected to have Bo Scaife, Jared Cook and Craig Stevens around, with the possibility of Alge Crumpler too. The Titans have a lot of roster replenishing to do and lack a second-rounder from the trade that brought them Cook.

Draft probability: Low.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is working to refine his throwing motion. Will he play QB or some other position in the NFL? Let's assess his chances of landing in the AFC North.

Baltimore Ravens: Expect the Ravens to at least listen to offers for backup quarterback Troy Smith. If the right deal is out there that benefits Baltimore, the team will not hesitate to make the move. That may open up the possibility to add another backup quarterback, but certainly not in the top half of the draft, which is where Tebow should land. The Ravens also have restricted free agent John Beck, who can step into the No. 2 spot. But the Ravens would lose their Wildcat/Suggs package completely if Smith isn't replaced by another mobile quarterback.

Draft probability: Low

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals considered adding their variation of the Wildcat last year but couldn't find the right person to do it. That could open the door here for Tebow. It's possible new receiver and former college quarterback Matt Jones has that ability, but Jones is a complete unknown at this point after missing all of last season. It also doesn't hurt Tebow that J.T. O'Sullivan and Jordan Palmer aren't necessarily the strongest tandem of backup quarterbacks. Still, adding Tebow to Cincinnati would be more of a luxury than a necessity.

Draft probability: Low

Cleveland Browns: President Mike Holmgren made some headlines last week when he said it's too late to change Tebow's throwing motion. Take that as a strong sign the Browns are not interested in drafting Tebow. The Browns also have a dynamic utility player in Josh Cribbs for trick plays. So there isn't any room for Tebow on the roster unless he wants to play tight end. Cleveland could use a few of those.

Draft probability: No chance

Pittsburgh Steelers: Depending on the future of pending free agent Charlie Batch, the Steelers could be in the market for a third-string quarterback. That's the only chance of Tebow landing in Pittsburgh. Backup Dennis Dixon has solidified his spot as Pittsburgh's No. 2 quarterback after a solid start on the road against Baltimore last season. So unless Tebow's stock drops well below expected, the Steelers probably won't consider him or any quarterback this year unless it's a flier late in the draft.

Draft probability: Low

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is working to refine his throwing motion. Will he play QB or some other position in the NFL? Let’s assess his chances of landing in the NFC West.

Arizona Cardinals: Matt Leinart is the only quarterback on the Cardinals' roster, so I wouldn't rule out Tebow entirely. Arizona does need numbers at the position. Also, coach Ken Whisenhunt has shown flexibility in finding ways to work unconventional players into his offense. He has used safety Antrel Rolle as a Wildcat quarterback. He found a role for rookie running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (two starts, 16 touches) last season even though Stephens-Howling is only 5-foot-7 and 180 pounds. I'm sure Whisenhunt and his offensive staff could find ways to maximize what Tebow offers, even though Tebow isn't a conventional quarterback. But with the Cardinals potentially facing significant personnel losses and the Final Eight rules limiting their options in free agency, I question whether they could justify taking Tebow in the first few rounds.

Draft probability: Low.

San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers have strongly advocated a best-player-available philosophy in the draft, and their quarterback situation is far from settled for the long term. "Again, a good football player is a good football player," general manager Scot McCloughan said at the NFL combine. "It's the reason why he's been successful. You can't lose sight of the intangibles he brings with him. There's no reason why he can't be successful in the NFL. You look at Philip Rivers and his release, and everybody will make fun of that and say things about that, but it doesn't matter. All that counts is what he does on the field and does he win games -- that's what you get measured by. And that's all he's done." The 49ers have a good defense and several key pieces in place on offense. They also have two first-round choices. That might make it easier for them to consider Tebow later in the draft.

Draft probability: Medium.

St. Louis Rams: The Rams' viability as a landing spot for Tebow hinges in part on whether the team drafts Sam Bradford first overall. If the Rams do not select Bradford, they could be in the market for a quarterback later in the draft. Tebow could conceivably factor into the discussion at that point. His selection would certainly provide some buzz for an organization that has had problems selling out the Edward Jones Dome. One question to consider, though, is whether Tebow's shortcomings would make it tough for him to become a precision passer in Pat Shurmur's West Coast offense.

Draft probability: Medium.

Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks already have a veteran starter in Matt Hasselbeck and I question whether the could justify taking an early round flier on such an unpolished quarterback. General manager John Schneider does believe in drafting quarterbacks somewhat frequently, an approach that sometimes worked for the Packers when Schneider was in Green Bay. With Seattle needing to rebuild its lines on both sides of the ball, and with the offense lacking every-down playmakers, selecting Tebow might be a luxury the team can't afford.

Draft probability: Low.