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Tim Tebow signed a minor league contract with the?New York Mets?on Thursday and?will begin his professional baseball career in the?fall instructional league on Sept. 19 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.Mets general manager Sandy Alderson insisted that signing Tebow, a former NFL quarterback, is not a publicity stunt.While I and the organization, I think, are mindful of the novel nature of this situation, this decision was strictly driven by baseball, Alderson said on a conference call with Tebow and agent Brodie Van Wagenen on Thursday to announce the agreement that includes a $100,000 signing bonus. This was not something that was driven by marketing considerations or anything of the sort. We are extremely intrigued with the potential that Tim has.He has demonstrated over his athletic career that he is a tremendous athlete, has got character, a competitive spirit. Aside from the age (29), this is a classic player-development opportunity for us. As an organization, were going to provide that development opportunity for Tim.The decision nonetheless was made at the highest levels of the organization -- by Alderson and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon -- and did not intimately involve the teams baseball-operations personnel. The Mets were one of 28 teams to attend Tebows showcase last week in Los Angeles.Tebow acknowledged his upcoming baseball journey is not one that will be necessarily easy.I know this is a tough game, Tebow said. But Im looking forward to putting in the work and I felt like this was the best fit.Tebow, who hasnt played organized baseball since his junior year at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, in 2005, has been working out with former big league catcher Chad Moeller in Scottsdale, Arizona, since Memorial Day. Tebow spent almost two hours last week at the Southern Californias Dedeaux Field running a 60-yard dash, shagging fly balls, throwing from the outfield and taking swings against former major league pitchers David Aardsma and Chad Smith in his audition for clubs.Tebow won the Heisman Trophy for the Florida Gators in 2007 and helped the team take two national championships.?He played professionally for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets from 2010 to 2012. He spent training camps with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles in 2013 and 2015, respectively, but never played in the regular season for those teams.Since 2013, Tebow has been a college football analyst for ESPN.?Alderson said Tebow will be excused a couple of days each week from fall instructional league to fulfill that commitment.Tim is committed to his role at SEC Network and ESPN this fall, Stephanie Druley, ESPN senior vice president, event and studio production, said in a statement. We have always been supportive of Tims athletic pursuits. His new schedule will allow him to continue as a college football analyst on SEC Nation this fall.Former major league pitchers Dallas Braden, who is now an ESPN analyst, and C.J. Nitkowski questioned how serious Tebow was about playing baseball based on the arrangement to give him excused days off each week.After Tebow participates in the fall instructional league, which primarily is for teenage prospects, Alderson is not ruling out sending Tebow to the Arizona Fall League or a winter league. First, the Mets want to better gauge Tebows readiness and determine whether it would be more beneficial to receive individual instruction during the offseason.Even if Tebow never reaches the majors, Alderson insisted this is a win for the Mets because of the example Tebows work ethic and character will set for the minor leaguers.Still, Alderson insisted Tebow has on-field potential.Any player evaluation starts with tools, Alderson said. From that standpoint, without grading everything out, suffice it to say Tim has been a great athlete. He has demonstrated more than rudimentary baseball skills. We think, with his commitment to success, that this is an opportunity that is worthwhile.In terms of power, in terms of arm, in terms of foot speed, all of those things, we think he can be a baseball player. I think that is underscored by his competitiveness and his determination to succeed and to improve. From our standpoint, this is another opportunity for us to develop a player and see where it goes. We understand most players dont make it to the major leagues.Alderson said theres no guarantee Tebow will be invited to major league camp during spring training. He also added Tebows signing is a standalone proposition and unrelated to Van Wagenen representing other Mets clients, including Yoenis Cespedes -- who has an opt-out this winter -- as well as Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom.Brodie represents a number of players on our team, Alderson said. But in the course of our conversations regarding Tim, none of those players were mentioned, none were in mind. I think Brodie is professional enough to keep all of those things separate.The Mets will not be able to capitalize on Tebows fame from a marketing standpoint, either. For that to happen, Tebow must be added to the teams 40-man roster and sign the group licensing agreement. MLB.com and Mets.com, in fact, are rejecting any fan who tries to make a custom Tebow jersey through the website.Tebow said he came close to pursuing baseball a year ago, but the Eagles?interest tabled it.Its been something that Ive been thinking about for a little while and came close to pulling the trigger on last year, Tebow said. Then, actually, when I was in the middle of going through a day of training for baseball, [then-Eagles coach] Chip Kelly called and then I had to figure that out. ... We all know how that turned out.Former Broncos teammate Eric Decker, now with the New York Jets, said he expected Tebow to be signed.When you have 30 scouts coming to your workout, someone is going to sign you, Decker said. Well see how he does next spring in whatever camp it is. Best of luck to him.I believe Tim has a big heart and hes a good person. Hes such a competitor that this is an outlet for him. But from the outside, I can see how it looks as a publicity stunt. I mean, hes got a good gig right now with the SEC Network. Im sure he could do a daily talk show if he wanted. Hes well-liked. I think this is him being competitive, wanting to get that fire again.Asked about his preferred position, Tebow said hell take his cue from the organization. But he noted hes a lefty thrower, so theres a limit.My best position is whatever they feel like it is, he said. I feel comfortable in the outfield. I feel comfortable at first base.What would Tebow deem success during his baseball pursuit? Is it major leagues or bust?I would consider success giving everything I have, he said.Decker said thats the kind of teammate that Tebow has been in the past and what he expects him to be in the future.Guys will have to respect what hes done during his tenure in the NFL and who he is and the college football player he was. Theres going to be mixed emotions (among his new teammates), Im sure, Decker said. Hes going to be a good teammate. I think hes going to be very respectful.Hes not going to come in with a chip on his shoulder or (say), Im Tim Tebow, heres the red carpet. Hes not that type of guy in my experience. Guys will respect his work ethic and the person.ESPNs Darren Rovell and Rich Cimini contributed to this report. Wholesale Adidas Superstar . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Adidas Superstar Slip On Outlet . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. http://www.wholesalefashionsuperstar.com/cheap-superstar-supercolor.html .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Adidas Superstar Clearance Sale . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Adidas Superstar Black Online . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. CLEVELAND -- Jason Kipnis came through in the clutch and survived a mobbing from his teammates.Monday nights 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins in 10 innings wasnt easy on any front for the Cleveland Indians.Kipnis single scored Chris Gimenez and gave the Indians a much-needed victory after a 2-5 road trip.Kipnis lined a 1-0 pitch from Brandon Kintzler (0-1) with one out to left-center to finally break up the scoreless game, sending the Twins to their 11th straight loss.Clevelands second baseman faced another challenge after his game-winner. His teammates chased him into center field where they wrestled him to the ground and piled on top of him.It probably wasnt my best idea to keep screaming `You guys cant bring me down to the rest of them, he said.Cleveland has scored one run or less in seven of its last eight games, but that wasnt a major concern following the game.At this time, its nice to get a win in any form, Kipnis said. Hopefully the more wins we get, the more relaxed we can be.Indians manager Terry Francona isnt picky about how his team goes about winning.We talk about it all the time, he said. You want to be one run better. Winning 1-0 in extra innings is heck of a lot better than losing 1-0.Abraham Almonte pushed a bunt past Kintzler and beat the throw to first to start the inning. Gimenez fouled off two bunt attempts before poking a single through the right side with Almonte moving to second.Third baseman Miguel Sano fielded Rajai Davis slow roller and tagged Almonte. Kipnis then hit the second pitch from Kintzler to end the tight game, which drew only 11,327 fans.Zach McAllister (3-2) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th, retiring Max Kepler on a fly ball to end the inning.The losing streak is Minnesotas longest since Sept. 9-21, 2011.Neither starter was involved in the decision.dddddddddddd Trevor Bauer allowed five hits in six innings for Cleveland while Hector Santiago gave up three hits in 6 1/3 innings for the Twins.Andrew Miller of the Indians struck out two with runners on first and third to end the seventh.The AL Central leaders have struggled against the last-place Twins this season. Cleveland is 6-8 versus Minnesota and 29-9 against the rest of the division.When youre trying to find a way out of something like this, you need to make your breaks or have things go your way, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. But thats baseball, you never know from day to day if youre going to be in a pitchers duel or a slugging contest.THE ROAD BACKIndians outfielder Michael Brantley has his right arm in a sling after having season-ending surgery for biceps tendinitis on his shoulder Aug. 15. He had the stitches removed Monday and is expected to be ready when spring training begins. Brantley had surgery for a torn labrum in November and played in only 11 games.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: LHP Buddy Boshers (left elbow inflammation) was scheduled to pitch one inning Monday for Triple-A Rochester. He has been on the 15-day DL since Aug. 11.Indians: C Yan Gomes (separated right shoulder) has started hitting drills and will DH when he begins a minor league rehab assignment.UP NEXTTwins: LHP Andrew Albers, who was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 26, makes his first start of the season. He has a 4.32 ERA in two relief appearances with Minnesota.Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin has lost his last five starts, allowing 30 earned runs in 25 innings (10.80 ERA) since the start of August. He is 11-8 with a 4.70 ERA on the season. ' ' '