In three days, the New York Giants could have reduced the restricted free agent tender offer they extended to Victor Cruz from $2.879 million to $630,000.

But Cruz took the necessary step to prevent that by signing his tender Friday, a person informed of the transaction told USA TODAY Sports. The person, who requested anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak on behalf of Cruz, said the sides are continuing to work on a long-term deal but are no closer than they’ve been in recent weeks.

Cruz told ESPN he and the Giants will “continue talks for a long-term deal before camp starts.”

Signing the tender means Cruz is required to report to training camp next month or he’ll risk being fined $30,000 for each day he misses. That’s the trade-off for locking in his current salary of nearly $3 million for next season, a figure he obviously doesn’t want as his going rate come Week 1.

But after missing all of the team’s spring sessions (offseason workouts, organized team activities and minicamp), Cruz has at least put himself on the required-attendee list this summer, which is somewhat of a positive sign.

Cruz’s desire for a long-term deal comes at the same time the Giants are facing another contract issue with fellow receiver Hakeem Nicks also seeking security. Though Nicks hasn’t spoken publicly on the issue, he skipped the team’s OTAs without stating a reason. Nicks is entering the final year of his pact, with a base salary of $2.725 million this season. Unlike Cruz, he was required to attend minicamp, so he did just that.

But Cruz’s acceptance of his tender means he and Nicks are now both in the same situation, both only under contract for 2013 and slated to become unrestricted free agents in 2014. The Giants have been trying to sign both players, which is part of the reason why they’ve been trying to keep the price in check on Cruz.

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Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter @mikegarafolo

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

The full details are in on Tim Tebow’s contract with the New England Patriots and, while the base salaries are the league minimum over the next two seasons and there’s no guaranteed money, there is a chance to make some decent cash in 2014 — presumably at a position other than quarterback.

Tebow can earn up to $2 million in playing-time incentives in 2014, according to a person who has reviewed the details of the contract.

The person, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the financial terms weren’t to be disseminated publicly, said Tebow will earn the full $2 million only if he’s on the field for 80% of the offensive snaps and the Patriots win 10 games or make the postseason.

Tebow will earn $500,000 if he participates in 60% of the plays in 2014, $1 million for 70% or $1.5 million for 80% of the plays without reaching the playoffs or winning 10 games.

Assuming Tom Brady stays healthy, Tebow’s best chance at hitting those incentives would be his playing somewhere other than quarterback. There are no playing time incentives this year for Tebow, meaning he’ll earn the same amount as a backup quarterback than he would earn as a contributor elsewhere.

Tebow is scheduled to earn a base salary of $630,000 this season. That salary has a “split” rate of $358,000 if he lands on injured reserve, meaning he’ll be paid the lower rate for all weeks he’s on IR. Tebow’s 2014 base salary is $730,000, with a split rate of $398,000.

Including the $25,000 workout bonus next year, the maximum value of the contract is $3.385 million over two years. The base value (minus incentives) is $1.385 million.

And again, the minimum value if he’s released before making the 53-man roster this year is $0.

***

PHOTOS: Tim Tebow at Patriots minicamp

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The coach barely entertained reporters’ questions.

The owner quietly walked off the field after practice, declining to make any grand statements to the media.

And Tim Tebow, the newest member of the New England Patriots, fielded no questions, offering a 36-second statement that ended with his standard, “God Bless” as he walked away.

A little more than a year ago, the New York Jets did everything but hold a parade following their trade for Tebow. There was a press conference in the Jets’ facility, and soon enough owner Woody Johnson was proclaiming one can “never have too much Tebow.” Turns out Johnson was wrong — really wrong — and it’s clear Bill Belichick intends to show everyone the right way to handle the Tebow sideshow.

By stomping it out along with his players.

“You just worry about playing football. Each player’s caught up on striving to their personal goals and trying to get where they want to be as an athlete,” said tight end Aaron Hernandez, Tebow’s teammate in college at Florida. “A lot of that other stuff you don’t really notice or pay attention to, but from the outside looking in, it looks like a big mess.”

Hernandez added: “The media’s going to be around, and if you let the media become a distraction, that’s your fault. Obviously, in this program we don’t let that happen. We just play football and take care of ourselves.”

Therein lies the real story line in Tebow’s signing a two-year deal with the Patriots on Tuesday.

It’s not so much about whether Belichick signed the 2010 first-round pick and Heisman Trophy winner to spite the Jets or reporters who wrote that he didn’t like Tebow as a player. It’s not even about whether Tebow will be a quarterback, a utility player or both. It’s about this being Tebow’s best (and maybe last) chance to have the noise that follows him blocked out by Belichick and this franchise’s ability to often handle potential distractions and win in spite of them.

Tebow’s presence might very well be the biggest challenge to Belichick’s no-distraction mandate since Spygate. Through one day, at least, everyone complied — including Tebow.

“First and foremost, I just want to thank the Patriots for giving me an opportunity. I’m very thankful,” said Tebow, who has been assigned No. 5 since third-year backup quarterback Ryan Mallett wears Tebow’s familiar No. 15. “It’s such an honor to be a Patriot and play for Coach Belichick and for Coach (Josh) McDaniels, to learn under Tom (Brady) and be a part of this great franchise, a part of a very successful franchise. I found that out first-hand. I lost to them several times.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to working hard every single day, getting a lot better and learning under some great people.”

With that, along with a promise that “I’m sure we’re going to be talking a lot more soon,” Tebow was gone.

That short session with reporters came after he had limited reps in the first of the team’s three minicamp practices. Brady and Mallett took most of the snaps, with Tebow getting the bulk of his work during the individual portion of practice.

Tebow was wearing a red jersey and worked solely as a quarterback. Belichick is crafty and open-minded about schemes and players, so expect that to change at some point during the regular season if Tebow is still on the roster. If Tebow’s being groomed for any kind of role, apparently it wasn’t evident Tuesday.

“There’s a reason he’s here. I don’t know the reason yet,” Hernandez quipped.

But expect Belichick, who cut off the line of Tebow questioning when he was asked if he’ll have an issue with his new quarterback “Tebowing” after a big play, to refuse to entertain the sideshow, even though he did smirk at the cameras when he entered his press conference.

“Anything we do is in the best interest of the team,” Belichick said. “Tim’s a talented player that works hard, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Hardly a pitch to sell seats right there. Just an attempt to once again control the message, something that could set up nicely for Tebow’s hopes of ever being a legitimate player in this league once again.

“Definitely,” cornerback Kyle Arrington, now in his fifth year with the Patriots, said when asked if he thinks Belichick and the Patriots can keep Tebowmania in check better than any other team. “We’ll give it a shot and see how it goes.”

If it doesn’t go well, Belichick will cut ties with Tebow as quickly as he got rid of Albert Haynesworth and Randy Moss when their situations turned sour. But those players had reputations as head cases. The issue with Tebow, on the other hand, isn’t behavioral but rather a potential problem with the attention he brings.

Belichick tried to quip his way around that question by saying to the assembled media, “Hopefully there will be more (people) than this at the games on Sundays.”

Bland as he might be, Belichick has been a consistently successful coach who knows how to minimize distractions. He’ll try to do the same for Tebow while showing the Jets and the rest of the NFL whether refusing to embrace and promote Tebowmania works.

If it does, he’ll once again look like a genius. If it doesn’t, there’s nothing gained or lost.

Except maybe Tebow’s NFL career.

***

Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter @mikegarafolo

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Bill Belichick walked into the New England Patriots interview room, looked to his right and smirked when he saw the line of cameras in the back and the horde of reporters in front.

That rare moment of personality, of the publicly dullest coach in the NFL acknowledging even he is amused by the attention Tim Tebow generates, was not indicative of what was to follow.

Tebow signed a two-year deal Tuesday at veteran-minimum salaries of $630,000 and $730,000 with no signing bonus or guaranteed money, according to a person informed of the contract details.

The person, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the terms weren’t to be discussed publicly, said there are playing-time escalators in the second year of the deal.

So, what is Belichick getting for the money? Who knows?

In what was surely an effort to immediately show he intends to stomp out any possible distractions Tebow could bring into his team’s locker room, Belichick was evasive and terse when asked anything from how he plans to use Tebow to whether he’ll care if his, uh, quarterback does a little Tebowing on the field.

“Anything we do is in the best interest of the team,” Belichick said. “Tim’s a talented player that works hard, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Did you talk to him about dealing with the attention?

“In all honesty, we’ve been in front of bigger crowds than this. Just keep doing what our job is and try to get better as a football team individually and collectively.”

What position will he play?

After an awkward pause, Belichick countered: “What position? We’re going to do what’s best for the football team. We’ll see.”

Special teams?

“We’ll see. … He’s a talented guy who’s smart and works hard. We’ve all seen him play. He can do a lot of things.”

You’re close with him, right?

“I’ve never coached him before. I’m certainly close with a lot of players that I’ve coached in my career.”

Do you feel he can play quarterback?

“I’ve already said that.”

Specifically about quarterback?

“I’ve answered the question twice. He’s a talented player, he’s smart and he works hard.”

Did offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who drafted and coached Tebow with the Denver Broncos, have anything to do with this signing?

“I don’t know.”

But wait, there was a report that stated you hated Tebow as a player, one that drew a strong reaction from you denying such sentiments.

“I don’t have anything to add.”

This one, because it was a peach, we’ll quote word-for-word: “Coach, will you have any objections to Tim kneeling down and praying after he makes a big play, Tebowing as it’s come to be known?”

“I think we’ve already talked enough about him. I think I’ve covered it. Anything else?”

Belichick survived one day of Tebow questions. And considering his experience in deftly handling media inquiries, no one should worry whether future sessions with reporters will tax him mentally.

But Tuesday, the first day of the Tebow era in New England, revealed Belichick’s patience will be tested more so than in any other previous case. The Tebow sideshow is here and as fervent as ever.

But if anybody can control it, it’s Belichick.

***

Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter @mikegarafolo

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

The path to the Buffalo Bills starting quarterback job just got a little smoother for rookie EJ Manuel with the release of Tarvaris Jackson.

The Bills announced Monday evening that they have cut Jackson a little less than four months after re-signing him to a one-year deal that included a $500,000 signing bonus and another $1.75 million tied to his being on the roster at the start of the season.

Jackson split reps with Kevin Kolb, who signed with the Bills as a free agent, during organized team activities this spring. However, Jackson’s release seemingly paves the way for Manuel to start stealing some snaps with the starters.

Kolb, who didn’t pan out as the starter with the Arizona Cardinals, seemingly has the inside track to the job, though he’ll have to fend off Manuel, whom the Bills selected 16th overall in April’s draft.

Jackson, 30, didn’t take a snap with the Bills last season after starting 14 games for the Seattle Seahawks in 2011. He was mentioned as a possible option to sign with the New York Jets as a backup and that might very well wind up being the case now. The Jets lost David Garrard to retirement shortly after signing him.

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Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter @mikegarafolo

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Bill Belichick is now just kicking the New York Jets while they’re down. Tim Tebow is on his way to Foxborough to join the New England Patriots.

The former Jets and Denver Broncos quarterback and utility player is expected to sign with the Patriots on Tuesday and be on the field this week for the team’s minicamp, a person informed of the signing told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move won’t be official until Tuesday.

The signing contradicts recent reports that Belichick didn’t like Tebow as a player and that Tebow had given up on his chances of continuing his NFL career following his disaster of a season with the Jets in 2012, when he was passed over for Greg McElroy late in the season after Mark Sanchez lost his starting job.

Belichick certainly hasn’t given up on Tebow. And if any coach or team is best suited to handle the sideshow Tebow brings, it’s Belichick and the Patriots.

Belichick certainly hasn’t given up on Tebow, and if any coach and team are best suited to handle the sideshow Tebow brings, they are Belichick and the Patriots.

Remember, too, that Josh McDaniels, Tebow’s head coach in Denver, is the Patriots’ offensive coordinator.

And there’s more, Jets fans: If Tebow makes the roster, the Jets will face castoffs in back-to-back games –former disgruntled cornerback Darrelle Revis and the Bucs at home in the opener on Sept. 12, then Tebow in New England four days later.

Tebow brought his baggage to the Jets last year and, despite owner Woody Johnson’s visions of him being a draw for the fans, he was nothing more than a distraction. Even Sanchez admitted as much following the year by stating, “I just don’t know if it was the best situation for either of us. … You can avoid that stuff on your own if you like, in my opinion, but he’s a popular guy and people gravitate towards the guy.”

Consider this Belichick’s way of showing the Jets how to handle the attention Tebow brings. If he succeeds, gets some production out of Tebow and doesn’t distract from the overall goal of continued success during his regime, that’ll be yet another dart sent in the direction of Florham Park, N.J.

As for Tebow, he’s been intent on saying he can and will be a full-time NFL quarterback once again. New England is not the place for that to happen, at least not with a healthy Tom Brady under center.

Tebow figures to continue serving as a utility player on offense and a special-teams contributor. It’s a role he accepted with the Jets, only to privately sulk when he learned he wouldn’t be replacing Sanchez late in the year. That he’s headed to back up one of the best quarterbacks in the game reveals Tebow has accepted his role will be as a contributor somewhere other than at quarterback.

PHOTOS: Tim Tebow’s career

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Former New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw and the Indianapolis Colts are negotiating a contract after a Thursday visit, a person informed of the talks told USA TODAY Sports.

Bradshaw completed six good seasons with the Giants and scored the Super Bowl XLVI-winning touchdown against the New England Patriots. But he also underwent surgeries on nagging issues with his feet and ankles that kept him from playing a full 16-game slate in all but one season with the Giants.

In six seasons with the Giants, Bradshaw rushed for 4,232 yards and 32 touchdowns. He rushed for at least 1,000 yards in two of his last three seasons in New York — a career-high 1,235 yards in 2010 and 1,015 yards last season.

Teams have been wary of Bradshaw’s lower-leg issues this offseason. He visited the Pittsburgh Steelers and received some interest from the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos. However all those teams eventually selected running backs in the second round of the draft.

Though Bradshaw remains unsigned, he could be a good value at a minimum deal — or slightly more — for a competing team right now.

The Colts have Donald Brown, Vick Ballard and Delone Carter at running back and could use a veteran presence. They’re also looking to better protect quarterback Andrew Luck, and pass protection is one of Bradshaw’s strengths.

The Colts ground game ranked No. 22 in yards per game last season (104.4) and No. 26 in yards per attempt (3.9).

Contributing: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star.

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Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter @mikegarafolo

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

INDIANAPOLIS — Austin Collie had just completed a two-hour workout at St. Vincent Sports Performance last week — with weight training to test the strength in his knee, step-up drills onto a raised platform while wearing a weighted vest to work on the balance in the joint and agility work by catching a tennis ball his trainer bounced his way.

The trainer gushed about the progress Collie has made since surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon last fall, and Collie claimed he’s feeling “phenomenal.” His knee, he said, might be even better than it was before surgery.

But Collie, a 6-foot, 204-pound free agent looking for a team, was asked about that other medical issue that threatens to end his NFL career — the serious injury connected to his name, the one that rendered him motionless on the field for nearly 10 minutes in a game three years ago, the one that put him on a stretcher that day and the one that’s been the hottest, most controversial medical and legal topic confronting professional football this decade:

Concussions.

The former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver has had three of them, and at a time when thousands of players are suing the NFL over head injuries, employing Collie might be considered a liability. Collie, however, dismissively rolled his eyes at the mere suggestion.

At 27, he is willing to risk permanent brain injury for one last shot.

“I’ll sign a waiver, all right?” he said. “They’re not going to have to worry about me suing. I’ll hold myself to be accountable.”

Collie’s desire to continue an NFL career that has brought him a lot of pain, along with the promise of being an elite player, is seen by some as admirable. He is determined – “stubborn,” he and his father admit – to prove he can stay healthy. And Collie claims he is not at risk for long-term brain issues after being cleared by multiple neurologists.

But others wonder why he would risk disability later in life.

Thirteen miles to the south, the Colts are going through organized team activities. Collie is at St. Vincent, working with fellow free-agent receiver Deion Branch, who is trying to keep his 11-year career going, and former Indiana Pacers center Rik Smits, who is just trying to stay in shape. Collie, who played in just one game last season, says it’s “kind of depressing” to know OTAs are happening without him.

At a time when the return of his former quarterback, Peyton Manning, from a serious neck condition was lauded, Collie wonders why he can’t come back from his head injuries and a major knee operation? Why can’t he be — and this is the word that really gets Collie going — selfish?

Those questions aren’t easily answered. Not with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell talking about the need to protect players from themselves. Under Goodell, the league has instituted rules, levied fines and attempted suspensions — all while starting its “Heads Up” tackling initiative in the interest of increased safety and decreased liability.

A talented, reliable wide receiver once on a pace for more than 100 receptions in a season, Collie is Goodell’s dilemma personified.

“I just need that closure. When I feel like I accomplish everything I want to accomplish, I’ll have no problem walking away from the game,” Collie said. “But I have more to give.”

ANOTHER CHANCE

Will an NFL team allow him to give it? The Colts were willing to do so after his three concussions, the first of which occurred on Nov. 7, 2010, when he was sandwiched by a pair of Philadelphia Eagles safeties. Collie remained motionless and was carried off the field.

Two weeks later, Collie left a game early because he was still experiencing symptoms. He returned in December to grab eight passes and two touchdowns against the Jacksonville Jaguars, though he was hit by Jaguars linebacker Daryl Smith and suffered another concussion. That concussion ended his season.

Collie had 58 receptions and eight touchdowns through nine games. Over a 16-game season, that projects to 103 catches and 14 touchdowns.

“The one with the stretcher, that was the pinnacle of when the whole concussion thing started, so it was easy to target somebody — me, in this case — and say, ‘Look at what concussions can do. He’d better quit the game,’” Collie said. “You can call it backlash. It’s not good. I don’t enjoy people talking about me or tagging me to concussions. It doesn’t make me happy.”

Asked what statements frustrate him the most, Collie said, “That I’m being selfish, (not thinking about) my family, that I’ve got a wife and kids.”

Collie’s wife, Brooke, has encouraged him to get back on the field, he said. The two have been married since college, so she’s been with him through all of the injuries, which included a third concussion last preseason. (And a thumb surgery in 2010, by the way.) Her husband tests his memory and reflexes with apps on his iPad, she said, and she’s comforted to know her scores on the same tests have been lower than his.

“Every time a game is on, she’s like, ‘You need to get that jersey back on. Put that helmet on. You need to be out there,’” Collie said. “She gets it.”

Collie’s comeback attempt also is supported by his father, Scott, a former CFL Player who runs his own company, called Receiver Tech, and travels the country to work with young players. He’s heard plenty of pitches at coaches’ conventions from companies pushing software to diagnose concussions or even decals on helmets that change color to supposedly indicate when a concussion has occurred.

“I think that’s dangerous,” he said. “It needs to be left up to the doctors, it needs to be left up to science, not outside observers and not the media.”

A COMPETITIVE FIRE

Scott was in the recovery room last year following Austin’s knee surgery, when his son told him, “I don’t want to have to go through this again.” For a little more than a week, Austin felt that way. He thought about how difficult his NFL career has been and wondered, “Is this for me?”

The next game he watched reminded him it was.

Unable to bend his leg following the surgery, Collie sat on his couch and saw the Colts overcome a 21-3 halftime deficit to beat the Green Bay Packers. It was the team’s first game since coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia, and the victory was as inspiring for Collie as it was for any member of the Colts.

Scott wasn’t surprised to know Austin still wanted to play football. He’s known how resilient his son was for quite some time.

Scott often tells the story of how he took his son Zac to the batting cage when Austin was only 4 years old. Austin stood on the plate and his father warned Austin he’d get hit with a ball if he didn’t move, but Austin was persistent.

Scott told Zac to drop the quarter in the machine and, sure enough, the first pitch plunked Austin. He didn’t cry; he took a step back and whacked the next pitch.

Years later, the boy from the batting cage was a “caged animal” when he missed the first four games of his football career following shoulder surgery. Austin was injured making a throw while playing baseball, the only sport his father would allow him to play until his freshman year of high school.

“He wasn’t real happy with me,” Scott recalled with a laugh. “He wanted to play and he missed time where he felt he could’ve been getting better.”

KNEE INJURY A ‘BLESSING’

Collie, who for a short time questioned whether he should retire after the knee injury, believes he’s actually gotten better by sitting out. But he has come to believe the knee injury was a “blessing” to him, because he has rested his head and could have a stronger patella tendon than ever. Understandably, Collie would rather talk about the healing knee than the vulnerable head, and his surgeon, Neal ElAttrache, said previous issues with tendinosis were corrected via the surgery.

ElAttrache has also been viewing video of Collie’s rehab and, along with the training staff at St. Vincent, has instructed Collie on improving his running form to decrease the strain on his knees. ElAttrache wants Collie to run and cut with his knees over his feet, with his shin in perfect vertical alignment.

“If your knees are angled inwards, that puts a rotational stress on the ACL or the tendon that puts you at risk,” said ElAttrache, who fortified the tendon with a piece of Collie’s hamstring tendon. “He’s done a good job with that. The knee looks great.”

Meanwhile, he’s back to running routes alongside Branch.

“When he started, he wanted this right and that right. I’m like, ‘It’s your first day. You look good,’” Branch said. “It would be different if he was at home and said, ‘I want to go play again.’ No, this guy’s here every day, putting the work and time in. You can’t knock a gentleman for that. It’s going to pay off.”

That’s what Manning told Collie during a recent USO tour to Iraq and Afghanistan. Collie said he admired Manning’s attitude during his comeback with the Denver Broncos.

“Just seeing his work ethic and his drive, no matter what anybody said, he couldn’t care less,” Collie said. “All the questions about his arm getting back to where it needed to be, you could tell he zoned all that out. He knew what drove him, he knew what he was capable of.”

Collie knows what he’s capable of, too. So does the NFL. His connections to coaches and front-office types with the Colts, Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers make them potential landing spots. Both New York teams – the Jets and Giants – are looking for help at receiver. The New England Patriots are always open to adding a target for Tom Brady, so perhaps they’ll be interested.

One NFC scout, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the concussion issues, said, “It would be hard to establish him in a key role due to injuries, but as a fourth wide receiver who could step up in a pinch (this season), there could be some value.”

Collie believes there will be suitors, with at least one willing to take a chance on him.

“Call me naïve or optimistic, but I’m confident I’ll be playing,” he said. “Naïve optimism, I guess you can say. That’s kind of the attitude you want to have, otherwise you’re going to be wandering aimlessly around here.”

Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter @MikeGarafolo.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Mike Adams is recovering from surgery after a stabbing in the stomach resulting from an attempted robbery of his truck, Adams’ agent, Eric Metz, told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday.

Metz said Adams will spend a few days in the hospital and is expected to miss about six weeks of football activities, though that’s good news compared to what could have been.

“From what I understand, he was very fortunate,” said Metz, who said he spoke with a groggy Adams after his surgery and has consulted with Steelers brass and team security. “The knife missed some vital organs.”

Adams also realizes he was lucky.

“I had an angel lookin out for me!” he wrote on his Twitter account. “(I’ll) be ok just gotta fight to get back harder then ever.”

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert says the stabbing happened early Saturday on the city’s South Side. He says officials were in communication with Adams and his family.

Metz said he was told three men approached Adams as he was sitting on the back of his truck. One had a gun and another had a knife, Metz said.

“I asked him, ‘Why didn’t you just let them take the truck?’” Metz said. “He told me, ‘I didn’t really have a plan. It happened so quickly.’ It’s hard to know what to do when something like this never happened to you before.”

Metz said team security told him there were witnesses and one of the men dropped a cellphone at the scene.

“What kind of Pittsburgh people stab a Steeler?” said Metz, a Pittsburgh native based in Arizona. “What is wrong with these people?”

Adams, a second-round pick last year, was in line to start at right tackle after appearing in only six games as a rookie. This incident, from which he’s expected to make a full recovery, likely won’t affect his chances of being on the field in Week 1.

“We are aware of the situation regarding Mike Adams being stabbed earlier this morning,” Colbert said in a statement. “We are in direct communication with both Mike and his family. Mike is expected to make a full recovery.”

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Many believe Tim Tebow’s NFL career is over.

Tebow is not one of those people. Not yet, anyway.

A person who has spoken at length with Tebow about his current prospects for returning to the league told USA TODAY Sports that Tebow isn’t ready to give up, retire or look to head to the Canadian Football League or Arena Football League.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because neither Tebow, his representatives nor his relatives have addressed his situation publicly, was reacting to an article from ESPN the Magazine, citing members of Tebow’s camp saying the former Denver Broncos and New York Jets quarterback has given up on his NFL career.

The person who spoke with Tebow is a member of his camp, and vehemently denied the report.

Tebow isn’t expected to address the story anytime soon because the person said he’s trying to stay off the radar, due in part to the very issue that led to the ESPN the Magazine story – the attention he brings could be seen by some teams as an unnecessary distraction.

Without the side show, perhaps a team would be interested in adding a versatile player who has a knack for winning games and performing in the clutch. Tebow was cut by the Jets on April 29.

As of now, no team seems in a rush to sign Tebow. There are still more than three months before the start of the season. And despite a report to the contrary, Tebow hasn’t given up hope he’ll be in an NFL uniform in Week 1.

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Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter @MikeGarafolo.

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PHOTOS: Tim Tebow’s career

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.