Tim Tebow's appearance on "The Bachelor" would have been a win-win situation for both the 24-year-old NFL star and the popular ABC reality show.
It would be a hit for the show for obvious reasons, as Tebow is one of the most popular bachelors in the world.
He has appeal with football fans and non-fans alike, a rare crossover among NFL athletes.
The main problem with the show seems to be that the engagements and marriages never pan out for the long haul. In the first six seasons of "The Bachelor," the only relationship that lasted longer than a year was the one between Byron Velvick and Mary Delgado in Season Six.
Since Season Seven aired in 2005, just about all of the relationships that formed over the course of the 16 seasons of "The Bachelor" have come to bitter and disappointing ends.
Tebow, a devout Christian with strong morals and ultra-conservative religious beliefs, likely would have changed that streak.
You get the sense that Tebow has a good head on his shoulders, and wants a serious relationship with someone he can settle down with as a life partner. He wants to be in it for the long-term, unlike some other contestants who have appeared on the show in the past.
It's easy to see why it would be good for the show to have Tebow appear as "The Bachelor," but it would have been a great opportunity for the quarterback as well.
Ever since his college playing career at Florida, football fans, coaches and media outlets have been skeptical of his authenticity.
Even Urban Meyer, Tebow's former coach, took some convincing to believe Tebow was genuine. "To be honest with you, when I first met him, I was waiting," his former coach, Urban Meyer, said in an AP report. "Come on, come on, let's go. OK, Philippines (missionaries). Come on. Give me the real gig here. Do you want a hat? What's the deal? It's true. It's all from the heart. I love that guy. I've never met one like him. It's 100 percent right on target. That's why he lives his life. He told me that during recruiting, and I was skeptical because I've heard that before and then they're out at a nightclub."
And in 2012, Ashley Madison, an infidelity-dating website, questioned whether Tebow was a virgin like he says he is. They offered a bounty of $1 million to anyone who could prove Tebow wasn't actually a virgin.
Tebow has plenty of skeptics who question him, and appearing on "The Bachelor" would be the perfect opportunity for him to prove to the world that he's for real.
It would be hard to be fake for an entire 10-week season, so an appearance on "The Bachelor" would have given Tebow a chance to show the world that he's the sweet, wholesome young man he claims to be.
What else would he have to gain by appearing on the show? How about a legion of new fans who may not be too familiar with him. It would be the perfect platform to promote some of his charity work and convert the masses into Tebow believers.
Should Tim Tebow appear on "The Bachelor"? Let me know in the comments.
Eric Holden is a lifelong New York Jets fan. Follow him on Twitter @ericholden.
