Tim Tebow biggest name among NFL cuts

Tim Tebow was the biggest name among the many players cut by their NFL teams on Saturday as the deadline was reached to reduce team rosters to a maximum of 53.

After being let go by the New England Patriots his third team in 18 months and with the season just five days away, Tebow's chances of immediately being picked up by another team seem slim.

"I will remain in relentless pursuit of continuing my lifelong dream of being an NFL quarterback," an undaunted Tebow tweeted.

Several other veteran QBs also were out of work as the New York Giants released longtime backup David Carr, the Green Bay Packers cut Vince Young and the Buffalo Bills chopped Matt Leinart.

Other noteworthy cuts included:

Philadelphia Eagles right guard Danny Watkins

San Francisco 49ers loose safety Brian Jennings and wide receiver Austin Collie

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

New Orleans Saints safety Jim Leonhard

Cleveland Browns kicker Shayne Graham

San Diego Chargers wide receiver Robert Meachem

Every coach calls this the cruelest day of the year in pro football even the Giants' Tom Coughlin, whose birthday was Saturday. But Sunday might prove worse as some bottom-rung players who barely had the chance to celebrate making the team get discharged in favor of waiver pickups.

Teams can also fill their eight-man practice squads Sunday.

This could be it for Tebow, the star college quarterback who has provided both his supporters and detractors with plenty of fodder during his 35-game NFL career that includes a 47.9 completion percentage, 17 touchdown throws, nine interceptions, a dozen TD runs and 15 fumbles.

Jettisoned by the New York Jets last winter, Tebow signed June 11 with New England, where the man who drafted him in Denver, Josh McDaniels, is the offensive coordinator. His three-month stay with the Patriots was decidedly lower key than his stints with the Broncos, whom he led to the playoffs in 2011, and Jets, but he still had trouble throwing the ball, posting a passer rating of just 47.2.

Tebow's last play with the Patriots, and perhaps in the NFL, was a 9-yard touchdown toss Thursday in a preseason game against the Giants.

Now Tebow is out of work again and maybe out of chances.

"I can't predict that," Broncos coach John Fox said. "I wish nothing but the best for him, as I've said many times. He did a lot of good things for us, was great to this organization and to this coaching staff, myself included."