Alouettes won't be calling Tim Tebow: Jim Popp

The Montreal Alouettes are in a quarterback conundrum. Tim Tebow is out of a job.

But ask Montreal general manager and head coach Jim Popp, and the team won't be making any calls for help to the former NFL pivot any time soon.

"We've never had a conversation with him or his representation," Popp said Monday, adding there won't be one unless Tebow or his management initiates it. "It's all for talk and there's nothing there, there's no substance to it."

Many football pundits — including quarterbacks guru Steve Clarkson who has worked with the former Patriots QB — believe Tebow should turn his attention to the Canadian Football League.

But it appears the Alouettes might not be the ideal suitors for Tebow's services after all, even with veteran starter Anthony Calvillo trying to deal with concussion issues from sustaining a hit during a game on Aug. 17. He hasn't played since.

There are questions whether the six-foot-three, 236-pound Tebow could be an effective CFL player. He certainly is mobile but concerns about his passing mechanics and accuracy have created doubt that Tebow could succeed on the longer, wider Canadian field.

And Montreal isn't waiting on Tebow. The Alouettes have four quarterbacks, including injured starter Calvillo and Popp said if they decide to add a fifth with the intention of grooming him for the 2014 campaign, it wouldn't be a name player like Tebow.

"I don't think they [Tebow camp] would be ready to do that," Popp said. "But if they are . . . I'm sure they'll call us."

Clarkson believes the QB has run out of options in the NFL after being released by the New England Patriots and should head north of the border.

The Patriots announced Saturday that Tebow was among their final cuts before the regular season begins, and Clarkson believes that could spell the end of Tebow's time in the NFL.

"It's time now to maybe just reconsider a different path to his ultimate dream. Tim might want to look to the CFL because he may have run out of options in the NFL,'' Clarkson told USA Today. "Sitting is not an option for Tim. He's ultra-competitive. He needs to stick to his strength, which is being in a competitive environment.

"Anyone who wants to work on their craft the way Tim does, he just needs to give himself a couple of days and really decide, 'Is this what I want to do?' Clearly, football is still in his blood.''

However, the 26-year-old confirmed via Twitter on Saturday he doesn't want to quit on the NFL just yet.

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

Too late, according to Clarkson.

"I haven't spoken to Tim in a while,'' he said. "My general thoughts now are, 'We're starting the NFL season. Right now, it's not realistic that he'd be a guy an NFL team is going to pick up.'"

Tebow completed 11 of 30 passes for 145 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in three preseason games with New England before being cut.