Tim Tebow Gets Trading Card Within 48 Hours of Being Signed by Patriots (Photo)

This hat tip goes to Photoshop.

Tim Tebow, who was just signed by the Patriots earlier this week, already has an NFL trading card that shows him in a New England uniform. Considering Tebow has never donned the red, white and blue threads — and that he has to clinch a roster spot before he even gets to wear one of those No. 5 Tebow jerseys that are flying off the rack — someone must have been hard at work with the magic wand over the last few days.

Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald first reported the Tebow card after Panini America sent the image of Tebow’s collectible to the paper.

“Whenever you have a player that has the level of popularity Tim has and they move to a new team, it reinvigorates the collectability of that player,” Panini marketing vice president Jason Howarth said, according to the Herald. “Fans of that player and football fans want to go out and get that player’s trading cards. Panini is excited to continue to deliver to Tim Tebow fans the very best football trading cards out there.”

Now, it’s just conjecture that this was indeed a Photoshop job — Tebow could have suited up behind the scenes for a one-on-one shoot (wearing white inside Gillette Stadium, no less). Considering how Bill Belichick is treating the Tebow spotlight this time around, though, it’s unlikely No. 15 — er, No. 5 — will be getting any treatment out of the norm.

Except, of course, if he gets his own trading card within 48 hours of being signed.

Check it out below.

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