FOUR BITS: Hill, Tebow, Evans, Cunningham

1 » The New York Giants on Monday officially waived former Florida Gators safety Will Hill just days after the NFL officially suspended him for the first six games of the 2014 season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Hill, who tested positive for marijuana for the second time as a professional, has now been suspended for drugs thrice in as many seasons (once for a performance-enhancing substance after testing positive for Adderall). The Giants gave Hill a chance despite his character flaws, signing him to a free agent contract in 2012 (after he went undrafted in 2011) and providing him with plenty of avenues for counseling and help should he need it during his tenure with the team. New York was willing to overlook his first transgression in 2012 as Hill claimed he needed Adderall for his attention deficit disorder but was perturbed when he was caught smoking marijuana in 2013. Three suspensions were simply too much for the Giants to stomach, even if Hill did amass 115 tackles (89 solo), two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), four pass defenses, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in two seasons.

2 » Quarterback Tim Tebow has not played a meaningful NFL snap since 2011 but has not given up on his dream of playing professional football even though he’s accepted a new role as analyst for the SEC Network. “I’m training every day and feel like I’m the best that I’ve ever been,” he told The Tennessean. “I still love it, love playing, talking about it, and I’m just excited about whatever the future holds. Who knows what could happen? But I’m excited about it, though.” Tebow will return to Gainesville, Florida, on Sept. 13 as the Florida-Kentucky game will be featured as the host of his SEC Nation game day program.

3 » Jacksonville Jaguars safety Josh Evans will be a step behind the competition as he works to earn a starting job as a second-year player. Evans, who totaled 58 tackles (47 solo) and a pass defense as a spot starter for the Jaguars last season, has been ruled out for organized team activities and mini camp after undergoing surgery to repair a bone spur in his foot. He is expected to be healthy and therefore a full participant in training camp but will certainly have his work cut out for him if he hopes to start for Jacksonville at the beginning of the 2014 season.

4 » Picked up from the scrap heap by the New York Jets at the tail end of last season after being released by the New England Patriots in the offseason and San Francisco 49ers during the 2013 campaign, linebacker Jermaine Cunningham was singled out by the New York Post as a standout during OTAs last week. “You can see his speed and he looks the part,” explained beat writer Brian Costello. “The jets once got something out of Aaron Maybin for a brief time. It’s possible Rex Ryan could figure out how to do the same with Cunningham.” He played in two games last season for New York but is also completely expendable considering he is set to earn $730,000 in 2014 and the Jets have a number of other players competing for his roster spot.