For the fourth straight year, Tim Tebow reported to Spring Training for the New York Mets. With new professional football leagues being created, there was a possibility Tebow would have given up his baseball career to return to football.

As reported by Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, Tebow had some communication with the XFL before ultimately deciding to return to the Mets. Ultimately, while Tebow voiced enthusiasm for the new leagues and the opportunities they present for players to make it into the NFL, he wanted to stick with baseball saying, “But for me this is what I wanted to do and pursuit it and be all in and just, yeah.”

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk intimated Tebow’s unwillingness to join the XFL could have been the result of their ” no-frills financial structure that makes no exceptions for big-name players.” As a result of that structure, Florio notes the XFL is missing big starts like Tebow, Johnny Manziel, or Colin Kaepernick to drive both attention and ratings.

While Florio does make that contention, Tebow did note he turned down an opportunity to play for the AAF last year. In doing so, Tebow said, “I’m all-in on baseball and no way could I stop and not give this a chance after everything that I’ve worked for.”

Last year, Tebow’s season ended in July after he sustained a deep cut while attempting to field a ball. Prior to the injury, which required stitches, he had struggled in 77 games for Triple-A Syracuse hitting .163/.240/.255. He is slated to begin the season in Syracuse which would mark the first time the 32 year old outfielder will repeat a level.