In today’s world of internet extremes, Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is often hailed as either the ‘second coming’ or the worst quarterback in NFL history and seconds away from a pink slip.
Regardless of the hype or hate, and contrary to his cool, level-headed, good-boy demeanor, Tebow’s game seems autotuned to victory.
“All I do is win, win, win, no matter what!” should be Tebow’s theme song, ringtone and motto.
It’s amazing to see so many sports broadcasters, writers and fans write the second-year QB off as garbage. They claim he’ll never win. As he continues to rack up Ws and fourth-quarter comebacks, the buzzword has changed. Now, the Broncos newly run-heavy offense is considered unsustainable. Nevermind the fact that Tebow is now 4-1 this season and the Broncos find themselves in the midst a playoff race despite a dismal 1-4 start to the season.
No, he’s not the traditional 6’5″, 215-pound pocket passer. Despite the faith-based comparisons, he doesn’t possess the pinpoint accuracy of Kurt Warner. But most pocket-passing QBs don’t have the ability to outrace and out-muscle defenders like Tebow.
The NFL is a league where power backs, speed backs and sure-handed backs can all be successful in their own right. Great receivers can specialize in stretching the field, precision route-running or over-the-middle possession catches. But for some strange reason quarterbacks are all judged in comparison to John Elway, Dan Marino and Peyton Manning.
In a league where “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing,” Tebow is seemingly judged by the faith worn on his sleeve and the unconventional arc of his arm rather than the results left on the field. But as long as the wins keep accumulating, the haters will have to find more creative ways to critize #15.
