Posted on 01/10/2012 12:23:08 PM PST by Red Steel
Tim Tebow, keep thanking Jesus for life and football. Leave it to The Gazette to thank all those embarrassing ne’er-do-wells who invested their reputations on a stupid bet that you would fail. They don’t like your faith, your lifestyle, your anti-abortion Super Bowl ad and they’d like to forget that you donate millions to help children.
Tebowed! A look at the QB's college and pro career
You have made them fools, throwing for a stunning 316 yards to beat the NFL’s top-ranked defense in a playoff game. Some are downright angry. Others should hide in their parents’ basements, in shame. Here is some of what they said:
• DJ Gallo, ESPN columnist, after Sunday’s playoff win over Pittsburgh: “Yet again, we were somehow all caught off guard by Tim Tebow... The image of your average Internet message-board troll is that of a weak, pasty basement dweller whose life is focused on getting people riled up in comments sections. Now imagine if such a troll was a muscled 6-foot-3, 236-pounder who decided to troll the entire country on national television every week? You’d have Tim Tebow. He started the season as the third-stringer, and everyone freaked out. Then he got a start and won, and everyone freaked out. Then in his second start, he played horribly and got crushed, and everyone freaked out. Then he went on a winning streak, and everyone freaked out. Then he went on a losing streak, and everyone freaked out. Then he won a playoff game, and everyone freaked out.”
• David Jacoby, on ESPN affiliate “Grantland,” Jan. 3, 2012: “Timothy Richard Tebow is an atrocious, dreadful, embarrassment of a quarterback, and Denver’s defense won games despite his performance. Either that or he has God on speed dial and is just messing with us.”
• Jordan Calfee, featured columnist, “Bleacher Report,” Dec. 21: “The Denver Broncos cannot compete with the likes of the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers come January...” “You can call him a winner and talk about his college resume and comebacks this season all you want. The fact of the matter is, Tim Tebow is a very poor passer. The folks at ESPN don’t criticize him because they are bullies, or because they are somehow anti-Christian...”
• Ryan Phillips, featured columnist, Bleacher Report, Jan. 5, 2012, on John Elway’s suggestion that Tebow “pull the trigger,” by throwing the ball more: “While I appreciate Elway’s confidence in his young signal-caller, that is terrible advice... If he is forced to be a pocket passer, there is no way he can beat a team on his own.”
• Rob Kelley, “The Pigskin Report,” Jan. 2, 2012, headline: “Tim Tebow is the worst quarterback ever to win division and reach NFL playoffs.” Samples from ensuing article: “Watching him (Tebow) play is akin to watching a peewee league game from a bunch of kids. The only difference is that peewee quarterbacks can actually throw a spiral from time to time...” “Tebow seems like a great kid who lives a clean life... But that does not mean that he is a viable starting NFL quarterback. He isn’t even close... trust me when I tell you that the Broncos are not going anywhere with Tebow under center... As much as I dislike Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers, I truly hope that they walk into Denver and absolutely annihilate the Broncos next Sunday afternoon. Tebow cannot throw the ball. Not downfield, or even across the middle for short gains.”
• Greg Couch, FoxSports.com, Nov. 3, 2011: “Tebow isn’t good enough now to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. The Broncos aren’t good enough to be a team in the NFL, either.”
• Ryan Alfieri, Bleacher Report, Jan. 8, 2012, a day before the Steelers game: “On Sunday night, the Denver Broncos’ magical season will come to an end, and they will have Tim Tebow to ‘thank’ for it... It was cute to watch the young guy squeak out wins and get his team in the playoffs, but the honeymoon is now over... Weaknesses tend to be exposed around playoff time, and few players are more flawed and vulnerable than Tebow. I don’t just expect Tebow to have a bad outing; I expect him to play himself out of the Broncos’ starting job.”
Mark Kiszla, Denver Post, Oct. 30, 2011: “So maybe we need a new definition for Tebowing. It’s a prayer for mercy. Please, in the name of heaven, bring us somebody who can actually play quarterback.”
ESPN analyst Merril Hoge, tweeting in August 2011: “It’s embarrassing to think the Broncos could win with Tebow!!” He later tweeted: “You must possess a skill set to play!”
Tebow’s tweeted response: “ ’ppreciate that.”
Tebow-bashing is a sports-media obsession and examples are endless. No amount of success will end this. If Tebow someday wins consecutive Super Bowls and leads his profession, these hater-pundits will call it a fluke. We are embarrassed for them.
Wayne Laugesen, editorial page editor, for the editorial board. Friend Wayne on Facebook; follow him on Twitter.
Some of the Tebow-bashing is because he is a Christian, but certainly not all. I don’t know if you’re a football fan... but on occasions he can be horrifically bad. Almost painful to watch. That’s the genesis for the bulk of criticism from sportswriters IMHO. They expect every NFL quarterback to fall in a specific mold, and will tear down anyone who plays the game differently.
But.... sometimes... he’s fantastic. Especially in the clutch. If the Broncos somehow manage to upend the Patriots, prepare for heads exploding like you’ve never seen.
Yet there are a bunch of QB’s with NFL level skills who won’t be taking the field this weekend.
Never was much of a football fan. Guess I need to change and start supporting this guy.
People of faith need to stick together.
Some QBs come out of college and immediately master the pro game, like Dan Marino. Others, like John Elway, did not look that great in his early years.
Christ and His people vs everything and everyone else.
Those are the only two sides in the grand scheme of things.
Now, I do think the pro-life ad was what engendered the most hatred, because it reminds people of their murderous tendencies. Those that are “pro-choice” know, deep down inside, that it’s killing a baby human, and they know it’s wrong, and they HATE any reminders of that.
LOL. Tebow already plays better than Hoge ever did. Hey Merrill, in 8 years how many playoff games did you win as starting QB?
Like a guy that consistently hits the 1,000 yd bull, but just isn't a very good shot, right?
TT might keep up this lucky streak for 10 years or so, but eventually he's certain to show everyone that he just doesn't have what it takes. They really ought to cut him right now, before more wins just confuse the issue. Because once he wins a few Super Bowls its going to be really tough to make a new transition to a 'real' NFL QB.
Those pesky coincidences...
Plus he was 10 of 21 passing, so he had 31.6 yards per completion, and the TV rating was 31.6.
Leaving his religion aside, Tebow is clearly not a horrible QB. He is also not a pro-bowl caliber QB.
Yet.
This is what happens to reporters when they accept the conventional wisdom instead of thinking for themselves. Tebow doesn’t suck, he’s just different. Tebow might not be the prototypical QB, but neither was Kenny Stabler, Doug Flutie, or Michael Vick. They all won, though.
Thank your son for me for his service. May God keep him free from harm. I have a nephew serving in the Navy based in Afganistan with Navy Seal support.
Regarding pro athletes committing criminal acts: I remember Michael Irvin as a Dallas Cowboy being involved with cocaine and associated bad behavior. Some Cowboy fans cared not what he did off the field as long as he performed well on the field. There is a different standard for Tebow. Some people will not applaud his ability to help his team win because he is a Christian on and off the field.
What is the biblical signifcance of a ball landing on the 20?
Tebow, at this stage in his career, reminds me of Steve Young, who developed into a top-notch quarterback. Barring a serious injury, and finding the right system, Tebow has that potential.
But--sure gotta love Tebow "leading the offense" (and often NOT intentionally!) down here on this "playing field".
Interesting article by a sports writer who finally caves in and declares, “It’s Tebow Time”
I have not heard so much talk about a white Bronco since the OJ trial....
LOL. You’re right. I thought Joe spelled his last name Capp. Yeah, he may be better with a cane than he was with a football.
Very interesting observation.
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