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.
Am I wrong? Did it not take Elway several season to get the Broncos to the playoffs?
I don’t think it’s biblical. But one has to wonder if there was some type of disturbance in the space-time continuum.
Beat me by two post..
Once he gets in rythem with his receivers as he did at Florida. Look out folks. Time is on his side. Each day makes him better.
In his day, Joe Kapp was at one time the highest paid player in the NFL...plus, he was hilarious in “The Longest Yard”...
Religion aside Tebow is clearly a winner. He brings a positive attitude and can do spirit that filters down to the entire team. THAT’S what a quarterback is supposed to be.
I have written here before about the movie “Oh God Book 2” with George Burns and the little girl who he talks to as god. She is tasked with getting people to realize god is real and she gets nothing but grief. And in the end she gets the last laugh as the DRs who are trying to put her away as being delusional are proven wrong by God. I feel the same way with Tim. In the end the Haters will be the ones that are wrong. Go Tebow and Go Broncos..
I don't think you can definitely judge a first year starting QB one way or the other. But you didn't see any skills in the playoff game? He made some genuinely nice passes. It remains to be seen whether that will continute, but some great quarterbacks started off pretty poorly. Heck, Elway had 7 TDs and 14 picks, with a 47% completion % his first year. He turned out to be a good quarteback, despite that.
John Elway first season:
47.5 % completion rate
7 TD
14 INT
54% QB rating
Indeed - remind me again where the sports writers’ darling, Colt McCoy, is spending his post season......
IIRC, Denver fans used to spit on Elway his rookie season, as he went into the locker room. Now, he could be roasting a baby on the steps of the capitol, and I highly doubt much would be said by the very same people.
My thought on that is... it had to land somewhere.
“that was NOTHING next to Praeter’s opening kick hitting the crossbar and landing EXACTLY on the 20 yard line...”
What is the biblical signifcance of a ball landing on the 20?
The 20 and the cross bar define the edges of the Red Zone. Prater parted the Red Sea! This is fun!
“that was NOTHING next to Praeter’s opening kick hitting the crossbar and landing EXACTLY on the 20 yard line...”
What is the biblical signifcance of a ball landing on the 20?
The 20 and the cross bar define the edges of the Red Zone. Prater parted the Red Sea! This is fun!
What he seems to be at this point is a big play QB. He lacks consistency, which is a problem, but has the 3rd highest yards per completion this season. It’s what makes his stat lines both awful and amazing. 2 TDs, 1 rushing TD, no INTs and 31 yards percompletion: great. 10 for 21, awful. He was finally throwing guys open though. Still had some awful ducks though.
One way or the other, entertaining.
Nailed it.
Betcha Troy Palomalu can. He got to watch them close up. Too bad he doesn't know as much about NFL football as you do.
Love that movie “The Longest Yard”. And sometimes Joe was hilarious as a Minnesota Viking but he was a winner. Some of his passes: wheee! They were end over end, sideways, but he found a way to get the job done.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.