In case you haven't overdosed just yet on all the attention the media has shown Broncos QB Tim Tebow, the former Heisman Trophy winner once again dazzled the critics this past Thursday to steal the spotlight. Since week 7 against the Miami Dolphins when Denver's head coach Jim Fox promoted Tebow as the starting quarterback over Kyle Orton who led the team to a sluggish 1-4 start, Tebow has helped turnaround the Broncos season in ways most didn't think he was capable of. Despite failing to meet the standards of a traditional quarterback, Tebow has led his team to three consecutive victories and a total of four wins in five games with their only loss coming against a Detroit Lions team that has solidified themselves as one of the more surprising teams in the NFL this season.
Considering his successful career at the collegiate level which ranks as one of the all-time greats, it's not the winning Tebow's done that has surprised everyone, but rather the manner in which he's doing it. Just last week in Kansas City facing the division rival Chiefs, Tebow and the Broncos managed to pull within a game of .500 with limited production via the passing game as Tebow needed only two completed passes to pull out the 17-10 win. One of those completed passes being a 56-yard touchdown to wide receiver Eric Decker as Tebow finished the game with a total of 69 yards passing. But just when you thought you've seen the last of Tebow's Cinderella-like antics he did it again.
Up against one of the leagues better defenses in the New York Jets, the Denver Broncos had the odds stacked against them and their abnormal offensive style. After three and a half quarters of mediocrity that saw the Broncos cause limited damage down 14-10 with just under 6 minutes remaining on the game clock, it would soon be Tebow time. Having made a trend out of comebacks late in the game with the clock against him, Tebow would once again come alive in the fourth quarter, this time doing his best work yet putting together a 95-yard drive and scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 20-yard run with just 58 seconds to spare. Facing both a four point deficit and a game clock with under a minute left would prove to be too much for Mark Sanchez and the Jets to overcome as the Broncos went on to win, 17-14, improving their record to an even 5-5 on the year.
Following the game, teammate and go to receiver Eric Decker said of his quarterback's late game heroics, "He just gets better later in the game. He's got that it factor." Another thing Tebow's got is a will to win. Regardless of his often criticized mechanics and unconventional ways the man knows how to do what's most important of all -- find a way to win. With that being said I think it's about time the rest of the AFC Western Division took Tebow seriously.
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When a quarterback at the collegiate level has as much success as Denver's Tim Tebow has who's resume includes two BCS National Championships and a Heisman Trophy to go along with a plethora of other awards, there's little doubt when that player makes it to the pros. Tebow's path, however, is a story of its own. Despite being one of the most celebrated QB's in College Football history, Tebow's road to the Broncos' starting position has been a bumpy one to say the least granted his mechanics don't necessarily resemble that of a conventional quarterback. But after a sluggish 1-4 start to the season thanks in large part to the inconsistency of QB Kyle Orton who's 7 interceptions are among tops in the league, it wasn't a difficult choice for Broncos head coach John Fox to promote Tebow as the starter.
And although Tebow won't be making his first start of the season at home in front of the Denver faithful as his Broncos head to Miami, he will be making it in front of a large crowd that's expected to be split between Dolphins fans and Tim Tebow supporters as the Dolphins have planned to honor the 2008 National Champion Florida Gators who were lead by none other than Tim Tebow. If the idea of honoring a player on the opposing team doesn't come off as a bit bizarre, perhaps the fact that the Dolphins' Sun Life Stadium is the home of the Gators' crosstown-rival Miami Hurricanes will do the trick. And with both school's rich in football history, there's no doubt that there's a bit of bad-blood between the two which could very well be seen in the stands.
While some are questioning why the Dolphins organization would plan to do such a thing, I think it's rather clever considering Tim Tebow's followers are among the most loyal fans in the game and can provide a sell out crowd alone. And with both teams a combined 1-9 to start the year as the Dolphins are yet to tally their first win of the season, it's unlikely they would've attracting a packed house without the pre-celebration. Though the match-up with Denver appears to be Miami's most favorable opponent on the schedule, I'm predicting the Broncos will be the ones who come out victorious. Not only will he have some help from the fans, but even a putrid Dolphins D that has allowed the second-most fantasy points (for all you fantasy football lovers out there) could make Tim Tebow look like John Elway. Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
With the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select... Heading into this year's NFL Draft, it was a no brainer Oklahoma QB and 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford was heading to St. Louis as the number one pick. In need of a quarterback to help turn the franchise around, anyone other than Bradford would be mind boggling. What wasn't known in the draft however, was where and when 2-time BCS champion Tim Tebow was going to be taken, which soon became the talk of the draft. With the 25th overall pick in the first round, the Denver Broncos not only took a chance on Tebow, but they also made the decision to take him over Notre Dame's Jimmy Claussen and Texas' Colt McCoy. Something no one seen coming.
Regarded as one of the best college quarterbacks of all-time, Tebow was one of the bigger stories coming into the draft, but he also turned out to be one of the bigger surprises as well by being selected as early as he was. A 25th pick in the first round was something no analyst had expected. In fact, many projected him to be a late 2nd round pick if not selected in the 3rd. Instead he lands to a franchise who's been in need of a leader since trading away their 2008 Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler to Chicago in the 2009 offseason. And if you were to look up the word 'leader' in the dictionary, you would be greeted by a picture of none other than Mr. Tebow himself. After getting rid of Cutler last season and Brandon Marshall just weeks ago, Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels adds another question mark to his resume by targeting the highly doubted Florida QB. All of which has become part of a very questionable master plan by the young coach.
Although starting his rookie season is unlikely, Tebow will be competing alongside Kyle Orton and newly acquired Brady Quinn for the starting job. With someone who's as positive and good spirited as Tim Tebow is, it's hard to root against him. Which is why I wish nothing but the best for him and his career in the NFL. And if the fans of the home team couldn't jump on the bandwagon of their newest member any sooner, they did so by making his jersey the fastest-selling rookie jersey of all-time. Tebow's blue and orange Broncos jersey which somewhat resembles the same colors he donned with the Gators for 4 successful seasons, surpasses the previous record set by Mark Sanchez' Jets uni just a season ago. With his new throwing motion and mechanics, it'll be interesting to see how Tim Tebow adjusts to the NFL. Something many don't think he can do.
