Tebow – “The legend continues to grow”

November 28, 2011 | Filed under Sports | Posted by

John Peele of the Durango Herald says politics, economy? Forget all that, let’s talk about Tim Tebow:

TebowTalk about a conversation-starter. Say the name in a crowded room and prepare to be bombarded.

Do you love him for his family values or gutsy play? Do you hate him for his proselytizing or gaps in talent? Can you not get enough? Do you want him to go away?

He’s the talk of the state. The sensation of the nation. Turn on ESPN, open a sports magazine, and it’s not long before you get a dose of Tebow.

After another confounding victory Sunday, the legend continues to grow.

If you don’t know about him – you seriously don’t? – he’s the quarterback of the Denver Broncos – a mediocre football team in a very mediocre division in the National Football League.

He’s more polarizing than Sarah Palin, almost as big as the Beatles. By now, his face has launched a thousand quips, a million sportswriter analyses and a hundred websites. He’s also the inspiration for the cover of the most recent Sports Illustrated.

He’s won football games. He’s awakened a moribund football franchise. He’s created the worldwide sensation of Tebowing – kneeling in prayer, Tebow-like, elbow on knee, fist on forehead. Check out tebowing.com. No joke.

…

Hall of Famer John Elway, now the Broncos’ vice president of operations, last week refused to anoint Tebow as the team’s quarterback of the future. Elway sparked a firestorm with his comments, but he’s right: Tebow needs to learn to pass accurately, read defenses, etc.

But Elway is one to talk. Any fan of Mark Twain can tell you that “there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.” Still, check out this quick comparison of the two in their first nine NFL games.

Elway: 87 completions in 181 attempts (48 percent), 4 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions.

Tebow: 97 completions in 207 attempts (47 percent), 12 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions.

…

Is it a fad or is he here to stay? Most Broncos fans remain unconvinced, but each time the team pulls out an unlikely victory – such as Sunday’s 16-13 overtime win at San Diego – it gets harder not to believe.

So what the heck. Talking Tebow is more fun than talking about politics, wars, the economy.

Just smile, sports fans, and enjoy the ride – however long it lasts.

I’m definitely enjoying the ride and hoping it continues.

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Posted by on November 28, 2011.
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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_G7YIUZMXOD5JGZZTCYMVA75KFU Shadow

    I like Tim Tebow and wish him well.  He walks the walk and is a great role model for America.
    That said, it take a really good defense to help a struggling offense and Denver’s defense has been pivotal in the wins.

  • Anonymous

    TT was a phenominal quarterback when he played for Florida.
    If Denver can rustle up a good running back and a pair of wide receivers that can actually catch and hang onto the ball then Denver might well turn into a threat. Just him running isn’t going to work for to much longer and as a rookie QB he’s been better than a lot.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CD2A6TUEQLYYRN2OR344CYQSFA OP

    Legend? Please. And stats? Well, they don’t offer a lot of support other than an esoteric and nugatory comparison to Elway. Let’s look at the 6 teams he’s faced: Miami, Oak, Det., KC, NYJ and SD. 4 of those teams are poor to overrated teams. Look at the games in order.

    Miami was an awful 0-5 when they play TT; they’ve been a much better club
    since then. However, this was TT’s “best” game, likely aided by the fact
    that it was a virtual homecoming game for him.

    Detroit slaughtered TT and the Broncos. TT was dreadful. Sacked 7 times
    with a hideous 56.8 PR. And a 4.4 yard average is just….ewwww.

    My Raiders gave up 300+ yards in the running game that day. Ow. Big ow.
    Which, as we all know when that happens, it opens up the passing game so
    easily that even the purple drank fool that is JaMarus Russell might
    have a good day.

    KC has scored exactly 1 offensive TD since their last games–and that was 3 weeks ago. Against the Broncos. Call it Denver’s D, but it’s more of a KC’s pitiful O.

    Against the Jets, it was one overrated QB (Mark Sanchez) vs. one over-hyped QB (TT). Again, the Jets are very bad offensive team, so it would be an illusion to credit to Denver’s D. Give TT credit for a good drive at the end, however.  Statistically, he was a giant MEH. 9-20 for 104. Sure, he ran well, but brother, that won’t last long in the NFL. Guarantee it.

    Finally, SD. If Phillip Rivers and his O-line were healthy, and they’re both not, SD kills this team (and the division). The Bolts are done before this game even started. Give credit for another sub-average game.

    Next up for TT: MINN. Another bad football team. After that, TT will be tested by the Bears and Pats, and Ill predict he does very poorly in both of those games.

    Look, he’s helping win games and that counts for something for sure. But six games makes against only 2 playoff-caliber worthy teams is a poor sample size to be bandying about the title of legend.