Everybody needs to just back off Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow will go down as one of the greatest college football players in history (as hard as that is for some Georgia fans to stomach).
It also possible he will go down with other great college players, including Heisman Trophy winners, who weren’t good enough to play in the NFL. Archie Griffin, Johnny Rogers, Andre Ware, Danny Wuerffel, almost every other quarterback who played at Florida and even your David Greene all come to mind.
But for some reason, Tebow is being treated differently right now.
I’ve never seen a college athlete so ridiculously dissected and debated daily. I’ve never seen a college athlete – who by the way exemplified everything we want a college athlete to be – seemingly have so many people (mostly rival SEC fans) pulling against him. Is there some motivation to root against a player’s desire to make a living?
Look, I get the whole 24/7 media feeding frenzy thing. I’m part of it. But what this guy is being subjected to right now doesn’t seem quite right. And folks, I don’t have a dog in this hunt. Didn’t go to school anywhere around here.
I suppose Tebow set himself up for this. He didn’t have to go to the Senior Bowl. He could’ve done private, low-key workouts for teams back in Gainesville and not been subjected to all of this public criticism. But doesn’t that say something that he knew this might be coming and he didn’t care?
Tebow was torched by the media and draft scouts after his first day of Senior Bowl workouts. It was so bad that his agent, Jimmy Sexton, must have felt compelled to protect his client’s interests and come up with an excuse. He said Tebow had been “hospitalized” with strep throat and had a “103 temperature.” But that didn’t seem to be bothering the player in interviews.
I don’t know if Tebow will make it in the NFL. Even with the intangibles, his skill set might not translate. But what’s the motivation in rooting against him?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
466 comments Add your comment
Dawggy
January 27th, 2010
11:44 am
Joe T ,
please keep your religious views to yourself or go to the Faith blog!!
caligator
January 27th, 2010
11:44 am
GO TEBOW GO!!!
(proven winner)
War Jacket
January 27th, 2010
11:46 am
I think there is a racial component here. How can a white guy in this day and time be regarded one of college football’s all time best players? Have you noticed how most black talking heads immediately dismiss Tebow as being a good player much less a great player? Also, they seem like they can’t wait to drop the “I told you so’s” on everyone, once he washes out as an NFL QB.
UGAFan
January 27th, 2010
11:46 am
“Teabow is being used”, the people spoke in California. You can always go to Vermont to marry your boyfriend …..
ga gator
January 27th, 2010
11:47 am
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN, a lot of truth to what you say. He could actually benefit by being bypassed early because he will get drafted by a good team. Word out of Gainesville is Belichek is interested.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 27th, 2010
11:48 am
I agree with his Faith and am glad he stands up for it and lays it out in public, but in football terms which should be just for fun and entertainment if Someone is entertained cheering against him thats there choice
Larry
January 27th, 2010
11:48 am
He is “torched by the media and scouts” because his form and throwing motion are horrible and he played in a gimmick offense in college. He might be a fine young man, but that’s got nothing to do with his ability to perform at the next level.
What?
January 27th, 2010
11:50 am
Yeah, right, ga gator. Anyone who wants a lumbering (all DLs and LBs will be faster and stronger), no passing threat, crybaby to run the “wildcat” for their team is dumber than they look!!
Dawggy
January 27th, 2010
11:52 am
IF, and that’s a big IF, he makes an NFL roster can you imagine the ribbing and beatdowns he will edure in the locker room and practice field for his constant crying when things don’t go his way?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 27th, 2010
11:52 am
Tebow is a far better option than what the Falcons have on their current roster.
At least Tebow has actually won something and we know he is not a PICK MACHINE and doesn’t WUSS out of big games.
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2010
11:52 am
I know I know — Probably right. Tebow would’ve been the BMOC no matter where he played and the enemy everywhere else. That’s just the reality of these things.
Marilyn Fillingim
January 27th, 2010
11:53 am
Tim has enough Faith in his heart to deal with anything. Good Luck Tim.
xtenshun
January 27th, 2010
11:54 am
I will always be as big Dawg fan and I did not find it difficult to root against Tebow as long as he was making our lives miserable. Now, I hope he does great in the NFL. Why would anyone want someone to fail in their career choice? What we are seeing is that an ugly part of human nature is to try and tear people down who are deemed more successful than we might be…the media does this all the time because it plays to the masses.
Rick
January 27th, 2010
11:54 am
“Tebow is being used” wrote:
“The young man is being used by intolerant selfish, politically driven munipulators”
So says the intolerant, selfish, politically driven munipulator.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 27th, 2010
11:54 am
ga gator, if he ends up with belicheck it could be ten years before he is coaching because thats what he needs a real teacher then he can succeed , Urban meyer is one of the best college coaches in the business but He did not help Tebow get ready at all for the next level .
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 27th, 2010
11:55 am
Larry
January 27th, 2010
11:48 am
He is “torched by the media and scouts” because his form and throwing motion are horrible
“They said the same” thing about Aaron Rodgers when he was drafted and were all IN LOVE with Alex “CHOKE2″ Smith.
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2010
11:55 am
TO EVERYBODY (SO FAR)– Just started going through these comments and have to say I’m pretty gratified that people are commenting on Tebow in such a positive way.
Boise Dawg
January 27th, 2010
11:56 am
Jeff,
He strikes me as someone who can take it. I agree he doesn’t deserve the ridicule and all the negative criticism… but on the other hand that door swings both ways and I have also been surprised by the amount of attention and positive praise he has received. Not to say he didn’t deserve it… but IMO there was a bit of an over the top love fest for Tebow, especially from the folks at ESPN… I think that more than anything has made the rival SEC fans want to root against him.
I think when any athlete gets such gushing remarks all the time it is only natural for some folks to build up resentment… it is not Tebow’s fault, just the way it is.
Dawggy
January 27th, 2010
11:56 am
Add JS to the number of media “types” who are totally in love with Timmy Heblow!!
heyberto
January 27th, 2010
11:57 am
Jeff, you guys (the media) have made the Tebow Machine what it is. To Tebow’s credit, he is a good player with great determination and will. He is an ever better person. But you’re seriously questioning the backlash? Did you forget how overhyped news works? The backlash was inevitable.
Brett Favre
January 27th, 2010
11:57 am
Who knew at 22 years old Tebow was an expert on reproductive issues and womens bodies.
What cant the man do? Surely the cure for cancer lies just around the corner.
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2010
11:58 am
Russ – I think I know where you’re going to with the Tebow-Richt nice-guy comparison thing, and a lot of that is valid. But there is a difference. Everybody loved Richt when he was winning. He’s only lost some support the last two seasons because of failing to meet expectations (combined with Florida’s and Alabama’s ascent in the SEC). I don’t think anybody’s really rooting against Mark Richt.
ALC
January 27th, 2010
11:59 am
JOE T – You hit the nail on the head…dead on! I agree with every word!
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2010
12:00 pm
Tebow is being used: Disagree somewhat. I don’t have a problem with him taking a stand on anything — pro-whales, anti-nukes, pro granola, anti-abortion. Makes no difference to me. It’s free speech. I just don’t agree with CBS’s decision to run any issue-related commercials during the Super Bowl. It’s not what I want to watch, and I think it’s not what most fans want to watch.
Larry
January 27th, 2010
12:01 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan-
I’m not saying he cant improve and find success in the NFL, I’m just saying he has a long way to go. Unless NFL teams start winning super bowls running zone reads and jump passes, he is going to have to totally reinvent himself as a QB.
That being said, I would trade Ryan for him in a heartbeat. Noodle Arm is the most overrated NFL QB ever. Dude throws a pick on any attempt over 10 yards. His only success is on handoffs and short completions, and my great granny can hit the tight end on an 8 yard crossing route.
how2fish
January 27th, 2010
12:01 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan you are the dumbest racist on the planet..you just are.
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2010
12:02 pm
MikeT— I actually thought about Ward. Good example. The only reason I didn’t include him is a big reason he wasn’t drafted is he said he was going to play in the NBA. Otherwise I’m sure he would’ve been drafted.
Brett Favre
January 27th, 2010
12:03 pm
Also do you think Tebow could have put references to the Koran under his eyes if he were Muslim?
There would have been a national outrage and Faux News would have run stories about it around the clock. If the founding fathers could see us now they would hang thier heads in shame. Freedom of religion is gone. We now have a state religion and it pretty much controls one political party and therefore half the government.
Welcome to the Theocracy!!!
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2010
12:04 pm
MR — Cheeseburger has been banned.
UGAFan4Life
January 27th, 2010
12:05 pm
I’m a die-hard UGA fan but I like Tim Tebow as player and as person. I like him I just don’t like who he played for. Tim Tebow is a guy who you want to root for. He’ll succeed becuase he has the drive and the leadership.
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2010
12:08 pm
Suwaneedawg — CBS always has had a policy in this past of not airing issue-oriented ads (political, abortion, homosexuality, etc.) during the Super Bowl. They’re changing that now. I disagree with that decision.
joe
January 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
Tebow is a poor sport and he should have been called for unsportsman-like conduct all the time for taunting, throwing the football, and acting a fool on the football field. He insulted other coaches and universities all the time. The umps never called him out for anything, but players on the other teams were called for less. Also, what is wrong with the obvious – he can’t and won’t play Q-back in the NFL. O – I get it Jeff – you crawled in bed with Tebow just like the umpires – quess he is good at something.
Kevin
January 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
I’m a 97 alum of UGA and I second Rob (second comment up top). As much as it sucked to watch him beat up on us in Jax, I want nothing but the best for him in the future. And he is exactly the type of person you want your child to grow up and emulate. Like it or not, he is a role model and a good one at that.
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2010
12:11 pm
Boise Dawg — I agree he can take it. Like I wrote, I figure he knew what was coming in Birmingham but he stood up anyway. I think he deserves a lot of credit for that.
Rick
January 27th, 2010
12:14 pm
Jeff Schultz wrote:
“I just don’t agree with CBS’s decision to run any issue-related commercials during the Super Bowl. It’s not what I want to watch, and I think it’s not what most fans want to watch.”
And what commercials do fans want to watch Jeff? Nobody wants to watch commercials. From the networks standpoint, they just want the money the commercial generates. Do you want to watch commercials about Viagra, Fed Ex, toothpaste and beer? You don’t want to watch an issue related commercial? What about political ads. Are they not issue related? Who wants to watch a political ad? Beleive me, there are a host of things that people don’t agree with, some reasonable, some unbelievable. Part of the price we pay for freedom. If you don’t like the commercial, go make a sandwich.
F Tebow
January 27th, 2010
12:14 pm
Man there are so many things to say about Tebow’s arrogance with pushing his religion on EVERYONE no matter if they believe it or not. I hate people like Tebow because they believe their way is the correct way and there is NO other way to believe in something or do something. It’s sheer arrogance. How about this Tebow, instead of pushing your anti-abortion agenda on a commercial on TV with a 2.5 million dollar superbowl ad, how about you convince the company to use that 2.5 million and donate it to a cause that could actually use it and not just give it to a cable station. Hmmm maybe HAITI could use that 2.5 million in aid? Course not, it’s way more important to put your agenda on anti-abortion out in the public forefront. Great your mom didn’t abort you when it was recommended. What if she was a 15 year old girl that was raped by some child molester? Would you still say that she can not abort and force her to have that child? Tebow disgusts me
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
Whether he can make it in the NFL remains to be seen. He might not make it as a QB but he could still make it at another position. He has that one intangible that can’t be measured by any stopwatch or chart, he’s a winner. Good luck to him.
ga gator
January 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
What?, You sound like someone from the team that he is 3-1 against.
Ramblin Wrecker
January 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
I guess not only do I not get the rooting against Tebow succeeding, but I don’t get the criticism of his abilities. I think the criticism of the offense he played in is silly. Urban Meyer had a QB taken #1 overall a few years ago from Utah, Alex Smith. And while Smith has not been a great success in the NFL, at the time no one seemed to care what offense he played in college. Plus, I don’t think you can compare the competition that Tebow played against with what Alex Smith dealt with at Utah, nor can you compare the accomplishments of Alex Smith to Tim Tebow.
To me, its a learning curve. Just get Tebow in the league and let him see some action and he’ll learn and adapt to the speed of the NFL game. You see this nonsense all the time in the draft…projected potential is often preferred to proven ability and accomplishment, but more times than not those proven ability kids (who dropped into the 2nd or 3rd rounds) are who become successful building blocks of good teams, while those top ten picks chosen on potential become busts. Look no further than the Falcons pick of Jamal Anderson from Arkansas. The kid was raw, and had only played DE a couple of seasons in college, but was drafted because of his measurables and how he looked getting off the bus. But a guy like Kroy Biermann is barely on the radar of most teams, but is leaps and bounds better at pass rushing, despite not looking the part.
Tim Tebow has all he needs to win in the NFL…God given ability, work ethic, passion, leadership. Just shut up and let him play. His running ability will allow him to succeed while he learns the NFL game, and once he gets some experience and adapts, he can run less, just like Donovan McNabb.
Will
January 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
TEBOW…..The perfect Young man! The only problem with “Tebow”.
He was not a GEORGIA BULLDAWG!!!!! BOTTOM LINE!!!!
THAT DOG WILL HUNT……..GO TEBOW!!!!
I wish Tebow the Best in the NFL>
SEC FANATIC
January 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
I can understand some of the misgivings by rival fans toward Tebow. He certainly gets alot of attention and tries to bring acclaim to the “hated” Gators. His success is certainly envious. What I DON’T understand are many of the rediculous and classless insults and foundless rumors and statements made by many on these very blogs. All the kid is trying to do is the right thing and lead his life by example. Yes, he does not back off of his views but he’s not preachy about it like many out there. Yet many want to insult the young man and accuse him of being gay and calling him names like “Teblow” and I’ve even read on these very blogs people wishing him harm!. Shame on all of you classless losers, because in the REAL game called life, that is exactly what you are!!!
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
Isn’t the Senior Bowl in Mobile?
ga gator
January 27th, 2010
12:17 pm
Brett Favre, I didn’t know you were a muslim, I thought you believed in that Cajun Voodoo.
ga gator
January 27th, 2010
12:18 pm
The Dogfighter Returns
Your only hope with that rationale is that is religion is a scam.
dawgfaninfl
January 27th, 2010
12:18 pm
Tebow needs to learn the definition of humility. Give me a break when you say he has nothing to do with the media overexposure. He revels in it! I lost all respect for him when I watched the video of the halftime speech during the 2008 SEC Champ game. He saw the camera on him and pushed his way through the crowd then gave the same speech from Varsity Blues. You can’t tell me he doesn’t LOVE the media hype. He did pose shirtless on Sports Illustrated, ya know!
GreggJ
January 27th, 2010
12:20 pm
You media have made him god!!!! Now nobody wants to see him succeed! Also he is a little arrogant if you ask me
Jeff Schultz
January 27th, 2010
12:20 pm
Rick: Viagra commercials. I don’t like watching those at any time.
As for everything else, I look at the Super Bowl is an escape from reality day. Maybe you have a different perspective. I’m just telling you what my preference is, because, like, I’m free too.
your name here
January 27th, 2010
12:24 pm
“everything a student-athlete should be” I’m calling b.s. on that one. Tebow scored a frickin’ 890 on his SAT and was a home ec major….yes, a home ec major, yet they gave him the Draddy award, which in recent years has gone to Molecular Genetics majors and Rhodes Scholars. We’re sick of St. Tebow being put on an undeserved pedestal and his every sainted moment glorified and crammed down our throats for 4 years. Now that he’s falling on his face, we’re supposed to NOT pay attention to the chosen one. They hypocrisy is stunning.
GIVE ME A BREAK
January 27th, 2010
12:24 pm
He’s a good moral, polite and clean guy that doesn’t smoke, drink alcohol or use profanity. Some people are obviously threatened by that. He will be successful in or out of the NFL.
Tide Rising
January 27th, 2010
12:25 pm
I was about sick to death of all the media hype and overexposure surrounding Tebow the last couple of years. I just thought he was over rated and that a lot of his success had more to do with the immense talent surrounding him at UF then himself.
As a dual threat qb I just couldn’t see him being in the same league as someone like a Pat White who was a threat to take it the distance from 80 yds while Tebow was only a threat to take it the distance from 5-10 yds or so.
That being said I still thought he was an exemplary young man who literally practices what he preaches and will undoubtedly go down as one of the alltime greatest college players. Wasn’t his fault he was so over exposed.
And in the same vein that I thought he was over hyped and overrated I also think that the piling on now is a bit much to say the least. Experts knew a couple years ago he wasn’t a great pro prospect. Its just that only now are the masses starting to realize this, the media senses it, and there’s nothing like when the media decides to pile on.
They built him up and now they’re tearing him down. Its sad and unfortunate. But hopefully most people will be level headed enough to realize that he never was a great pro prospect to begin with but that that will never diminish his accomplishments as a college player nor his outstanding character.