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
AtticusDawg
January 27th, 2010
3:37 pm
He is a great kid and a fierce competitor. The fault is in the media hype. He only won 1 SEC title, he scored a ton of 2 yd TDs. He wasn’t the same player without Percy and Murphy. He isn’t superman but he was a great football player and a winner and will be successful in whatever he does.
How can you not like him?
January 27th, 2010
3:39 pm
He whipped Georiga’s sorry ass and all the other SEC teams over and over again. Anyone who can be such a good person off the field and annoy so many dillholes at the same time is a winner in my book!
The press is to lazy to talk about anything new, so we continue to hear about Tebow and Favre till we puke.
Jfreak
January 27th, 2010
3:39 pm
They root against him because thel live he lives makes them ashamed that they aren’t living life so well. The truth is that it doesn’t matter if he makes the NFL or not he will be a success in life because he is that GUY. They will hate him because he is a Christian. They will hate him because deep down in their hearts they know he is right but if they accept that he’s right it means they have always been wrong.
I wish him well and I would take that kind of guy on my team!
Bud Grant
January 27th, 2010
3:41 pm
the ONLY reason Tebow was invited to the Senior Bowl can be summed up by the number of people blogging about him (on draft blogs and political blogs). his “brand” is bank right now. will he make it in the NFL? will he play QB? TE? Wildcat? Who cares? Did people “wonder” if Ryan Leaf might have been better suited at TE? Did people think Tim Couch should have been a “H back”? Doug Flutie was dismissed by everyone, and while it took him 14 or 15 years and stints in the USFL and CFL, he did have a decent NFL career and even snuck into a Pro Bowl. Every player at the Senior Bowl is disected by the scouts. Unfortunately, Tebow is being disected by the media (and non-media morons in the blogsphere). Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme were not drafted. Tom Brady was an afterthought (6th round?). Tebow will get his shot (in training camp), and if he performs, he’ll start/play in the NFL. “Jeepers” (shout out to the squeaky clean TT).
grateful7
January 27th, 2010
3:42 pm
8% are fools . Take it up w? HIM. It is HE who has made us and not we ourselves. Arrogance is so unbecoming when coupled w/ ignorance. You r terminal- simple logic knows “something” does never come fr nothing…your conscience and creation tells us that much.As complex as you and i are, you think it just happened??? Good luck w/ dinner tonite.
HeadEast
January 27th, 2010
3:47 pm
We love our heroes, and love them most when they fail, just like a certain golfer in recent days. Additionally, those of us not overflowing with the ectasy of the coming raptures don’t appreciate the public displays of faith.
Alabama Jack
January 27th, 2010
3:54 pm
Hey look guyz, I made another awesome funny about UGA being irrelevant, LOLZ
grateful too
January 27th, 2010
3:55 pm
I agree with u grateful7 about a creator. But it doesn’t mean that ANYONE knows who or what that creator is. Christians like to tell everybody THEY know, when they cannot know. That’s what inspires dislike of Christians among those that believe otherwise.
JOEinPHX
January 27th, 2010
3:57 pm
“Arrogance is so unbecoming when coupled w/ ignorance.”
Precisely the problem with theists. Too ignorant even to recognize their own arrogance.
scott
January 27th, 2010
4:01 pm
Agree, leave him alone. Glad to see even some of you crazy left wingers “like u Jeff” understand his story. Fox news just embaressesed that lady last night wanting to stop the ads.
Good Grief
January 27th, 2010
4:02 pm
Like you said, you’re feeding in to it. on the ajc alone i’ve read at least 2 maybe 3 stories about Tebow everyday this week. As you admitted that’s what a lot of folks don’t like – yes he was a good college player (some would even say he was overrated which is also another reason people loathe the guy), but fans of the sport don’t need folks like you and other media members telling them how they should feel towards a guy. The more you folks say that they should like him the more they will despise him.
Cuz
January 27th, 2010
4:03 pm
I actually admire the guy. Other than the tears part on TV. He is a great kid and a great athelete. I don’t know if it will translate to pro ball. I think he will be successful in whatever he persures, other than the NFL and I am pulling for him there,
Mr English
January 27th, 2010
4:03 pm
“It also possible he will go down with other great college players, ”
Take off the spell check and read your work.
Josh B
January 27th, 2010
4:04 pm
I’m a UGA fan, but I love Tebow as a player…he does all everything you want out of a player, except for his physical skill set. I’m pretty sure he’ll do good in the NFL
RHR
January 27th, 2010
4:07 pm
I’m not rooting against him, don’t really care what he does one way or the other. The media seems to be the ones ripping on him, just like it was the media who gushed all over him for 3 years.
MacGyver Dawg
January 27th, 2010
4:09 pm
I wish Tebow the best of luck. I am not prejudiced at all and I think a homosexual football player is exactly what the NFL needs.
onlinesavant
January 27th, 2010
4:11 pm
It’s not envy, it’s a realistic assessment of what really has occurred. Tim Tebow, while a good football player, but a mediocre QUARTERBACK (Thus, the evaluation of those at the next level who actually get PAID to evaluate players reasoning that he will either have to switch to H-back, tight-end, or fullback, or just not be in the league.)is an over hyped, media created entity , who has gotten WAY too much credit for the performance of the Florida Gators football TEAM over the course of his matriculation. Lest we forget: Chris Leak was the starting QB during Tebow’s freshman year, a national championship year for the TEAM. Also a question: Why did Urban Meyer feel the need to take time away from Leak during that year, but did not feel compelled to do the same to Tebow during HIS senior year? Further, what really sickens us is the constant media droning that somehow the threshold for virtue can get no higher than what Tebow has set it. There are many great football players, year in, and year out, who are just as involved in their respective communities, and just a positive with regard to how they conduct themselves, as Tebow has been. Why do they not get the kind of attention he has gotten? Does skin tone factor into that equation? In summation, what I would submit that Tim Tebow IS not the greatest football player ever, just the most fawned over. Hershel Walker, Bo Jackson, Mike Rozier, heck even Archie Griffin, were better players than Tebow at the collegiate level, but the level of media servitude, servility, and obsequiousness, could not even begin to match that for those great players as compared to what it has bestowed upon this guy.
TY44
January 27th, 2010
4:13 pm
All I can say is, that he is a player and a leader, I would want him on my team…and Im a Dawg fan….Let the Falcons take him, Renne Curran, they would be great Falcons! Tebow could play some position on offense besides QB and could be the back up….(short yrd. plays, goal line) and Curran, who ever takes him (Falcons) will be glad they did…he is a player!
Kim
January 27th, 2010
4:14 pm
Oh you poor, persecuted christians.
Grandma Fan
January 27th, 2010
4:14 pm
I think it was such a delight to watch Tim Tebow play football. He was not covered in tatoo’s, never did grab himself or try to harm another opposing team player. He is a true Christian and set an example that I wish other young players would follow. He was an class example of what the young college kids used to look like and I think he is deserving of anything he wins. Those who are against his Super Bowl ad have not seen the light about abortion and Tebow may just be the one that God will use to wipe away the blindness that the country is under at this time. God bless the Tebow family. And I am a bulldawg fan….
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
January 27th, 2010
4:14 pm
He’s a butt-painter. It’s clear as a mountain spring, but some of you like to look at those weird bible verses under his eyes and conclude he’s some kind of saint. If I went anywhere near Tebow, I’d come away with the whitest butt in the South.
grateful7
January 27th, 2010
4:15 pm
I get it. Tebow uses the john 3:16 verse b/c the gospel of John ,especially ch 3, is the best for a seeker/ the curious, the wonderer to read. As for knowing, I know b/c I believe and I believe b/c I know. Eternity is coming faster than I imagined and for the sake of my family, my children, my friends and my acquaintences… i better be humbly right or shut up. The Bible says about itself that it was written that “we” may know in whom we believe and know we have eternal life in HIM. HE is offensive b/c HE states “I am THE Way THE Truth n THE Life n noone comes to Heaven cept thru me…arogant ??? You hate me b/c I tell you THE TRUTH> Why HE saved any of us is all of Grace. Not by works or by might but by my Spirit says THR LORD. Better find out the TRUTH from the half truths b4 its too late. I am a non denomination Biblical follower of JESUS. I mean no offense. Rather I pray to speak words of life to you and yours from my feeble heart. I stil like TEBOW
slick
January 27th, 2010
4:15 pm
The reason for the disdain toward Tebow from fans of SEC schools should be obvious Jeff. He beat us – often and usually badly. He’s gone now, so good luck to Tebow. I’ll now turn my dislike toward Brantley and any other opposing SEC QB. The real question you should ask Jeff – why the vitriol from your peers in the media? The media seems to be hoping and waiting for an epic fail like sharks in bloody water.
TY44
January 27th, 2010
4:17 pm
Hey Matt, get a grip! CUz….ha ha…..this country is way to politically correct about everything except christian americans! And if you dont like the bible belt…dont let the screen door hit ya on your way out!!!!!!
Clay
January 27th, 2010
4:19 pm
I’m a Georgia grad and I’ll freely admit Tebow is one of the best college football players of all time. I hope he gets a good shot at the next level.
shankit
January 27th, 2010
4:21 pm
Ol’ Dawg Fan here.
Thanks to CBS for allowing a commercial with Tebow.
Don’t have to worry about watching with my kids.
Usually turn it off when Janice Jackson shows her
boobs during halftime.
Fla Dawg
January 27th, 2010
4:23 pm
For a change, I agree with you 100%. He will be a great asset to any team if for nothing more than leadership skills…an extra coach and who knows, he may just surprise everyone.
Coachdawg 2000
January 27th, 2010
4:23 pm
Jeff-
You guys(the media) have caused this backlash.For 4 years we have heard how wonderful he is and that he invented the game of football, made blackjack with one card, won connect four in one move, has counted to infinity twice,etc. And now alot of people are fed up of hearing about him I could careless if he wins 8 superbowls or ends up in Canada. As UGA fan and Alum I hoestly got sick of the David and David crap that Verne Lundquist shoved down our throats while Pollack and Greene were at Georgia. The media just beats the poor horse into dust. The same was done by Fox with the Aints and hurricane Katrina. Do you think Drew Brees plays there to resurrect a city or because they were the only team willing to take a flyer on his bum shoulder. Not every sporting event/player is a study in human triumph!
shankit
January 27th, 2010
4:25 pm
Maybe he and Cooper can go to the Vikings, get back with
Percy and then we’ll see.
Volfan
January 27th, 2010
4:28 pm
Like others have posted here, I’m just tired of hearing about him. I don’t really care what he does in the NFL as long as he is done with college football. The other thing that gets under my skin about TT? The word “sanctimonious” comes to mind.
Jimmy
January 27th, 2010
4:29 pm
Tebow is being scrutinized, dissected, etc. because he was such a great college player.
He was talked about, gushed over, cannonized throughout his college career.
Some fans are sick of hearing about him.
NFL scouts and talking heads are intrigued by him.
All this goes with the territory.
If you are going to be called “the greatest” at anything, you have to expect to be the object of both scorn and praise.
For what it's worth
January 27th, 2010
4:33 pm
Jeff – I couldn’t agree with you more – great article. I just can’t understand why so many fellow dawg fans hate him so much and want the worst for him. Just let me ask you all this – isn’t this (Tim Tebow) the kind of man that you would want your daughter to date or marry? Absolutely. He has the character traits that MOST of us would desire to have – but yet so many of you wish him nothing but bad things?? Come on – after all the crap that is going on in sports today (yes, I just read where another former UGA star was arrested for cocaine, DUI, guns, etc) and all the thugs that are playing sports – isn’t Tebow a person who YOU would want to be a spokesperson or roll model of the game?
Some of those in the media may be right – Tebow may not make it very far in the NFL (neither did beloved David Green or Eric Zeier), but you what? With the character traits, leadership skills, and the desire to make a difference that Tebow has – he will go far in this life and do well and will be a success – even if it isn’t in the NFL.
RHR
January 27th, 2010
4:35 pm
lol coachdawg … funny.
but really y’all…if everything about his game was the same except his name wasn’t tim tebow, he’d go undrafted. i don’t think anyone can deny that.
Tony in Johns Creek
January 27th, 2010
4:36 pm
I’m a Dawg grad. The media is to blame here with the love fest through his college career. Yes, he’s a fantastic kid and a great role model, but the coverage has been overboard with this guy and now they want to find chinks in his armor. He walks the talk and the media really like bringing people off of their pedestal.. The person to blame here for Tebow’s problems at Senior Bowl week are Urban Meyer’s …. no SEC championship, No National Championship and no experience under center. He’s not PREPARED to be an NFL QB, unless he gets work as a project…. so that means later rounds because no NFL team outside maybe Buffalo or Jacksonville are going to take a chance on him, because they won’t want to spend 2nd or 3rd round money on him if he needs a lot of work. Yes, his leadership is unquestionable and his heart is through the roof, but he needs work on his mechanics.
Lisamarie
January 27th, 2010
4:39 pm
I think the problem is that people are extremely jealous that a kid has morals and does not do drugs, have babies by different women or maybe had dogs that he fights. he has a cleam record and stays out of trouble. I think he will make a great role model for young people everywhere. So get over the jealousy and stand behind someone that brings good to sports.
UF '93
January 27th, 2010
4:45 pm
I’m a University of Florida alumnus who is absolutely embarrassed by Tebow’s antics and am glad that he’s gone.
I’m embarrassed at a shameless self-promoter who uses a secular public university to promote his narrow religious beliefs.
I’m embarrassed by a kid who NEVER challenged himself intellectually (took the SAT early and scored a barely NCAA qualifying 890, then hid out in a home economics major) being promoted as “the perfect student-athlete” and undeservedly given The Draddy Award. His eyeshadow should have read SAT 8:90
I’m embarrassed at this witless wonder being turned into the face of my alma mater over far more deserving undergraduates who challenged themselves and excelled in real majors.
Good riddance to Timmuh. In 18 months, he and his hype will be confined to a few suburban megachurches that pay him to speak.
Chris
January 27th, 2010
4:48 pm
jfreak wrote, “They will hate him because he is a Christian.”
I have no problem with Christians. I do have a problem with faux Christians, like Tebow, who proslytize their American Taliban style fundamentalism and then cry persecution if we resist (see comments above for plenty of examples). If these clowns got us to agree to export all Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists, then they’d come after the Episcopalians, Lutherans, Prebyterians, Methodists, and Catholics. They won’t stop until our kids are studying the contributions of the Jerry Falwell in our history classes (if you haven’t heard, Texas is already on the case) and stoning us to death for drinking alcohol.
Tebow is just another fundamentalist hatemonger, and the media hype surrounding him, primarily because of his silly eye black, is sickening.
hello newman
January 27th, 2010
4:48 pm
I am sick of this kid being the Bully Pulpit for pro-life and Missionary work. He has an air of “I am a better person than you attitide,” and people don’t like that. Sure he was a great college football player, but I don’t about his belief system, just like I don’t care to hear about George Clooney’s political views or Tom Cruise’ religious views. Shut up and play football (and don’t cry when you lose).
GA DAWG LOVER
January 27th, 2010
4:48 pm
Look, I love to hate Tebow for one reason, and one reason only… He kicked our butts! But all you anti-Christians out there… Why does he bother you? Ok, he is a goody-two-shoes who believes in treating people in the nicest way, a person who is that kid who you can’t stand because he makes your kid look like a loser, and a person who…GULP…believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God! Well that SOB! We need to crucify him! Anyone who in this day and age who would dare to say that he wants kids to be born and given a chance than to be killed before they are born, I mean the audacity! Doesn’t anyone know that you’re not allowed to have an opinion in this country without it being exactly like yours?
Look, so he believes that way and you don’t! What’s he lost if he’s wrong? On the other hand, if he’s right and you’re wrong, you’ve lost everything.
Anthony
January 27th, 2010
4:49 pm
I am a huge FSU fan, and hated to see Tebow play against the Seminoles, but I haev nothing but respect for the guy. He is a genuine guy, great athlete, and he deserves every chance that any other athlete would receive. I hope he does well in the NFL.
Amy Winehouse's Dad
January 27th, 2010
4:51 pm
yeah, he’s the type of guy I want my daughter to marry? WTF does this have to do with his ability to put a 15 yard “out” on a rope? what does this have to do with his ability to recognize a mismatch and audible at the line of scrimmage? all this “god sqaud” stuff is insulting to football fans and non-Christians. Steve Young (Mormon) was just as devout, but you never heard a word about it. shut up and knock somebody on their butt and save the Bible-thumping for church.
ghost dawg
January 27th, 2010
4:52 pm
His faith has nothing to do with it. Could be his arragance that seems to ooze from every pore. The chest thumping in every game that never go called. He cries after every loss like some kid stole his favorite toy. I think his ego brought him back his senior year cause he knew he would be taken after Matthew in the draft. I loved the look on his face in 2007 when Rennie knocked the crap out of him, like “what he hit me the nerve”. I hope he is the saint everybody thinks he is but i think it’s an act and he’s just another over rated arragant bastard.
dawgcrzy
January 27th, 2010
4:52 pm
He’ll be coaching at UF within 5 years.
B-BRO
January 27th, 2010
4:54 pm
Thank you Tebow, what a great role model for my son.
UF '93
January 27th, 2010
4:58 pm
“Thank you Tebow, what a great role model for my son.”
So you’re saying that you want your son to be an SAT 890 scoring, home economics majoring, 22 year old virgin?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 27th, 2010
5:03 pm
Wednesday, January 27 2010 Official Blog of the National Football League
Home « Watch out for this small-school starLeBeau, Steelers scouring for that next great defender »Jason La Canfora
Vick likely to have many suitors in 2010
Posted: January 27th, 2010 | NFL.com Staff | Tags: Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Michael Vick, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams
As I detailed when QB Michael Vick signed with the Eagles, this was always set up to be a one-year marriage, as by the very nature of the contract. The Eagles won’t be picking up the big contract option for 2010, according to sources, or at least do not plan to. They will explore trade options for Vick during the window they have to do so in March before deciding whether or not to pick up his option.
Sources close to Vick fully anticipate him playing elsewhere in 2010, and say he is intent on being a starter if at all possible. Such opportunities should arise. Clubs to keep a close eye on include Buffalo, St. Louis, Carolina, Oakland and Jacksonville. Those teams are in the market for QB help, and many have struggled to sell tickets and attract attention in recent years, with their smaller-market status.
Vick’s cause will be helped as well by the weak free-agent class of quarterbacks — Daunte Culpepper could be the class of that group, for instance — as well as an upcoming draft without prospects who seem ready to play right away. Whether teams opt to wade in heavily for Vick on the trade market remains to be seen, but if he hit the market as a free agent, league sources expect at least a half-dozen or so teams to have legitimate interest.
HA HA HA
Brett Favre
January 27th, 2010
5:04 pm
isn’t this (Tim Tebow) the kind of man that you would want your daughter to date or marry?
Absolutely not !!! A self absorbed douche who thinks he is the anointed one. No thanks !!
Brett Favre
January 27th, 2010
5:07 pm
So you’re saying that you want your son to be an SAT 890 scoring, home economics majoring, 22 year old virgin?
Did he really score that low? I mean I knew he was dumb but wow !!!
Alan
January 27th, 2010
5:08 pm
Someone needs to tell Nick C. at FOX Sports South to shut up, he must have some need to bad mouth good guys, maybe he got confused for he seems to have a brain lag at times. I would think that he would go after the bad guys that tote guns and shoot themselves, beat up on their girlfiends or wives, you know some of the really common things we see.
Disciple of Tim
January 27th, 2010
5:11 pm
Tebow will be out of the NFL in three years and on a mission in Southeast Asia somewhere trying to convert the impoverished with food.