The seeds of the Tim Tebow era were sown by Josh McDaniels, who mortgaged the farm to select the two-time national champion and Heisman winner in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, before later getting himself fired. But it’s the rest of Denver that essentially occupied Sports Authority Field at Mile High and cultivated the monster that Broncos coach John Fox now finds himself wrestling to control. He may think the leash is on by naming Tebow the starter ahead of Denver’s bye week, but Tebow hysteria was out of the cage before the Broncos were 1-4, and there will be no containing it until it contains itself.
Part of that has to do with Tebow’s unique ability to transform his faults into the very argument for why he should play, and using his assets as reasons to stay on the bench. Tebow threw for 79 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 38 yards and another score in Denver’s 29-24 loss to San Diego last weekend.
Recommended Stories
Was that good or bad?
Tebow also completed only four of 10 passes and bobbled multiple snaps from center. Then there’s the shoddy footwork and the lack of accuracy in the pocket. But there are few players with a more insatiable desire to make plays — even if history shows that tucking the ball and running isn’t enough in the NFL.
But in Denver, the people have spoken, taking their obsession with a backup quarterback to a new level, lifting their idol on their shoulders and making him their starter. It makes the Colt Brennan era with the Redskins look laughable in comparison.
– Craig Stouffer
