Why Tim Tebow Will Be Successful in the NFL

So Tim Tebow is finally on an NFL team: the Denver Broncos. Not the most ideal fit. Not the worst fit, either. It’ll be interesting to see how much playing time he’ll get, but we’ll get to that when the season gets underway.

What I’m going to address, though, is the probable influx of Tebow haters. Not to say the contingency of those who don’t like Timmy T (or the second coming of Christ, depending on your beliefs) isn’t big already. But there are still many people who don’t follow college football as passionately as the NFL. When they hear about this new Christian guy with questionable quarterbacking skills enter the league, “Tebow sucks” is all they can say.

First of all, Tebow has the potential to be one of the most marketable players in the league, regardless of how good he is or how much he plays. You have to understand how big of an impact he had in the state of Florida, a football hotbed greatly divided by allegiances to 6 teams (Jaguars, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Florida, Florida State, Miami). After his SOPHOMORE year of college (with two more years to go), Tebow had a Heisman trophy and the love and adulation of football fans in his home state and country. By the end of his collegiate career, arguably one of the most decorated in the history of the game, he became a national hero for his great faith and Super Bowl commercial, which wasn’t as controversial as people made it out to be.

Secondly, one has to assess the actual value of the pick that Tebow was taken with. He wasn’t the first overall pick. He wasn’t drafted in the Top 10 to replace an immediate need. He was taken in the end of the first round, a reasonable juncture of the draft to choose someone who may need development upon reaching the professional level. He’s not going to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s not going to throw for 30 touchdowns in any season he plays. He’s going to be a contributor to the Broncos.

Which brings me to the team that’s rolling the dice with Tebow: Denver. This isn’t a team in search of a new identity like Buffalo and Jacksonville, two of the teams most closely associated with drafting Tebow Christ. Tebow doesn’t have to assume the role of team captain or spokesman or city hero. Head coach Josh McDaniels was an offensive genius in New England and definitely led the Broncos to surpass expectations for the 2009 season (with the exception of that mini-collapse at the end of the campaign). McDaniels trusts Tebow to come in to the organization and learn the team’s offense willingly; given Tebow’s intelligence and passion for the game, it’s easy to see he can do that. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in several packages like a Wildcat of some sort; who the hell wants a 6’3’’, 225 guy running straight at you?

Tim Tebow will most likely not be the starting quarterback come Opening Day. Unless his mechanics emulate Peyton Manning’s in about 4 months, he won’t be taking the first snap of his team’s season. It will take roughly one or two seasons to groom him into the role of traditional, drop-back quarterback. There’s a reason the Broncos traded for Brady Quinn; they simply needed depth at the QB. It’s funny to see some scouts’ takes on Tebow. “Strengths: Intangibles, Weaknesses: Tangibles”. At least Tebow has the size and strength to become a menacing threat from a couple schemes.

Just because Tim Tebow looks awkward throwing a football doesn’t mean he can’t succeed in the NFL. Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell actually moved his back leg forward instead of the front leg when swinging in the batter’s box. Despite the unorthodox battle style, he’s regarded as one of the most prolific first basemen of the 1990’s. And have you ever seen Shawn Marion shoot a jump shot?

In summary, I’m not expecting the guy to make multiple Pro Bowls. The number of college stars who didn’t hit it big in professional football is incredibly huge, and if Tebow joins that list, he obviously won’t be the first. But his intangibles will (hopefully) prevent him joining that list. If a guy like Trent Dilfer can get lucky and win a Super Bowl (with the help of the 2000 Ravens’ defense), Tebow can make it big. He’s going to sell jerseys. Once he signs endorsements with Gatorade and what-not, you’ll have no choice but to look at him on billboards, magazines, and television. Stop hating on him because he’s more famous and makes more money than you’ll ever see in your life. The guy’s a born leader; in a league where people can drive drunk and kill guys and only go to jail for 30 days (looking at you, Donte Stallworth) or beat up strippers and get involved in a triple shooting (you too, Pacman Jones), Tebow is a breath of fresh air, maintaining a level of class similar to Tim Duncan or Derek Jeter.

Okay, so as you can tell, I have a bit of a man-crush on Tim Tebow. But when he starts succeeding in the league and keeps adding to his fan base, you may have a man-crush too.