Was being selected in the first round a mistake or a divine plan for Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow in 2010? A mistake for not being worthy of an early selection or a plan to make sense out of something that, technically, does not make sense in terms of performing and winning?
Tebow is not the typical, traditional signal-caller. Standing 6’3,” 236 lbs., Tebow is the ideal size for a quarterback. Being strong and healthy helps. However, it is the timing and mechanics of throwing and delivering the ball to receivers that separates a successful quarterback from a bust.
Tebow may not be able to do the things that an average quarterback can do on the NFL level. In fact, if any other quarterback had the challenges that Tebow has, they would be deep on a team’s depth chart or out of the league.
NFL experts make a living and build their reputation through their knowledge of the game. There are countless statements about Tebow’s poor delivery in throwing a football and these NFL experts and analysts are not wrong.
Nevertheless, Tebow has won.
In 2011, Tebow was surrounded by a solid defensive unit with a strong running game to match.
If it was not for Tebow’s belief in winning and his constant hope of victory – no matter the situation as he fought and laid his passion on the line – his teammates would not have given their all on the field even after all anticipation of reaching the playoffs was gone.
Tebow, a Christian man with strong faith, believes that all things are possible. Whether or not he becomes a Super Bowl champion or a Hall of Famer, his impact is far greater than just winning football games.
“I call him my miracle baby,” said Pam Tebow of her son in a 2010 commercial Super Bowl Ad from Focus on Family.
“He almost didn’t make it into this world. I can remember so many times when I almost lost him. It was so hard.”
Clearly Tebow is all about ministry — providing hope through his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ — and he used the greatest sporting stage, the NFL and the sport he loves — to deliver his message as he is globally converting and occupying cultures.
The word “Tebowing” is now a part of the English language and was one of the most popular words in 2011. Tebowing is a kneeling position in which Tebow takes before and in moments during the game as he prays with one knee down and his arm resting on the other leg despite whatever is going on. The “Tebowing” site has photos of people from around the world in Tebow’s praying position. If that’s not occupying a culture, then what is?
Tebow has probably reached people that he would have never impacted, even if he stood behind a pulpit to deliver God’s word. Bailey Knaub, a Thompson High Valley High School student from Loveland, Colo. had undergone 73 surgeries and had one lung removed. At the age of seven, Knaub was diagnosed with autoimmune disease, a disease in which one’s immune system (designed to protect the body from disease and infections) works in reverse and attacks healthy cells mistakenly. Tebow touched her.
The quarterback has also met many inmates in prison.
Sports stars are idolized by millions of people through the world especially in the United States. They can captivate hearts and at times, provide an escape from everyday life.
Tebow is in a position where he can impact lives and inspire dreams through the vehicle of playing football.
In terms of football, Tebow does not have the prettiest numbers as he struggled throughout contests. He finished the 2011 regular season with 1,729 passing yards, 660 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns (six rushes) with six interceptions. Clearly Tebow is respected among his peers as a person, a winner and a football player — which truly matters.
“I think it’s amazing. I really do,” said All-Pro Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen about Tebow.
“I think [it’s important] to have a positive message out there, especially in this league when we get so much negative attention when things happen,” Allen continued. “Football play aside; he’s a heck of a player. I don’t know if he’s going to be a good quarterback or what not, but he’s a heck of a football player.
“But to step to the forefront for his faith and having a positive message tied to his name, I think it’s great,” he finished. “I just hope people realize that when he kneels, he’s praying, not Tebowing. He’s actually praying.”
When Tebow took the field, strange things happened as situations around just seemed to allow the former Heisman Trophy winner to succeed.
There was the overtime comeback win in Miami against the Dolphins, the collapse of the New York Jets defense; and then Chicago Bears’ running back Marion Barber running out of bounds and blowing the opportunity to run the clock for the win as well as his dramatic fumble in overtime that were all amazing.
Those three wins, along with the victory over the Vikings in Week 13, helped the Broncos to get in position to get to the postseason.
The first and only sign of Tebow being a legitimate quarterback in the NFL was on Wild-Card Weekend when he led the Broncos to a 29-23 overtime victory over the big, bad but beat-up Pittsburgh Steelers. Tebow threw for 316 yards, including his game-winning 80-yard touchdown pass to tight end Demaryius Thomas on the first play from scrimmage in overtime.
Tebow was definitely the talk of the 2011 NFL season. According to Hall of Fame quarterback and now Vice President of Football Operations for the Broncos John Elway, Tebow will enter training camp of the 2012 NFL season as the team’s starting quarterback.
Tebow is a special individual who happens to be a professional athlete. There are countless professional athletes who continuously do great things for the needy and those who are temporarily struggling through their foundations. Are their actions genuine or just for a tax write-off? Who knows? Many athletes thank and acknowledge God in celebrations and achievements and some are probably sincere in their honor. Others may address Him as a formality.
As Allen mentioned, NFL players are frequently in the news for committing foolish acts on and off the field. Tebow has been a breath of fresh air among professional athletes. Several players may be sick of hearing about Tebow because he’s a “do-gooder” even while his performances aren’t seen as being so outstanding.
Just remember this: as Tebow continues his NFL career he may never be a great player and the 2011 season could possibly have been his best ever. If he disappears from the NFL in a couple of years, that’s OK. Because the stage of the league opened doors for him to do greater things in ministry – doors that may otherwise never have been opened to him.
So don’t try to figure out why and how Tebow was able to accomplish success on the field the way he did. Oftentimes, foolish things are used to confound the wise… which Tebow’s performance did for the 2011 NFL season.
And the Broncos may insert players and systems to help Tebow be successful for the sake of winning football games. Ultimately, for Tebow, the NFL stage is not for the football world, in terms of wins and losses, but for a much greater cause: his ministry.