Tim Tebow: WWE Legend Stone Cold Steve Austin Gives Tebow 3:16 a 'Hell Yeah'

I know the first thing I think of when I see Tim Tebow on a football field is "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. I just thought everyone thought the way I did.

Just like Stone Cold made plenty of late-game comebacks to win the big match, Tebow has become the Austin of the NFL and has stunned plenty of people.

See what I did there?

The real tie between the two started back when Tebow was still running around the Swamp of Florida. As a religious man, Tebow used the inspirational passage from John 3:16.

"

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

"

Pretty inspirational stuff, huh?

Well, long before Tebow was flaunting the passage on his eye black that he wore on game days, WWE was preaching to the world about Austin 3:16.

There was a time in the late '90s and early 2000s when WWE Legend Steve Austin ran the world. It was during that period of wrestling when he was cutting epic heel promos that he came up with the “Austin 3:16” line.

Austin was feuding with recovering alcoholic and born-again Christian, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, when he beat him at the King of the Ring pay-per-view. It was after the match was over when Austin was interviewed that he used the bible reference as a way to jab at his opponent.

Since that time, the 3:16 moniker has become synonymous with the wrestler as much as it has the passage.

The number has come back to the forefront of the public’s mind now that Tebow threw for 316 yards in one of the biggest stunners in NFL playoff history. Despite being on the road, the Pittsburgh Steelers were heavily favored against Tebow and the Denver Broncos, but lost in overtime.

Despite a real lack of passing talent, Tebow threw for an amazingly coincidental 316 yards and won the game with one play in overtime.

A miracle maybe?

It was impressive to get Stone Cold talking. The WWE star told TMZ about his willingness to give up the 3:16 attention if Tebow throws for 316 yards again:

"

Austin 3:16 still rules. If Tebow can throw for 316 yards again this weekend then hell, he can have the numbers and I'll have no problem with it. A guy named John was using it before me ... so if Tebow can do it again, more power to him! I wish him all the luck in the world. I'm not a Denver fan but Tim's a great role model for kids.

"

Tebow won’t throw for 316 yards and nothing more will come of this, but imagine the exposure a tag-team of Stone Cold and Tebow would draw for the WWE. It will be the WWE's job this offseason to get Tebownation on board with the WWE and vice versa.

By the way, it will always be Stone Cold’s 3:16 and that’s the bottom line because Donald Wood said so.

Check back for more on World Wrestling Entertainment as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s WWE Page to get your fill of all things wrestling. For more on WWE/TNA, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

Follow @Donald_Wood

Listen to internet radio with RingRustRadio on Blog Talk Radio