Tim Tebow: 10 Reasons Rib Injury Is the Beginning of a Bad Rookie Season

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Remember that great quote in Rocky IV? The one where Rock's trainer, Duke first sees vulnerability in Drago and he gets all excited...

Duke: [to Rocky] "You see? You see? He's not a machine, he's a man, he's a man."

Unfortunately Broncos fans found out something Gator fans never had to open their eyes to --

Tim Tebow can get hurt.

There's no reason for Denver fans to get all panicky and run through buildings screaming fire, but there are some concerns you should have going forward.

10. Missing Home Cooking

If Tebow knows anything, it's the value of a home crowd.

Gator nation loved him and he used that for motivation.

He would constantly be making that chopping motion when going on the field because he knew it would drive the home crowd crazy.

Well, the first home game for Denver is Saturday and after missing a few practices, Tebow might possibly miss the game.

You might think it's not a big deal because it's a preseason game, but think about it, most people see the kid as indestructible.

So if he doesn't play, doesn't that mean something is really wrong?

9. Ch-Ch-Changes...

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Here is a bigger concern, doesn't this signal another drastic change has to be made in how Tebow plays?

First he had to change his passing motion.

Now doesn't he have to learn how to play with less reckless abandon?

Quarterbacks can't take that type of pounding week in and week out.

8. A Bullseye

He's been called the future face of the league and he sells more jerseys than anyone else, so there has to be some jealousy brewing throughout the NFL.

Will that make guys try to hit him harder just to see what he is really made of?

I know we don't like to think that players don't go all out, all the time, but some guys save that little extra for someone they feel motivated to go after.

7. Less Wild Horse?

With the rib injury and with the need to protect their investment, the Broncos might start second guessing all the talk of running the "Wild Horse" packages for Tebow.

And if he isn't running those plays, what will he be doing?

6. Knowshon Moreno

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Last year, when the Broncos started out 6-0, it was Knowshon Moreno running the "Wild Horse" and it was working out pretty well.

Moreno isn't the passer Tebow is, but he is certainly a better runner.

Does he lose his spot in the package when he comes back from his injury?

5. Pressure

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Tebow knows that he is important to Denver or they wouldn't have worked so hard to get him on the team.

What happens the next time he has a first down running opportunity.

Will it enter his head and might he step out of bounds or will he put his head down and go for it?

4. Not Ready For The Regular Season

If the rib injury persists and he misses this Saturday's game, then Tebow might not play again until September 2nd in the preseason finale.

That means he will start the season with limited reps.

If you have to get Kyle Orton ready, when will Tebow get his reps?

3. Brady Quinn

With all the talk about Tebow soon taking over for Orton, we have forgotten about the official back up quarterback, Brady Quinn.

Everything dominoes in the NFL.

Less reps for Tebow because of injury means more playing time for Quinn because he has to get ready in case of emergency.

If Tebow does less gimmick plays and Brady Quinn starts to step up, Tebow might find himself watching from the sidelines.

2. Josh McDaniels

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Some of the same reasons that are given for why Tebow should play, could have an influence in why injuries could have him on the sidelines.

If McDaniels thinks that it is best for the team as well as for their investment to handle Tebow cautiously early in the season, we might not be seeing much of him at all.

1. Kyle Orton

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What if Orton plays so well that there is less need for "Wild Horse" plays to shake things up?

Then, why would you play Tebow if the goal is winning and the team is successful?

Wouldn't it be better to let him sit, learn and watch, like some quarterbacks have done in the past?

This all comes back to a question that I don't know if Denver has answered yet:

Is their ultimate goal to make Tim Tebow a pocket passer?

And if not, do they ever see him being the every down QB if he is going to always be running and taking a pounding?