Tim Tebow: Denver Broncos Must Stick Tebow Under Center, Not at Wide Receiver

Tim Tebow may be as slow as Jerry Rice, but that doesn’t mean the Denver Broncos should split the former Florida Gator out wide.  Tebow doesn’t have the athleticism or skill set to get playing time in the slot for Denver and if he does, the Broncos have a huge weakness at wide out.  John Fox shouldn’t be messing around with Tebow at receiver, but at quarterback.

Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post suggested that the Broncos should give Tebow time as the team’s fourth wide receiver.  He has been running routes in pregame warmups, but his ability to impact the game in the slot is highly questionable.  Sure, speed isn’t the No. 1 attribute an NFL wide out must possess, but it’s not like Tebow is an all-world route runner.

At 245 pounds and running a 4.71 40-yard dash, there’s no way he’ll be a legitimate threat in the slot.  Tebow may be able to get playing time at tight end or as a receiving fullback, but believing that he could turn into a Kyle Orton-target as a No. 4 wide receiver is farfetched.  It would be a miracle if he could even get off the line of scrimmage against press coverage.

The Broncos lost to the Oakland Raiders last week and if they fail to take out the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Denver has to start Tebow under center.  They aren’t talented enough as a team to win now.  Orton is not the future of the franchise, but Tebow has the potential to be just that.  Denver must give Tebow a chance to start under center to see what they have at the position; sticking him at receiver does nothing for the present or future.

Fox may have ignored the chants; he may put on blinders driving by Tim Tebow support billboards, but refusing to give the Heisman Trophy winner a shot is just plain stubborn when Orton isn't winning football games.

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him on Twitter.