Tim Tebow's Fans Are to Blame If Broncos QB Busts

Tim Tebow’s greatest enemies are not his haters, but his fans.

If the Denver Broncos quarterback fails to develop into a solid starter, people will begin to point fingers. Many will point to Josh McDaniels for even giving the former Florida Gator a shot. His haters will simply point at his awful accuracy and throwing motion while his defense will rise that those weaknesses are Urban Meyer’s fault.

Tebow’s own fans, though, are the ones who not only are painting a gigantic target on his back, but forced him into the starting lineup before he was ready.

Tebow is the prototypical role model and, while loved by millions, he’s hated at the same time.  When the prototypical role model presents itself, that person is hyped by his fans and then marketed to no end.

Those who ignored the bandwagon in its early stages turn into haters when that bandwagon begins to overflow…which is the fans' fault.

No one would hate Tebow if there wasn’t a story on ESPN about him every single day, if his fans didn’t worship Tebow like the One that Tebow himself worships. The percentage of fans who dislike the college football legend is most likely similar to the opinions of NFL players.

In fact, players may dislike him even more because of jealousy resulting in the unrivaled attention Tebow receives.

Attention in a positive light results in adoring fans, which leads to unmatchable hype, ending with a bottomless pit of pressure. Tebow didn’t ask for the weight of the world to be put on his shoulders, but he has been handed just that.

No single professional football player has more pressure to succeed than Tebow, but that isn’t the only gift he’s been given by his fans.

When the heat of a 1-3 record and a 23-10 halftime deficit to the San Diego Chargers got to John Fox, the coach gave into the fans who were chanting Tebow’s name since training camp began while at the same time posting billboards in Denver urging the Broncos to hand the reins to their hero.

Fox folded under the pressure created by Tebow’s fan base. If he didn’t give in, the same people calling for Kyle Orton’s head would’ve been calling for his.

Now, Tebow being forced into action wouldn’t be so bad if he was pro-ready, but he’s not. 

Through three quarters against the Detroit Lions, Tebow is seven of 21 throwing the football for just 80 yards and while he rushed for 27 yards, he fumbled the ball three times including one that was returned for a touchdown. 

Tebow has the physical ability and intangibles to develop into an elite quarterback, but he needs time and that’s something he doesn’t have right now because he was thrown to the dogs too early.

Merril Hoge is not Tebow’s greatest enemy. That guy who chants Tebow’s name, bows down to a Tebow Fathead and lives in a Tebow jersey is what may just be the quarterback’s undoing.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.  Follow him on Twitter.