Tim Tebow: Will Tebow Ever Get a Full Season to Prove He's an NFL QB?

Like the Three 6 Mafia once said, it's hard out there for Tim Tebow.

Well, at least that's what they'd be rapping about if they rewrote the song about the NFL and the Denver Broncos.

The former Heisman Trophy winner isn't a great NFL quarterback by any stretch of the imagination, but it appears as though he still won't get a fair shake to prove he's capable of holding down the top gig in the Mile High City, even after helping to put the Broncos in position to back into the AFC West title despite the team's most recent struggles.

According to NBC's Pro Football Talk, the Broncos have been splitting the first-team reps in practice this week between Tebow and backup Brady Quinn.

And by Brady Quinn, I mean that other guy in Denver who doesn't play the quarterback position so well.

It's unknown why, exactly, the Broncos are giving the mighty Quinn this mightiest of opportunities heading into Sunday's Wild Card Round playoff game against the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps John Fox is trying to prepare Quinn for the rather likely event that Tebow will fall flat against the Steelers' stingy defense. Perhaps he's trying to throw Pittsburgh for a loop, forcing Mike Tomlin to prepare for a traditional passing quarterback as well as one who, errmm, isn't a traditional passing quarterback.

Or (dun-dun-DUUUNNNN!) perhaps Denver's pair of Johns (Elway and Fox) still don't think Tebow is the right guy for the job, especially after the way Tebow flat-out flopped over the final three games of the 2011 season.

Or, in another shocking twist, perhaps NBC's league source is bogus. In response to the Pro Football Talk story, Brady Quinn told NFL.com that his role in practice hasn't changed at all and that he hasn't gotten any more reps than usual.

Or maybe QUINN IS LYING! (MUAHAHA!)

OK, enough with the conspiracy theories. Tebow will start and have every opportunity to lead the Broncos to victory against the Steelers. If Tebow gets the job done, he'll live to play another day. If Tebow stinks, then John Fox will have little choice but to put Quinn in if he doesn't think Tebow has any chance to lead Denver to victory.

In other words, Tebow will probably be treated like any other young player who's yet to completely cement a starting gig.

Big whoop.

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