5 Reasons Tim Tebow Will Quickly Become Irrelevant

"Tebow-Mania" has swept far and wide across the United States. Thanks to his winning ways and his unorthodox yet effective skill set, the Denver Broncos starting quarterback is one of the most recognizable names in the country today.

But as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Tebow has been the talk of sports fans and non-sports fans alike for the past few months, but his celebrity status won't last for long.

Let's examine the five biggest reasons why Tim Tebow will quickly become irrelevant...

He Is Far from an Elite Passer

When it comes right down to it, quarterbacks must throw the ball to win games on a consistent basis. Unfortunately for Tebow, he does not possess the skills of a good passer, let alone an elite one.

In 2011, Tebow's completion percentage of 46.5 percent ranked 34th among all NFL quarterbacks who attempted enough passes to qualify.

Just for reference, the likes of Blaine Gabbert, John Skelton and Curtis Painter all rank ahead of Tebow in this category.

His NFL passer rating also falls among the bottom quarter of the league, ranking behind Colt McCoy, Tarvaris Jackson and Tebow's predecessor in Denver, Kyle Orton.

Perhaps the most alarming stat for Tebow is his underwhelming 6.38 yards per pass attempt, a number good for 28th in the league. What this essentially means is that the passes Tebow attempts are of a shorter variety with a lower degree of difficulty.

Yes, Tebow did amass 12 touchdowns to just six interceptions during the regular season, a respectable ratio. But the bottom line is that the stats above discredit Tebow's ability as a passer and prove that he doesn't have the tools to be a successful quarterback over the long haul.

He Relies to Much on His Running Ability

Over the course of his two-year career in the NFL, Tebow has attempted 353 passes and 165 rushes—that's 2.1 passes for every one rush.

To put that in perspective, Michael Vick, one of the great dual-threat quarterbacks of our time, has a ratio of 3.48 passes to every rush.

Even Cam Newton, the NFL Rookie of the Year who possesses great running ability, attempts 4.1 passes for every rush attempt.

What all this means is that Tebow leans far too heavily on his legs to make plays. It's true that Tebow's skills as a runner make him a threat inside the red zone, but his 2.1:1 pass attempt to rush attempt ratio does not bode well for his long-term viability as a NFL quarterback.

The former Florida quarterback must become more of a pocket presence. If he fails to do so, he'll be on the fast-track to irrelevance.

The AFC West Won't Be Down for Long

Last year, Denver took advantage of a weak division to win the AFC West with a mediocre 8-8 record.

Unfortunately for the Broncos and their quarterback, mediocrity won't cut it for long.

The 2010 AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs played much of the year without their starting quarterback (Matt Cassel), running back (Jammal Charles) and best defensive player (Eric Berry). That trio will be back in 2012 for the Chiefs—meaning a return to the team's 2010 form is a strong possibility.

The Raiders were 4-2 and atop the AFC West before losing quarterback Jason Campbell to a season-ending collarbone injury. Carson Palmer took a while to get going in Oakland, but occasionally showed flashes of his old self.

If the Raiders can fix their penalty issues and problems in the secondary, Oakland could be in contention for a division title in 2012.

The Chargers were the most disappointing team in the division in 2012, losing six games in a row before winning four of five to end the year.

But, the future is still bright in San Diego. Phillip Rivers' subpar 2011 campaign was more of an anomaly than a regularity and the Chargers should continue to develop a formidable running back tandem with Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert.

The fact of the matter is, America likes winners.

Tebow won last year and as a result he was vaulted into the national limelight and was heralded for his late-game heroics.

With a stronger division in 2012, Tebow's chances of winning on a regular basis diminish and so does his national exposure.

Mechanics Matter

Solid mechanics matter and Tim Tebow simply doesn't possess them.

We already touched on Tebow's poor passer rating and completion percentage, and it's possible that both of these stats can be attributed to his unorthodox throwing motion.

After his senior season at Florida, Tebow was criticized while he was preparing for the NFL draft for his slow release. Experts also felt ball security would be an issue, observing that Tebow held the football too low.

Although Tebow has taken steps towards rectifying these issues, its still worrisome that limited progress has been made.

Tebow still looks awkward in the pocket. He doesn't look the part of some of the NFL's current stars at quarterback such as Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady.

Despite his poor mechanics, Tebow has enjoyed success during his first couple years in the league, much like another high-profile dual-threat quarterback, Vince Young.

Young, like Tebow, was not gifted with the league's best mechanics, and the former NFL Rookie of the Year is now stuck in a downward trend after a bright start to his career.

The fact that Young didn't own top-level mechanics ended up catching up with him.

Don't be shocked if the same thing happens to Tim Tebow.

Someone Will Replace Him as Flavor of the Month

America is very much a flavor of the month type of culture.

When Tim Tebow took over for Kyle Orton in October and immediately started winning, thousands jumped on the Tebow bandwagon. His winning ways and charismatic vibe won over much of the country throughout the fall and into the winter.

Tebow may be the hot topic right now, but only until someone comes along and takes his spot.

The NFL draft is just a couple months away and a quarterback by the name of Andrew Luck has all the tools to replace Tebow in the national spotlight.

Luck will likely be drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, a team that went 2-14 in 2011. Depending on what happens to Peyton Manning, Luck could end up being the one to lead the Colts' resurgence.

If he's able to enjoy success, it could be "Luck-Mania" that sweeps across the country, taking the place of "Tebow-Mania."

Who knows, it could be someone like Heisman Winner Robert Griffin III that takes the country by storm. Or maybe a lesser known name like Boise State's Kellen Moore or Houston's Case Keenum.

There is no way of telling, but the truth of the matter is America likes to cheer for a winning athlete who also has a charm factor. Throw in the fact that Tebow is somewhat of an underdog story and you have the makings of a budding celebrity.

But, if you insert another charming figure who finds success early in his career, a new star will be born.

If Tebow can't keep the good times rolling with victories, there will surely be another young, charismatic quarterback who will win over the hearts of Americans, resulting in Tebow's demise.