Has Tim Tebow Taken Faith Too Far into Football?

Tim Tebow believes in God. He lets it be known, he praises him openly and he has absolutely no problem standing up for his beliefs.

This bothers people for some inexplicable reason, and it has caused nearly as much controversy as his attempts to become the starting quarterback in Denver.

Let's put the Broncos aside for a moment though. This has little to do with their decision to start Kyle Orton over Tebow this year.

Football is the nation's most popular sport. It is played everywhere, loved everywhere and embraced in even some of the most remote reaches of the country.

This country also happens to believe in the freedom of religion. In some parts of this country, football and religion basically go hand-in-hand. It is not this way everywhere, but this philosophy does exist .

There are plenty of players in the league who are openly vocal about their faith. Kurt Warner, a potential Hall of Famer, is just one that comes to mind. At one point in 2000, Warner was even quoted as believing God healed him from a concussion.

So why is the same situation with Tebow is so overblown?

Because he's only 24 years old? Because he's one of the greatest college quarterbacks to ever play the game? Because he was easily the most controversial first-round pick in a decade?

CBS Sports' Gregg Doyel had enough of how Tebow believes his faith ties into his NFL future and went as far as to call it "blasphemy."

Since writing that article, according to USA Today writer Michael McCarthy, Doyel has received an influx of "hate mail."

Doyel's arguing point for most of his column was based on Tebow saying "I'm relying as always on my faith", something he had told the Denver Post days earlier.

The writer, basically, paraphrased Tebow's quotes to mean, "I'll be a starter in this league because God loves me that much." 

Which, in all actuality, is an absurd generalization. 

Maybe Tebow does believe that it is God's plan for him start in the NFL and be successful, but how can anyone argue with him? Who Tim Tebow is, what Tim Tebow believes of himself and how much Tim Tebow believes in his God has done good things for him so far.

He's been an unbelievable person and football player everywhere he has been for the first 24-years of life; is there any reason for him not to believe in himself and his faith?

Maybe Tebow is "relying on his faith" just to give him the strength to have a long career in the NFL, regardless of whether he is a starter or not.

Or maybe Tebow is "relying on his faith" simply to give him a fair opportunity to start in the NFL.

Or maybe Tebow really is "relying on his faith" to make him a starter in the NFL one day.

Regardless, it shouldn't matter to us what Tim Tebow believes his faith will do for him. He's allowed to believe, say and practice whatever he wants regarding God, football, faith and the pro-style offense.

Doyel's surge into to Tebow's faith isn't the first and won't be the last, but these arguments will forever be pointless.

Tim Tebow is going to become the best football player he can possibly be, regardless of his faith, and whether that equates to him starting at quarterback or rolling as a career backup remains to be seen.

He is, however, allowed the opportunity to attribute it to whatever he wants, and that should be enough for everyone else to just leave it alone.

Football and religion are two of the greatest things we have in this country, and there should be no problem with them coinciding.

- Wes O'Donnell