Tim Tebow: Senseless Analysts Struggle to Separate Faith from Football

At least it was a quarterback this time. That is about all the consolation Tim Tebow can take away from the latest bashing at his expense.

The Denver Broncos' second-year signal-caller has legitimately fallen to No. 3 on the depth chart, and could even be No. 4 if Yahoo! Sports's Michael Silver is to be believed. 

But that isn't the only negative press Tebow has earned of late. On the heels of another vicious attack from ESPN's Merril Hoge, Tebow earned some bashing at the hands of another former quarterback, Boomer Esiason.

The former NFL MVP and current CBS football analyst was quoted by Michael McCarthy in USA Today speaking at a CBS press event saying:

"

He can't play. He can't throw. I'm not here to insult him. The reality is he was a great college football player, maybe the greatest college football player of his time. But he's not an NFL quarterback right now. Just because he's God-fearing, and a great person off the field, and was a winner with the team that had the best athletes in college football, doesn't mean his game is going to translate to the NFL.

"

Esiason went even further adding:

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What (former Broncos coach) Josh McDaniels saw in him God only knows. Maybe God does know—because the rest of us don't.

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Esiason's background as a rather successful quarterback gives him more credibility than the addled Hoge, but doesn't put his comments in any better taste.

For one, he invokes Tebow's beliefs far too often for a situation that solely pertains to the game. Once again, an analyst or writer has gone too far out of his way to bring up something that has nothing to do with how Tebow throws the football.

It is bad enough that Hoge's analysis simply bashes every move Tebow makes. But now Esiason is questioning how anyone, even God, can see him as a starting quarterback. 

Religion and God are a big part of Tebow's life. But it has nothing to do with his mechanics, footwork and ability to read a Cover 2 defense.

There appears to be no middle ground with the Broncos quarterback. Analysts are paid to give their opinion on football, not religious beliefs. With Tebow it is apparently one in the same.

We cannot argue that Tebow wears his beliefs on his sleeve, but again, he is entitled to do that. It may bother seem people, but he has every right to do it.

This situation has been blown so far out of proportion that it is actually disgusting to read and write about. There are plenty of other, more pressing topics to focus on in Denver anyway.

How long will Kyle Orton last as the starter if the Broncos only win one of their first eight games?

Or, how long will it take the defense to transition to a 4-3?

Or, is Brandon Lloyd fooling us once again?

Or even, how many losses will it take for the Tebow starter talk to begin again?

Orton threw 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 starts. He won three football games before Tebow took over.

As we ready for a new football season we shouldn't be focusing on the No. 3 quarterback of one of the league's worst teams. No, instead we should be focusing on what they're going to do to get better.

Heck, we're more likely to talk about Andrew Luck and the Stanford connection to John Elway before we even get back to Tebow.

This unfortunate bashing has to end at some point, and the regular season cannot come soon enough.

If analysts really feel the need to hit Tebow then it needs to be done with something constructive about football. Not Tebow's or anyone else's beliefs.