Tim Tebow: Is the QB Deserving of the Hype?

Let me start off with an overused cliché: This is the beginning of the end. What I am referring to, of course, is articles and conversations about Tim Tebow. This is in no way a personal tirade against Tebow. This is a rant about how a backup quarterback who has started three NFL games is not worth the hype. The fact is as simple as that. 

Tim Tebow may one day be an amazing NFL quarterback. He has tremendous drive and arm strength, and he lives his life, both on and off the field, with great zest. 

Right now, though, Tebow is not an amazing NFL quarterback, so why is he so discussed? There are a few reasons for this, which all turn out to be surprisingly flattering. 

The first is that we are enamored. Whether we love Tebow or hate Tebow, we are enamored by the former Florida Gator. Perhaps it's that he dominated one of the best conferences in college football despite playing some of the most unconventional football that we have ever seen. Perhaps it's that Tebow played the game with passion that most of us have never seen. Simply put, he was inspiring to watch.

Perhaps it's that Tebow is outspoken as a devout Christian, going as far as to appear in pro-life commercials, write Bible verses on his eye blacks and publicly claim that, despite being a handsome young man in a position of incredible power, he is a virgin. Whatever it is, we are enamored.

The next reason why Tebow is so discussed in the media is because many of us want to see him fail. To say it more blatantly, a lot of people dislike Tebow. Why is this? Some people dislike how outspoken Tebow is about his personal beliefs, but I believe more of Tebow's critics exist because they want to see the mighty fall.

Tebow was unstoppable in college, yet he didn't play like a quarterback at all. He threw his body around like a rag doll, pummeled defenders and almost never ran out of balance. An NFL quarterback has never really achieved greatness playing like this, and if Tebow does, he will prove to a lot of people that the classic quarterback model is not the only telling sign of a successful quarterback.

We want to see Tebow fail because he is great, but also because he would prove a lot of us wrong, and no one likes to be wrong.

Finally, the third reason why Tebow has become such a figure of media hype contradicts the previous reason that I gave. Despite the "Tebow haters" out there, many of us want to see Tebow succeed.

Tim Tebow has potential to be a bona fide star for the NFL. Not only does he possess the ability to succeed on the field, but he has the potential to be a spokesperson for the league and an advocate for their charities. Most importantly, Tebow possesses the ability to make people watch football who would never watch football.

I truly hope Tebow succeeds one day, because I think he can and should be great. One day, Tim Tebow should be deserving of any media hype he receives and then some. That day hasn't come yet though.

I probably sound like a prick writing an article that psychoanalyzes exactly why everyone writes articles about Tim Tebow and then says why they shouldn't do so. Please feel free to call me a prick—just please don't talk about Tim Tebow anymore. It's all too premature; it's not yet his time to shine.