Denver Broncos: Comparing the Hype of Tim Tebow and Cam Newton

Say anything bad about Tim Tebow's future in the NFL, and watch all of his groupies viciously attack your opinion. His many die-hard fans have created a hype for Tebow, filled with expectations the young quarterback may never fulfill. In defense of Tebow, others have criticized the lack of negative comments towards Cam Newton's game since he joined the league, arguing Tebow to be better since Newton was his back up with the Florida Gators. 

Now with the hype surrounding Newton after his first game, we can see the difference between real hype, and forced hype. 

And the difference is glaring.

As I mentioned before, Tebow fans harshly criticized Cam Newton's abilities before the guy even stepped on the field for his first game. The fact that people have put Tebow over Newton because Newton was Tebow's back up, is absurd. At the time both were members of the Gators, Tebow was a two years older and had more experience.

In college football, that is something very difficult for a younger QB to overcome. The fact some Tebow fans would use that as their reasoning is reaching at best.

So, getting to the point of this piece, what's the difference in hype between the two?

First off, Cam Newton is fresh off a National Championship and was the No. 1 pick in last year's NFL Draft.  Those two facts created the hype alone.

Cam Newton's hype is currently based on results. Newton completed 64 percent of his passes, throwing for 422 yards and two touchdowns in his inaugural start. Newton's 422 yards was the most all-time for a rookie quarterback in Week 1 of a season, shattering Peyton Manning's record by over one hundred yards. That is the type of game that will warrant all the hype in the world for the former Auburn star.

Tim Tebow's hype is a little more complicated than that. As we all know, Tebow is a pro-life, Christian man who has a tremendous following. A following that was started in college, picked up with his anti-abortion Super Bowl commercial, and has carried all the way to the NFL. 

Tebow is a good person, that has never been up for debate. 

What has been up for debate is his physical ability to play the quarterback position well enough to be a starter in the NFL. After a few mediocre starts, none of which have even sniffed Newton's first and only start, Broncos and Tebow fans are ready to crown him the franchise quarterback of the future. I told you the differences were glaring. 

So where does Tebow's hype really come from?  Two ways.

First off, his enormous Christian following. People who share his religious beliefs always flock to his defense, thinking any criticism about Tebow is an attack on Tebow and their religion. Based on a religious agenda, there are tons of fans of Tebow who want to see him succeed so they have a religious figurehead to point to in sports. 

The other reason, is Tebow's "good guy" persona, one that is never in question. Many of Tebow's fans believe Tebow should avoid criticism solely because he is a good guy, something that no good guy should be immune to. This is sports, not a good guy contest. 

If you want a career where good guys finish first, go take part in an honesty contest. 

So when comparing the two young quarterbacks hype respectively, Newton has earned his, while Tebow simply hasn't. While Newton looks to improve on his outstanding Week 1 performance, Tebow is riding the bench as the Broncos' third string QB. 

Cam Newton is teaching Tim Tebow fans that hype, and the right to be a starting QB in the NFL, is based on results on the field and not based on who you are and what you believe.

As we speak, Tebow's jersey sales are falling, while Newton's are rising.