Tim Tebow Will Have Difficulty Measuring Up to Hobbled Matthew Stafford

It's not that easy being Tim Tebow, especially when he's being judged against every quarterback the Denver Broncos face.

That's not to say that you should necessarily be sympathetic to Tebow's plight, though his already-lengthy list of detractors could easily grow by the conclusion of Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions.

It's one thing to be compared to a career backup like Matt Moore as he was in Miami last week during a win against the winless Dolphins. But it's another thing entirely to go head-to-head with a rising star of Matthew Stafford's caliber, all while operating (or trying to operate) against Ndamukong Suh and Detroit's "Silver Crush" defense.

A tough task, to be sure, but not one from which a competitor like Tebow is likely to shy away. He's already persevered against the odds, leading his team back from a 15-point deficit with three minutes to go after watching Brandon Lloyd get sent away.

All while playing under a head coach in John Fox who seems to resent his very existence.

If there's anything that works in Tebow's favor, it's the fact that Stafford is playing on a bad ankle, though that hasn't seemed to bother him just yet.

Meanwhile, with every errant throw, every herky-jerky motion and every unsuccessfully unorthodox maneuver, Tebow risks damaging his own myth, one that has grown to ridiculous proportions given his lack of actual on-field experience.

Whether it be his faith, his energy or his "Tebowing," Tim has already become a larger-than-life figure in the NFL before fitting even half a season under his belt.

Such is Tebow's burden: living up to hype that he sought-out but that also arrived at his doorstep by the truckload.

But if Tebow needs any advice on how to meet and exceed early-career expectations, he'd do well to jog across the sideline to quiz Stafford on the subject. After all, Stafford came into the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and struggled to justify his paycheck through two injury-riddled seasons.

This year, though, Stafford has managed to stay healthy for the most part, giving himself a golden opportunity to show folks around the Motor City and the rest of the league what he's capable of.

Then again, Tebow can only dream of the gifts that Stafford possesses that make him a terrific pro-style quarterback, among them a rocket for an arm and a level of comfort throwing from the pocket.

Life in the NFL won't ever be easy for Tebow, not even if he's somehow able to transform into a quarterback who commands Stafford-like passing acumen.

To be Tebow is to invite attention and the criticism that comes with it, wittingly or unwittingly.