Denver Broncos: Elway's Comments on Tebow Are Not Insulting, They Are Realistic

A lot of controversy and mania was spreading around the sports world this morning when Denver Bronco's vice president John Elway made some critical comments about quarterback Tim Tebow.

When asked if Elway felt ready to call Tebow the quarterback of the franchise's future, he responded: 

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"No. ... I think obviously he's making progress week in and week out. When you look at our third-down numbers, those have to improve. I mean, that's the bottom line."

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Being that Tebow is the most over-evaluated player in the NFL currently, and that Elway is obviously someone who knows the business, these comments spurred a lot of discussion. 

People, because as people, we are strange, have very critical and opinionated views about Tebow. It seems that no middle ground exists; you must either be a staunch cynic or a dedicated supporter. Personally, I don't see why such an opinion must exist; what's wrong with having an opinion about Tebow as a player and not a person?

I think this is exactly what Elway has. His comments do not in anyway reflect his views of Tebow as a person, but they merely show that as the team VP, he is evaluating the situation both realistically and critically.

All of the fans in Denver are, understandably, excited about Denver's new found success since Tebow replaced former starter Kyle Orton. To a fan, all that matters is the "W," and that's the way it should be.

To a boss, however, which is what Elway is, a lot more needs to be evaluated when analyzing your employees. If Elway were too blissfully "live in now" and go on national radio and praise Tebow for getting the Broncos to 5-5, he would not appear to be a team leader, but a fan.

Elway's comments are strictly realistic, and are a testament to his professionalism. As we all know, Elway had immense success in Denver and gave the people of the Mile High City nearly two decades of exciting football and two Super Bowl championships. It would be easy for him to get all giddy that the team that is currently under his management is winning.

But Elway never has, and is not going to start, taking the easy way out.

Denver is 5-5. It could be worse, but it could be better, and Elway knows this. He's not content with being a .500 football team who has squeaked by to win four games with a new starting quarterback.

And to be honest, he shouldn't be.