Tim Tebow: Why He Is the Future in Denver

Tim Tebow is, hands down, the most unfairly criticized player in the 2011-12 NFL season.

Sure, he might be “screwed” in a conventional offense, but Tebow has what really counts. His critics point to his odd skill set, but forget to mention his unusual pull. Tebow is not heralded as the future in Denver, yet he may lead them to the playoffs.

Yes, Tebow is full of contradictions, and these contradictions are what make him special. Think of Magic Johnson. For a 6'9" basketball player, he had an odd skill set. Think of Dirk Nowitzki. For a 7-footer, he has an odd skill set. Yet, both of them are among the very best in basketball.

So, for a quarterback, Tebow has an unusual skill set, but that skill set may make him among the best in the NFL.

So what exactly is his skill set?

From what we’ve seen so far this season, he can run, but his throwing is spotty. However, the most important part of Tebow’s game isn’t physical; it’s mental. He is a leader, and has proven it by leading Denver to five wins, more than Kyle Orton or Brady Quinn has done.

That brings up another point: Tebow just wins. He has experienced success at basically every level of football he has played, defying the critics and coming out victorious far more often than not.

In addition, Tebow isn’t afraid of pressure. He knows that he must prove himself to keep his job, but that has not fazed him at all. When the Broncos needed a big play to beat the Jets, Tebow stepped up and willed the Broncos to an overtime victory over the Chargers.

Tebow wants to be a QB, and he won’t let his critics stop him, which is why you'll never see him  mail in a game. He puts in work to put his team in the best position to win, and he knows that he has to work harder than any other QB in the league to be successful.

That is why, when the Broncos came into the fourth quarter down by three, everyone knew in their hearts that Tebow would not let his team lose.

So what happened? He got the Broncos into good enough field position for a field goal that tied the game and sent it into overtime. What happened in overtime? He did it again, getting the Broncos far enough for another field goal, this time to win the game. 

So maybe Tebow isn’t the most conventional quarterback, but so what? Many great players in several sports weren’t the most conventional. He gets wins and pushes his teammates to another level. Denver would be hard-pressed to find a better leader and winner than Tebow, and really, that’s all that should matter.