Things Tim Tebow Does Well That the Average Fan Doesn't Notice

Seven years ago, a struggling sports writer had a discussion on the radio with local know-it-alls about the status of Tim Tebow and where would he go to college.

The writer said he understood Tebow was a great prospect, home schooled and a leader, one who took Nease High School to a state football championship. He also said Alabama or Florida would benefit from having Tebow's services.

Then, in a moment of stupidity, he said the most ridiculous thing he could have said.

"Tim Tebow will be no better than Alan Hall."

Alan Hall never made anything of himself in college. You get the point, and I am still teased about that comment to this day.

After a seven-year audition, Tebow is taking his place in the NFL among the best players in the game. He may not be the best quarterback or the best signal-caller or even the best runner, but he is as tough as they come, the one who you want your son to emulate and the one you want your daughter to date.

He is as close to a version of Wally Cleaver there is and the NFL is reaping the benefits of this marketing dynamo.

When you look at Tebow, you get the four men who make up the marketing magnet that he is; the football player, the humanitarian, the spiritual leader and the human being. All four encompass what he is and no matter how we look at him for "Tebowing" or being gushingly sweet in front of a camera, that is how he is. I have seen it personally.

Tebow leads by example

The fans in Denver love him to death, follow him as a cult hero and even put their own money into billboards to see him in action. He is a morning cup of coffee, the one that energizes a team, wakes them up and gives them the ability to make a change or, in this case, win football games.

He gives to the community like nobody's business

You can thank his mom and dad for that. They are humanitarians that lead church missions, etc. I am not getting into the separation of church and football. But when a player understands he has been given a chance to do what few others have and then wants to give back, it is a great thing to see.

I had the chance to get to know Warrick Dunn in college and then Levon Kirkland when I lived in South Carolina. They lived by this example. And it is the same example Tebow is trying to share with others through his charitable work.

He rubs off on his teammates

At first, Brandon Lloyd said it was a "Tebow thing" that the team needed to get over. Well, last time I checked, Lloyd was traded to St. Louis and Denver began winning after he departed. You read between the lines. Tebow gets in the huddle and makes things happen on the run or with his feet or through encouragement.

He is changing the culture of the NFL quarterback

Remember Dan Marino? Remember Peyton Manning? Remember Dan Fouts? Three great quarterbacks. Three statues. Tebow is a fullback playing in a position where you need to be more mobile these days. He can run for the first down, move the chains and bull over a linebacker coming through the middle. He is an extra blocker on running plays.

He knows when given the chance, he can take this team to the playoffs

While Kyle Orton was a serviceable passer, you never felt he was in complete control. Tebow is in control and for someone so young, his veteran teammates let him control the tempo of the game. He commands respect. He earns respect from the opposition.Teams have to game plan for him.

Those things are not taught. Those things are called intangibles.

We have worked hard to bash everything about this man this season. I am just as guilty as the next guy. But Tebow, no matter how awkward it is to watch, has made a believer out of me. And until he is figured out by the rest of the NFL and the fans, he will remain one of the special players you just cannot get through a weekend without having a discussion about.

For the NFL, the Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow, those are good things.