Tim Tebow Starting to Gain Acceptance After Praise from Saints Coach Sean Payton

When Tim Tebow took over as the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback two months ago, aside from a loyal legion of Broncos fans, Tebow was widely criticized. Now, after leading the Broncos to seven wins in eight games, however, figures around the league are beginning to take notice.

On person in particular who has been impressed with Tebow is New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. When asked about Tebow in an interview with NewOrleansSaints.com, Payton remarked that his success was good for the league.

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To see them doing well and to see Tim Tebow doing well I think is good for our game. Each week, it’s changed the opponent and the script ends up being the same. It’s a great example of a belief in not only one player, but a belief in a team because they’re playing better on defense and they’re rushing the football well and certainly Tim’s been a big contribution to that. It’s a team that’s been playing with a lot of belief and a lot of energy and I feel like as they go into each game they feel like they have a chance to win if they don’t make those mistakes. I think it’s exciting.

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This week, the unfortunate victims of the dramatic Tebow script were the Chicago Bears. Down by 10 points with around four minutes remaining in the game, Tebow led the Broncos on a touchdown drive, as well as to a last-second field goal to take the game to overtime.

After Bears running back Marion Barber fumbled the ball while in field-goal range, Tebow brought the Broncos down the field again and kicker Matt Prater connected on a 51-yard, game-winning field goal to improve the team's record to 8-5, good for a one-game lead over the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West.

While a rock-solid defense has had much to do with that, there is no denying that Tebow has elevated the play of his teammates in some capacity. Tebow is very unconventional in the way he throws the ball and the way he often runs the ball more than he passes it in a game. Because he's different, observers like to ostracize him.

Perhaps he simply has a skill set that no other quarterback before him has been able to utilize, though. It wasn't long ago that the spread offense was viewed as a silly college system, but now a number of successful teams use it to their advantage, including Payton and the Saints.

It just may be possible that run-first quarterbacks are the new "in" thing in the NFL, as both Tebow and Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton have succeeded in that regard this season. The option may be the new spread, and if that is the case, then Tebow and the Broncos are revolutionary.

Payton is an offensive guru and may very well be the greatest offensive mind in the entire league. So if he can come to accept and appreciate Tebow, then why can't others do the same? There is no denying that his success makes the league more interesting, so I think it's time that more people come to the forefront like Sean Payton.

Even if you don't like Tebow's style of play or don't believe it is sustainable over a period of time, it's hard to ignore how Tebow and the Broncos as a whole are playing at this point. Payton has no problem acknowledging greatness when he sees it, but now it's time for the rest of the league to follow suit.