Tim Tebow: Denver Broncos Savior Turning John Elway into a Believer

Denver Broncos second-year quarterback Tim Tebow has been doubted since the beginning of the season. That includes new Vice President of Football Operations and Hall of Famer John Elway.

But after Tebow took over for veteran Kyle Orton this season and proceeded to go 7-2, planting the Broncos in control of the AFC West, Elway is all of a sudden changing his tone.

Elway, whose opinion is valued next to God's for Broncos fans, was asked by Gary Miller on 102.3 FM Denver, after Tebow's fourth win as starter, if he was any closer to knowing who his quarterback would be moving forward.

Elway's reply?

A simple, "No."

Now, all of a sudden, Elway is backtracking.

Said Elway in an interview with the AP, via ESPN:

"

I think that comment was probably a little bit too blunt. Because I think the big picture with Tim is we've got to see the whole body of work. And so really what you want to see with him is the improvement that's going to happen over time.

Because, he's done what we knew he could do and where we've seen his progress is what he does within the pocket. What we've said, and I said it when I first got here, was we know Tim's a great player and what we've got to do is make him a great quarterback, and what I've learned is you've got to be able to win from within the pocket.

"

For the record, Elway never said Tebow was "a great player" in the preseason. That would have likely drawn scorn across the nation.

But now he's backing Tebow like he never has before.

Said Elway, via ESPN: "Tim Tebow's not going anywhere. I mean, he's going to be a Bronco and we're going to do everything we can and hopefully he's that guy."

There's still a little skepticism in Elway's voice, but it's safe to say he's willing to ride it out with Tebow and see where that leads. Earlier in the season, that didn't even seem possible.

Tebow's heard a lot of criticism throughout the season, and that criticism sprouted up again after the Broncos' 41-23 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. But you have to believe that the one man whose opinion he truly cares about has to be Elway. And Elway, who happened to be one of Tebow's critics, is coming around, along with the rest of the nation.