From the Journal: Tebow is not given the credit he deserves

Column by Taylor DeHart

"1st and 10 with Taylor DeHart"

Everyone is taking jabs at Tim Tebow these days.

“He can’t play. He can’t throw. ...What [former Broncos coach] Josh McDaniels saw in him God only knows. Maybe God does know --because the rest of us don’t,” Former NFL QB and current radio host Boomer Esiason said.

“I just watched Tebow throw 5 out routes to a wide open WR! He was 1 for 5!.. That throwing motion he changed? U can’t change who u r! Just watched 2 throws and he throws like he did in college!!” ESPN analyst Merrill Hoge wrote on Twitter.

The NFL is known for its quarterbacks.  Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are the stereotypical quarterbacks of the league.  They all have a fast release, are mostly pocket passers and are proven winners.

But to be successful in “the league,” do you have to have the style of play that those three guys do?

Honestly, Tebow doesn’t have most or any of these qualities.  He doesn’t have the throwing motion wanted for quarterbacks,  he runs the ball too much for a quarterback and he lacks accuracy. 

The things that really make Tebow stand out are his heart, hustle, desire and hard work.  

But most importantly... Tebow is a PROVEN winner.

All of those qualities cannot be taught.  He was born with them.  His leadership is inevitable, and the way he publicly conducts himself is unlike anyone else in sports.  Not many people are just able to win, no matter what.  Being a winner trumps all other qualities that an athlete can have. But Tebow does not have the look or the style of the poster-child quarterback of the NFL. Therefore, he has not been given a shot to compete. 

Tebow is commonly regarded as one of the best college football players of all time.  In college as a starting quarterback, Tebow led the Gators of Florida to two national championships in his time in Gainesville.  Tebow won the Heisman Trophy at UF and was in the top five for voting two other years.  As a starting quarterback, he led the Gators to a 34-6 record (.850).  Those are just a few of his many accolades while at UF.
The Broncos are making a crucial but wrong decision when giving the starting quarterback spot to veteran Kyle Orton.  Orton is a very mediocre quarterback at best.  Yes, he is an extremely accurate passer, but Tebow is a dual-threat QB (he runs and passes very well).

The Broncos should just give Tebow a shot.  They won’t be hurting anything if Tebow turns out to be a bust.  Orton is 1-3 this year and has a 4-13 record over the past two years with the team.  If I were the coach, I would want someone to spark my team and ignite the fans, why can’t it be Tebow?

But the thing is, not everyone is trashing Tebow.  

“Tim Tebow will succeed in the NFL. He’s a hard worker, a student of the game, a natural born leader and most of all a WINNER!” Lebron James wrote on Twitter.