Going from hero in college (four years at Florida when he was the only QB to pass and rush for 1000 yards in a season and as the youngest Heisman trophy winner of all time) to zero before getting picked, helped a lot; everyone likes to root for the underdog.
Ever since he was picked 25th in the draft, three rounds higher than where he was expected to be picked, everyone has wondered how would his slow release and arm fair in the more pocket style NFL?
Other athletes, (see Michael Crabtree) came out of college with less accolades but could fit an NFL style offense from the ground running and not only demanded the big bucks, but claimed their greatness straight away. Tebow, despite being somewhat of a wonder kid has never buckled to having that kind of ego, and is very humble, almost annoyingly so.
Sometimes you just want him to tell the pundits to go screw themselves, but he keeps saying how thankful he is for the opportunity to play in the NFL and that he will keep working hard. This coming from anyone else would be boring, but we HAVE to watch because we all know that no human can sustain this kind of pressure and some point he is going to have to snap and we all want to watch him when he does. Not that he isn’t competitive, he is, but in interviews he is almost too professional…if that is such a thing. If you bill yourself as squeaky clean, with high morals then people are going to start to look for the cracks.
Secondly, he is overtly religious, almost to the point that it is annoying. He doesn’t stop thanking a higher being or Jesus. He professes no sex before marriage and his clean cut, all American high moral vision is somewhat refreshing in high profile sports which lately has become all about the money, cars, women and personal stats on the field. He is refreshing to say the least and a lot of people, especially Christians see him as a great role model.
As a red blooded man myself I think I speak for millions of guys out there when I say you have to respect a guy for sticking to his ethos of no sex before marriage, when he must have had thousands of women (and men) throw themselves at him. A virginal QB bringing home the National Championship is so absurd that you have to sit back and respect the guy on grounds of self-control alone.
Thirdly, Tebow was already a superstar before playing in the NFL. Every year there a few college players that start to emerge as an icon in their last couple of seasons. Reggie Bush was a star before getting picked by the Saints. Tebow is different because he was the starter for four years and was nominated for the Heisman three years running...unheard of. He brought home the National Championship which is a help but the way he plays, his tenacity and gung ho sprit is what takes onto my fourth point.
Fourth: This is really about the football player on the field. When I have watched Tebow this season, he isn’t actually that good or at least he does not look like a poised calm Brady or Manning type QB. But there is something so watchable about him. Yes people are hooked for all the reasons above but the WAY he plays is magnetic.
In 2009, when Tebow was in his last year at college ESPN magazine asked a handful of college players, which college they would pay to see, Tim Tebow won by a landslide. Despite all of his deficiencies in the pocket, the Bronco fans have embraced him, even though they did not have the system at the start to work with his skill set, yet they loved him for his winning mentality.
This season has seen Tebow string together a whopping six 4th quarter comebacks. Sure the defense helped him a lot, but had he have played like Cam Newton who is a running QB but can throw too, and then it would not have been nearly as dramatic. One almost thinks that "Timmy" could have the hand of God?
When Tebow plays he is passionate and wants to win, and because of his flaws as a QB (but he is improving) we want to see his development. Brady, Rodgers, and Brees are all perfect, but mechanical. Brady can throw a sweet pass, but his perfection is almost robotic, pragmatic, un-human. Tebow is the opposite. He ducks and dives on every play. You are never sure if his wobbly pass will get to the receiver. Will he wrangle out the way of four linemen, duck his head, not slide and pick up plenty of yards. Yes!
Tebow has grabbed the headlines and some are bitter about this because he is not THAT good, but being NOT that good, but still a fighter who picks up wins, wins over plenty of fans. What would you rather watch: A boring robotic "professional" win, or a dramatic nail biting win, even though you run the risk of losing. Give me the second any day.
In Tebow's first playoff game last week, his deep balls in the second half showed he has an arm and the Broncos went up by 14 points at the half against the great Steelers D. Tebow and crew should have won easily from there, but no they had to make it dramatic. The Steelers came back, and in the first OT game with new playoff rules, the Broncos had the ball first.
The new rules say both teams need to taste the ball on offense, unless the team that goes first gets a TD. The Steeler's safeties came up to the line. 11 men were in the box to stop Tebow running. A quick pass to Broncos receiver, Thomas saw him beat Ike Taylor and had an empty 80 yard dash for another magical Tebow win.
Seconds after that play, the word "Tebow" broke a record on Twitter, as he was teweeted over 9400 times per second, smashing the previous record held by Beyonce.
Whether or not you like Tebow's religious or moral opinions, you have to admit his watchable. He is hungry to win and plays Favre and Walter Payton before him, like a child playing a child's game. He is having fun and that's what professional sport should be about.
Of course there have been great college players who become busts at the NFL. Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell spring to mind, but both of the QBs went in the first round and it was their mental approach that created their downfall. Tebow despite owning the greatest college accolades he was told he would not be picked before the third round. Very odd. So was it the Gator system that was the star?
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