Around Osceola
Home Special Section Archives
Ratings will soar for Tebowfest PDF Print E-mail
Sports
Friday, 16 December 2011 14:33

Pedone_RickRick Pedone
Sports  Editor

Are you interested in any NFL game in particular this weekend?
Perhaps, an intra-divisional AFC matchup from the Rocky Mountain Time Zone featuring the league's greatest living quarterback, plus New England's Tom Brady?


The TV ratings are going to be astronomical for Sunday's New England-Denver game. The Broncos' Tim Tebow officially has become America's football player.
Many hate the hysteria surrounding Florida's Heisman Trophy-winning legend, who has led the Broncos to a 7-1 record since he's started, but tons more love the guy for his character and leadership.
If his legend is soaring a little out of control, if it all seems a little too good to be true, so what?
Isn't it about time that we had a really good guy to pull for?
Hasn't your mind numbed from the endless parade of failed drug tests, spousal abuse cases and nine-figure contracts that permeate pro sports today?
From the day Tebow became eligible for the NFL draft, you heard two things about him: he doesn't have the release or accuracy to be a star NFL quarterback, and he's a winner.
The former far outweighed the latter on team's evaluation charts, except for then-Denver coach Josh McDaniel, who drafted Tebow No. 24 in the first round.
That was folly, according to league know-it-alls, and it eventually cost McDaniel his job.
Broncos GM John Elway and new coach John Fox embraced Tebow like he was radioactive early this season and only reluctantly put him in after Kyle Orton was ineffective during a 1-4 start.
The Broncos and Tebow then embarked on a two-month fairy tale ride that brings us to Sunday's game.
Tebow proves for the umpteenth time that you can't measure intangibles. The NFL draftniks were right in that he wasn't a first-round talent. Those picks should be reserved for can't-miss players, and Tebow was, by no stretch, a can't-miss.
But, McDaniel was right that Tebow would be a leader and a winner, just like he was in high school and college.
We'll see how far Tebow can carry this success. The Broncos’ schedule has been kind, and the team still has had to stage near-miraculous rallies five or six times to get to this point.
How will Tebow fare against mastermind Bill Belichick's defense Sunday? How will he do when he runs into the Steelers or the Ravens in the first-round of the playoffs, if the Broncos get there?
Who knows? But, it'll be fun to watch.
The Mighty News-Gazette Divine Nine:
No. 1: The Pack. No. 2: The '72 Dolphins, who are beginning to worry. No. 3: The '07 Pats, who didn't quite make it. No. 4: The Saints. No. 5: The Ravens. No. 6: Eli. No. 7: Thunderfoot Broncos kicker Matt Prater (from UCF). No. 8: Tebowmania. No. 9: The Texans, in the playoffs for the first time.
It's all NFL this week:
Dallas (-6) at Tampa Bay: How long before Raheem Morris joins Jack Del Rio and Tony Sparano in the Florida NFL coach’s unemployment line? Cowpokes by more than a field goal.
Miami (-1.5) at Buffalo: Frankly, they both should be underdogs. Bills by 2.
Baltimore (-2.5) at San Diego: Wacky Chargers for the upset? Why not? Bolts by 2.
Pittsburgh at San Francisco (-1): ESPN finally gets a Monday-nighter worth watching. Niners by 3.
New England (-6.5) at Denver: Tebow knew that at some point he was going to run into a real team. Pats by 4.
Brian "Big Man" McBride's Super Sniffer Upset Special: Jets over Eagles by 7.
Ken "Young" Jackson, blogging at phoulballs.com, says: Fins by 4, but must this game really be played? Ravens by 7 because something’s not right with Phil Rivers.
Last week: Blog Boy (7-2, 102-47) held off Splintered Skull (7-2, 96-53).
 

Please register
or log in to post comments.