JFF - Tim Tebow

My husband says, "He just can't throw a football." Now, perhaps he has a certain leadership quality that makes him a decent "team captain" on the field, and perhaps he has a certain charisma that makes him a good spokesmodel for concepts like "Say no to drugs" or "Say yes to life." Is he overhyped? IMO, very much so! Did the sport need someone like him to "make it big" to help a disenfranchised fan base? Oh, yeah!

Not all professional athletes are partiers or sleep around. (Peyton Manning anyone? How about Steve Young?) These are athletes and the NFL is one of the most successful sports enterprises on the planet. It doesn't get to be that by people not being professional. Are there exceptions? Are there blemishes on the butt of the organization? Yes. But as a matter of statistics, it's really not a lot.

I have a number of reservations about the whole "role model" paradigm. I admire many athletes for their achievements. That does not mean "Children, I want you to follow every example these athletes set because you can hope for no better than to be clones of these great people." Sorry. Not my scene. Besides, I want my kids to do better. In that light, when a "role model" succeeds and falters on some matter, I can say to my kids, "Now, there's a great example of something NOT to do."

Good Quarterback and a good role model in my opinion.

He seems to talk the talk & walk the walk. I don't watch football so I cannot comment on his game. I don't believe he relies on God for his wins, I have only seen him thank God (I could be wrong). Christians say "luck is of the devil, faith is of God". If he doesn't believe in *luck*, then he won't admit to 'getting lucky'.

He seems to be a person that shares in the same spiritual beliefs that my family does, so yes he would make a great role model.

yes to both.
I've seen footage of him from high school , he's exactly how he was in high school. I've seen interviews of his parents. His dad's a preacher, he ( Tebow) spent several years as a missionary.The man wasn't even supposed to be born or survive past infancy , he's very aware of that.
Sure he plays like he's still in college, HE'S A ROOKIE. Of course he's gonna play like one.
He's also not had that great of players to work with. It doesn't matter how well he throws , if the receiver can't catch it's not gonna be a completion .

I don't believe that all athletes sleep around and party. Unless you are talking about basketball players. But I do think that , that is what's out there because being faithful and a hard worker is boring and does not make the news.

Omg... My hubby and I discuss this guy all the time! I love him...but...I don't think he should be a qb in the nfl. He was great there in college, but his throwing motion is going to ruin him...defenders will pick that up very soon! I do think he should be playing though. I think he would make a great tight end...he's got the size and obviously the devotion to play. Some team just needs to find the right position for him.

He's not uncoachable! A good coach loves a guy like Tebow on his team. He's very determined and a leader.

And not all pro athletes sleep around! My cousin was a pro baseball player until he blew out his arm and he was never like that...neither were a lot of his teammates. He can do what he wants though... It's his personal life!

I think he is pretty honest. He is not a great quarterback. (I have discussed this at length with my husband). And having read Krista P's comments below, I am confirmed in mine and my husband's opinion about his abilities. He is not a good NFL quarterback. Not BAD, but not good. He is a runner. IF the team he is playing for has a running offense, then he might be a good fit, but most of the teams out there (and Denver was one of them) has a passing offense. Tim can run, he can't pass.

He plays with heart. He studies the game. He works hard. All those things. But he doesn't have natural talent at throwing. It just isn't his thing. Did Denver win some games and get through part of the playoffs? Yes. But the media/fan coverage about it was totally off base. They gave Tebow credit for all the good, and the offensive line all the blame for any failures. Well, that isn't how football works. The offensive line had to TOTALLY recreate their plays to accommodate Tebow's lack of skill throwing the football.

I'm not slamming him at all. But he is not the "natural talent" that you usually see in the QB position in the NFL. I have heard it said that he would make a great receiver instead of QB. I don't know.

I know that most of the media coverage he gets is too focused on the "persona" and what his fans think/want. NOT on his actual skills and the realities of the game they are discussing.

Is he a good person? I think he tries hard to be, and it shows. Do I think his faith is real? Yeah, I do. I don't think it is about garnering him more attention. But it certainly has attracted hordes of evangelical Christians that otherwise wouldn't be following NFL like they have been (think of all the women that are now following the NFL)... and they don't really understand all the in's and out's of the professional game and how teams work. They just think he's great and want to see him play.
MOST rookies don't start their first couple of years out of college. He needs more time to develop and the fans won't allow him to have that, and it will be his downfall. But again, he may never develop fully as an NFL QB, because he is not a passing game QB. That just isn't his natural skill set.

I think his work ethic and clean living is a good role model. But I think somebody can be a good role model without all the insanity that follows him everywhere. And that isn't his fault--just what the media does. And we all hate the media, right? They give us what they think we want, even when they're wrong. They become the story as much as they report it anymore.

I feel bad for Sanchez of the Jets. The first time he hits the field, the fans are gonna boo him and scream for Tebow. And that isn't right. All the evangelical fans won't recognize that Sanchez is out there doing his job too and is just as deserving of a little time to develop and work through mistakes. They'll just be screaming for Tebow. And it WILL create tension in the locker room. No matter how good a guy Tebow is or Sanchez is. How could it not, when the fans are booing the starting quarterback to be replaced by a rookie? That's what happened in Denver. Even over and above the already in place back-up quarterback.

Tim Tebow aside, your coworker is slanderous. People who throw their opinion around completely devoid of facts can't be trusted so watch your back around that one!

Good quarterback? Probably. Good role model? Absolutely!
He gives God credit for all things (win or lose), he is well spoken, he is respectful of authority, and I have yet to hear him whine or complain about being "mistreated or underpaid" as so many athletes are prone to do.

I think he relys on God too much and does not accept his lucky wins vs his actual wins. There are times where he plays appropriately for his position and it is a win for all and there are times where he is too sloppy and gives credit to God and not his team mates - yes respect and appreciate God but your team is doing most of the hard labor dude!

i don't know from football, but the tebow phenomenon is so huge now that everyone has formed an opinion, haven't they?
he's an okay fella in my book. he seems like a genuine straight-shooter, truly pious, and a nice guy. i find the overt piety a bit eye-rolling, but the bible has all sorts of contrary opinions on whether one should witness publicly or pray privately, so christians can certainly pick their supporting verses. in almost all cases i'd say it's crass showmanship and right up there with the awful insincere political posturing on the subject. disgusting. but in tebow's case, oddly, despite all the hoopla, it seems to be quite genuine.
doesn't hurt that it's a 'pretty' posture. humble yet heroic.
my men think he's not such a great quarterback and are pretty turned off by all the kneeling and adulation surrounding it. but i'm really the only religious one in my family so we're all coming at it from different angles.
:) khairete
S.

good quarterback ... not really. good role model ... maybe with a ball gag and some restraints.