Mile-High Messiah

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

I just sat there on my parents’ couch, my hand raised in the air, a smirk on my face.

I was watching Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas streak down the field. He caught the ball, broke away and passed the 50-yard line. He separated from Pittsburgh defenders. He neared the 20-yard line, then the 10. The five. It was actually happening.

Tim Tebow did it. My family went into an uproar. I sat there. I was quiet, smiling.

It was a different reaction from me. I’m usually the fiery, over-the-top fan. Not this time, though.

Tebow and the Denver Broncos had just defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs. To Vegas and most of the football world, it was an upset. I, however, believed in Tebow and the Broncos.

After all the turmoil Tebow has endured this season, going from backup QB, to starter, to “Tebow time” and to the possibility of getting benched during Sunday’s game if he got off to a slow start — he did it. He accomplished what most didn’t think he could. He beat the Steel Curtain and won a playoff game.

I am a Jacksonville Jaguars fan, yes. But I have always been a huge fan of Tebow since his Gator days. I intend to root for him always, unless he’s playing the Jaguars.

Tebow doesn’t ask the media to talk about him all the time. It’s as if the media talks about him because they want to see him fail. Many analysts on ESPN have maintained their stance that he can’t and/or won’t be a great NFL quarterback. He’s a long way from greatness, but he’s making his way there.

Why can’t people be happy for him? Game after game after game, he proves the haters wrong.

A lot goes into the Broncos winning the game — it definitely isn’t just what Tebow does — and they have another tough task against the New England Patriots this Saturday. But if I’m an NFL player, Tebow is the guy who I’d want to be leading my team any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Bowl picks
I finally had a good string of picks. I went 5-for-7 in this year’s bowl games, including picking Alabama to win the BCS National Championship. In fact, my prediction of the Crimson Tide winning, 3-0, was looking good late into the second quarter. Of course, Alabama went on to kick four more field goals and score a touchdown, making it a 21-0 victory.