Feet of clay?

As I turned off the television in January after the last Bronco game I smiled.  The dark cloud caused by the worst season in Bronco history had a silver lining.  I smiled because the team had found a new LEADER.  You could see it on the players faces, hear it in their voices.  Hope.  Armed with the knowledge that Tebow would work harder than any other quarterback to correct his flaws during the offseason and make whatever sacrifice it took to make the team better, I drank deeply of the kool-aid, and verily, it was good.

In March, Woody Paige wrote and article outlining how the leaders of other teams were organizing workouts for their teams during the lockout.  I smiled again.  This would provide Tebow with the perfect opportunity to help the team get a "leg-up" on the competition,  solidify his role as the teams leader, bond with his linemen and receivers,  and allow him to "out work"  the other teams in the league.   To lead his team.

Brian Dawkins organized the Bronco players as many as twenty Broncos made an appearance at one time or another.  Tebow and Orton made an appearance to throw the ball around a little and give an interview.  Brady Quinn was a regular attendee, including the afternoon spent running the stairs with the linemen at Red Rocks.

Tony Romo organized the Dallas Cowboys workouts, regularly attended by 40 players.  Anyone not showing up for any of the workouts needed a pretty good excuse (a note from their mother?).  They worked on plays from the playbook and worked on their football skills.  Check out a Cowboys' blog to learn how much it meant to their players coming together as a team, and their faith in him as their leader.

Tebow stated that hew was working hard at his home - in Florida,  and made some appearances at the Gator camp.  He spent his time on a book tour, attending talk shows , "hob nobbing" with celebrities, and attending charity events for his fan base - in Florida.  He responded to reporters concerns by indicating that he was planing to fly some of the receivers down to his home- in Florida-  to work out (did that ever happen?).

 This year, I was excited to attend the first day of training camp.  More than a thousand people and I - Tebow fans all - were disturbed by his performance.   His feet seemed to be leaden, his footwork poor, and some of his passes sailed more than 10 feet  over the receivers head.  Even the faithful came away concerned about the efficacy of his off-season.  Certainly, no progress shown - far from it.

I know, it was a first practice, without full contact or full pads.  I know that  he is a "gamer", not a practice player.  What I found more troubling was the reaction to Tebow from the other players.  Clearly distant, clearly not the relationship that I saw in January.  He completely lost that momentum.

The player that looked good and seemed to have made serious friends on the team (B. Dawkins et al) was Brady Quinn - a regular attendee of the workouts.  

The season is young - it was the first practice for Pete's sake, but I came away with a queasy feeling.  I remain a Tebow fan, but the kool-aid does not taste quite as sweet.  I desperately want there  to be the Tebow that  I thought I  saw in January.  However, to squander the opportunity presented to attend and lead the team in the off-season, and his complete lack of improvement has caused me to be concerned that his next verse eyeshade tattoo may be: (Daniel 2:31-33)

 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 
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