My thoughts

The weight of the entire media world on your shoulders. People worship you and people despise you. You get selected way ahead of where people thought have been in the draft. The coach that had faith in you gets fired. A lockout by the owners gives you no chance to learn the new offense and no reps during the summer give you a chance to learn the offense.

The team starts out 1-3. Fans chant your name during each frustrating loss. The starting QB hates your guts because the fans want you in. Most sports analysts laugh at your potential insertion into the offense. Only Denver fans seem to think you have potential at this point.

You get your chance at halftime of a game that is seemingly out of reach and almost bring the team back for a victory. Although, it was the first of many flukes because San Diego was just giving you a prevent look and your efforts were discounted.

Then it starts to get a little strange for everyone; Broncos fans who had faith in you included. You started to win. Ugly wins. Lucky wins. Wins because the other teams were hurt. Wins because the defense carried you. Yet wins nonetheless. First it was your heart. Then it was because you were a great motivational tool for the team. Then to some it was because of divine intervention. To others it was because you ran into weeks of prevent defenses. Yet no one ever mentioned that you might actually have some talent at throwing the ball.

Your coaches didn't believe. Sometimes your own teammates didn't believe. You were even mocked in the media, not just sports media, but media in every fashion for your simple prayers after touchdowns and wins and because you always gave glory to God for your efforts. Not because you believed God wanted you to win or the Broncos to beat a certain team. But just because God gave you a body and a mind that would allow you to do what you do. That's all. You ran fast because God gave you that ability. You ran over tacklers because God gave you that ability. You even kept your composure in momentous situations because God gave you that ability. Your praising Him was never about your own glory and fame, it was thanking Him for giving you that talent to make things happen on the football field.

But not only that, because of your God-given talents, you were able to help those who were less fortunate. You took summers off from college when most would be fishing or partying or even furthering their studies and you went to countries oversees in order to teach them about your faith and to help them spiritually and medically. You went before cameras decided you were worth following. While you also answer prayers and requests from people during this current season. using your newly acquired wealth to bring people in need of a miracle to games in order to make thier lives better just by saying hi and offering them a prayer.

You do these things regardless of the mood you are in. Regardless of your teams success or your individual performance. You do it because helping people is secondary to playing football. You work your tail off at a sport you enjoy and strive to be the best player you can be, not because you enjoy the glory, but because if you throw for 250 yards and a couple touchdowns and your team wins you now have that much more ability with money and your celebrity to help that many more people.

You know it could end at any time. You know your efforts as a spokesman and example of your faith will never end. You are taking advantage of the situation you find yourself in and hope it can go on as long as possible.

Regardless of the miraculous comebacks, the white-hot glare of the media spotlight and the endless speculation of whether you are the second coming of Jesus or a poser who only wants to glorify himself, you plod along without deviating from your goals.

Even though your season ends with a whimper and the NFL world goes out of it's mind trying arguing if you are good or bad, worthy or an embarrassment, inspiring or a punch-line; I think you don't really care. Why? Because you don't even have time to think about it. You are already meeting with another child or adult who is in need of a little bit of inspiration by just hearing a kind word from you and having you toss them a pass or two and telling them to never give up. You will wake up tomorrow, get your work out in, plan how you are going to improve as a football player but then you will put that all aside and head out to do some good.

Not for any reason other than you believe God blessed you with the opportunity to do so and that is the only reason you need. Well, God Bless you Tim. A year ago, I liked you but now I am in awe of you. Your light will never be hidden under a bushel regardless of whether you can throw a 15 yard out or not.