The Time Has Come For Denver Broncos To Discuss Tim Tebow

I never really thought I would say this.  The Denver Broncos need to publicly make their stance on Tim Tebow - good, bad or indifferent.  Personally, I have never felt a team should have to talk a whole bunch about their back up quarterback.  They should be seen, not heard or talked about, and like are usually only the focal point when something bad happens.  Even with someone as popular and polarizing as Tim Tebow, I felt the same - he's the backup, keep the focus where it needs to be.

This is far beyond anything I have ever seen before, however, even for football-crazy Broncos fans.  Every day there is another Tebow article, each seemingly having quotes from former football players, analysts and 'UNBIASED' media members that are taking their turns taking unjust shots at Tebow.  I mean, really, is Boomer Esiason NOT going completely overboard with the following statement:

"He can't play. He can't throw," Esiason said at a CBS press event in New York on Tuesday. "I'm not here to insult him. The reality is he was a great college football player, maybe the greatest college football player of his time. But he's not an NFL quarterback right now. Just because he's God-fearing, and a great person off the field, and was a winner with the team that had the best athletes in college football, doesn't mean his game is going to translate to the NFL."

Tebow's throwing mechanics are so poor, Esiason says, he wouldn't be surprised if the Broncos cut him loose. "What (former Broncos coach) Josh McDaniel saw in him God only knows. Maybe God does know — because the rest of us don't," Esiason said.

Really?  That's simple analysis from a former quarterback?  It sounds a lot worse than that - with each talking head trying to out-do the one before him on how they can insult Tebow.

I guess my point is this - whether or not you or I feel Tebow is the future of the Broncos - now or in 2012 - the level of criticism he is receiving from seemingly everyone is completely ludicrous.  It's unwarranted, unfair, and downright nasty for no other reason that to be hateful.  It is everything I teach my girls NOT to be - and they are 7 and 4 years old.

At some point this has stopped being a talent evaluation and become a lynch mob - with everyone lining up to take their shots at Tebow - for the way he throws, the way he takes a snap, his religion, anything guys can get their hands on.

Mike Silver's column, regarding Tebow's performance in camp, was the latest in a slew of columns - Silver, Mike Lombardi, Merrill Hoge and a cast of others - that have made claims to know what the Broncos are thinking and doing with Tebow.  Until now, the Broncos have stayed quiet on the subject, as they should, other than comments you would expect from head coach John Fox.

I have agreed with that silence, until now.  The Broncos need to say something.  True, they may be saying all that needs said - screaming with their silence - but in this age of transparency, the Broncos are leaving Tebow out to drown in a sea of anonymous sources and unnamed people familiar to the situation.

My problem, in simple terms, is this - media outlets from around the country feel they can send someone to Denver and they'll get a damning quote about Tim Tebow from someone within Dove Valley, be it a player, coach or someone in the Front Office.  That HAS TO STOP, and STOP NOW!

The Broncos need to come out and say where they stand - good or bad - in regards to Tebow.  What is their plan with him? Is he a part of the future?  His merchandise can't be all over the team shop while his name is all over the tabloids with quotes from "high-ranking Broncos' officials'.  It's hypocrisy.

A simple denial would work as well.  Publicly deny what Silver said, what Lombardi said a few weeks ago about no one in the building being attached to Tebow.  Deny it.  Otherwise the speculation grows and so does the venom.

It's in my personality to let things simmer a bit - not react to turmoil but to let it play out and see where it all ends up.  In many cases time cures all - but not always.  Sometimes, as time goes on, things get worse, circumstances go out of control.  We're there right now with the Broncos and Tebow.  Players will soon be asked about it every day.  They'll need to take time talking about it, as will John Fox.  The focus needs to be on the field, and now.

I have stated that the best thing for Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos, and Broncos Country is for the team to get Tebow right - physically and mentally.  Tuck him away for 2011 and let him make up for all the time lost during the NFL Lockout.  It should start today with a press conference, defending Tebow and letting the world know the team supports him.  That's what I WOULD DO.

Otherwise, release him and let him go on his way - somewhere where he gets the support. It's not fair to anyone involved right now to let this continue.  The Tim Tebow fiasco has ceased being about fans wanting the backup quarterback and become much more.  Only the Broncos have the power to stop it - or get a handle on it. 

Saying nothing speaks volumes.