There is something hypnotic about Tim Tebow
that makes otherwise sensible football people grow weak. He stands
poised, shaking hands with palms that could break granite. He smiles,
never using first names. It's always "Mister" and "Ma'am." It makes them
want to believe.
And it lulls them into overlooking the barriers set by those who have evaluated his college game tapes; those who say his style of throwing the ball is too cumbersome to translate to the professional game and find his headfirst plunges into the chests of tacklers as a great way to get hurt rather than a heroic display of manhood.
But the men dazzled by Tebow see what they want - a player so determined to win that he will take a concussion to get a first down - they forget such recklessness has a price.
Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels is smitten by Tebow. In April Denver gave up second-, third- and fourth-round picks in this year's NFL draft to move up into the first round to take him. In doing this, McDaniels essentially tied his entire Broncos legacy to the whim that Tebow, regardless of his football flaws, would find ways to win.
Then in his first exhibition game Sunday night, Tebow did the very thing Tebow did all those wonderful Saturdays at the University of Florida. He barreled into the end zone on the game's final, useless play, knocking flat two Cincinnati Bengals - one of whom rolled on the ground for several seconds. It was the kind of move those football men adore.
A man's play.
Only it appears Tebow may have gotten hurt on the play, injuring his side or lower ribs - it's hard to tell. On Tuesday, the first day of practices after the game, he threw passes but did not run sprints. On Wednesday he didn't last past the conditioning drills, clutching his side and eventually leaving the field. On Thursday he never came out for practice.
It's believed the injury is not severe, though the organization is saying very little. Still, even a mild injury to Tebow is big news. His history of brushing aside pain is legendary. In high school he played a game on a broken leg. At Florida he practiced a day after breaking his hand in the Florida State game. He even played, unwisely, two weeks after suffering a significant concussion. He does not miss practice.
Source: Yahoo Sports | Les Carpenter
Comments |  RSS |
|
