AHHHHHHHHH!

Okay, to our readership of zero, I apologize for a rather lazy month. But, since it's long-past time to update, I thought I'd piggyback off of one of Jordan's thoughts from a few posts ago. He noted the over-thinking of NFL GMs when it comes to the draft. Well, here, right in front of us, is the perfect example. Here's Peter King's column from SI.com today:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/peter_king/03/21/meetings/index.html?eref=sihp

Now, scroll through the NFL overtime thing (which is in just as much need to be fixed as the BCS, but that's another column). Tim Tebow's draft stock is rising. What. The. Heck. I don't understand. How? Has he become a better QB in the last two months? Didn't think so. But let's look at the case for and against Tebow. Keep in mind, Jordan and I are both anti-Tebow guys-- not because we hate him. Actually, I really respect him for being honest and sharing his beliefs and not being afraid of taking flak. My only criticisms are about him as a quarterback. So, here's what people say:

1. But look at the record-- he's proven himself!
This is one of the most common complaints of combine-haters. Now, I hate the combine, and I agree with this logic-- generally. We have to keep in mind, though, that "on-field results" have a number of factors. Yes, Tebow was a winner. So were Chris Leak, Major Applewhite, Josh Heupel, Jason White, Matt Leinart, Eric Crouch, Craig Krenzel-- the list goes on and on-- and that's just from the last decade. So clearly, winning is not the only factor. There are also statistics. Yes, Tebow's stat line is great. But so were the stat lines of the majority of the guys listed above. The things you have to look at in order to see NFL success is a combination of these factors:
a) Pro-style offense: In my opinion, Florida and Urban Meyer are too gimmicky for long-term NFL success.
b) Talent of players: Florida had tremendously talented players around Tebow, and the SEC has been down for the last three years-- that's why Florida and 'Bama have been able to dominate so thoroughly.
c) Types of patterns/routes: In my opinion, Tebow doesn't throw an NFL ball, and he doesn't throw to NFL-type routes.
Obviously, there could be a lot of disagreement about some of that stuff. I just think that the Florida football team of these last couple of years reminds me, interestingly, of the Florida basketball team of a few years ago. You have a lot of players, all of whom are so much better than the competition that they blow everyone away, and they're extremely well-coached. The thing is, though, Al Horford is probably the best pro player from those teams. Why would Tebow have to be an NFL star in order to validate the "dynasty" he had at Florida? It doesn't make sense.

2. Tebow's a great "character" guy.
True. I can't deny that Tebow's a good guy. But I have a few questions. First, how often does a rookie QB walk in, and 12-year NFL vets just listen to him? Never. Not once. QBs earn respect. He wouldn't just "walk in and be a leader," or whatever nonsense people say. On the contrary, I have a feeling veterans would resent him, call him an over-hyped virgin (which, incidentally, is true), and he'd never get the time of day. Yes, he would, in all likelihood, avoid trouble with the law. But so too, on average, do about 50 of the 53 guys on each roster. Is "but he won't get arrested!" really a good enough reason for a guy to go in the first round? No.

3. He's a warrior.
So. What. It's pointless. Only once every 30-50 years does a guy come around in each of the major sports who's legitimately tough enough to play game-in, game-out without ever having to take some days off. And Tebow won't be that guy. It requires physical and mental toughness, an insatiable will to win, and never, ever, EVER crying on the field during a loss. But Tim Tebow's not Brett Favre, or Jim Marshall, or Peyton Manning. Even if he were, he might not be as lucky as they. He's somewhere between Favre (ultimate tough guy) and Adam Morrison (awkward girl with a fake-looking mustache). The comparison to either one is too extreme, but Tebow isn't going to be either one. And even if he is, do you really think that Tebow's going to be the next Favre? I'm sorry. I just don't buy it.

In conclusion, I understand why Tebow's stock is rising. It's because we all want it to be true. We'd love for the "good guy" to be the "good player." Too prove Leo Durocher wrong-- sometimes, nice guys finish first. But this isn't the time, nor the place. This is just an example of a media story being perpetuated by the media, and cared about only by the media. Let's call it Tigerwoodssexscandalitis. Anyway, I wish Tim Tebow luck, I really do. He seems to be a smart, talented dude. That's good, because he won't be making it as a starting QB in the NFL.