That rule changed prior to the 2011 season, and Tebow was named "co number 2" with Quinn. Critics insisted that Quinn is actually the one who would take over the season if the need arose. Until that didn't happen. Whoops. Then reality was readjusted to "they're trying to flush the season and show the fans that Tebow can't play, so they can' pick Luck." Until that didn't happen. Whoops.
If Tebow's critics could just acknowledge that Tebow is in the same league with Brady Quinn, that he belongs in the same category of consideration as guys like Brady Quinn (if he's on your roster, you hope he finds a confidant groove and takes off, like many quarterbacks have). But instead, they insist on trying to establish there's this giant gulf of ability, with Tebow at one end, and everybody else on the other.
Tebow's a QB. He might be better than Mallet. He might not. If either one of those sentences makes you gasp in horror, it's time to step away from the keyboard. Because at some point, you got too convinced at your own level of expertise.
Yeah, but he was elevated to #2 over Quinn in 2010. The year before the change. But now that you mention it, the co#2 thing, never made sense to me either. Always thought that was a PR move as many in Denver were up in arms when Tebow was knocked to #3 for a couple preseason games. Why call him a #3 when they no longer had to? Tebow eventually got the nod after week 5, but against the Titans, there was a play where Orton really got rocked. The cameras went to Quinn warming up, not Tebow. But Orton was able to shake it off and he was back in the game for the next drive.
When Orton played himself out of a job, many speculate had the game been on the road, it would have been Quinn who took over. But Denver was about to erupt, the crowd was chanting "Tebow, Tebow, Tebow." It was a pretty angry crowd and even I myself was finished with Orton. They weren't going anywhere, so there really was no reason NOT to go with Tebow. The staff didn't seem set on ANY of the 3 QBs. So they gave Tebow another look. After all, he was a first round pick they invested THREE picks in to trade up to get him. The season was going nowhere, so yeah, he got to play. Even I was done with Orton and wasn't impressed with Quinn and didn't care. As the season went on and the novelty of having this weird style was starting to wear off and I started to see the offense sputter and go nowhere week after week and win due to strong defensive play and some weird bounce going our way, I really didn't come away impressed with the kid. Neither was the Denver front office since they dumped all 4 QBs on the roster including the practice squad guy.
All that is beside the main point though. There really was no indication at all that Tebow had even beaten Quinn in camp. Some point ot Tebow getting the job as proof that he did, but I saw Quinn warming up when Orton took the big hit a couple games earlier while Tebow still sat on the bench with his helmet on as he always did. It was never really clear. Otherwise, by that logic, I'd have to believe McElroy was better since he got the start TWICE. (Granted one was when Tebow was injured, but I have a theory on that one too.) Even a TIE with Quinn doesn't inspire me with a lot of confidence that he will come out on top against Mallet. (My opinion of Quinn as a QB is EXTREMELY low.)
Then I saw legions of fans, some of those in this thread among them try to tell me all the three and outs and all the fail I kept seeing in the first 3 quarters was actually good and didn't matter. Yeah, it didn't matter because the defense held several teams to 15 points or less, and 3 of those games STILL took OT to get enough points. Fine, if one wants to argue the win is all that matters no matter how ugly is is... fine... point. However, I have yet to see a compelling argument that this was somehow a SUSTAINABLE way to win. It isn't. The Broncos front office didn't think so either. He will improve, the Tebow fans would say. Yeah, maybe. The question becomes, "how far do you think he has to go and how long are we willing to wait?" We got our answer after the season when he was traded for a 4th rounder. A couple weeks later, the jets looked and moved him to punt protector and gave him some running play who according to one ex coach they never even practiced it. We'll see if the pats have other ideas on what they can do, but a lot has to happen before I believe he really is an NFL QB. Let's start by actually breaking the 50% mark on completing passes, as he had done only once in 16 starts.
Sure, he might be better than Mallet. but based on what I have seen, I doubt it. Depends on what all these so called "improvements he made" are and how well he did it. his throwing mechanics were only part of his problems, and I still wonder if he can stick with that under live fire. The knocks on him about reading defenses and mastering playbooks is still valid.
