So what’s up with Tim Tebow these days?
Well, we put that question to our friend Woody Paige of the Denver Post and ESPN’s Around the Horn. Woody was in town visiting and he sat down to write this special blog on Tebow for Gator Country:
The Adventures of Tim In Wonderland have just added another chapter in Denver with the completion of the Broncos’ first official, mandatory mini-camp. And Tim Tebow, among the March Hares and Mad Hatters and Wicked Queens and, of course, at The T Party, continues to survive and impress.
Long after the other quarterbacks leave the practice field, Tebow works on with receivers, ball boys, anybody willing to catch a pass. The hitch in his passing motion has been changed (corrected) successfully. (Coach Josh McDaniels told me weeks ago that the throwing technique before wasn’t the issue, as much as what it did to the right side of his body, leaving it in poor position to follow through accurately.)
Tebow has learned all the parts of the playbook he has been given. He told me the other day that the biggest issue for him now “is playing faster. The game on the NFL level moves so much faster, and I’ve got to catch up to it.’’
The most interesting thing is the Broncos cannot practice the “unscripted’’ aspect of Tebow’s game—in which he takes off out of the shotgun and just reacts instinctively. The coaches have been impressed with Tebow’s understanding of defenses and his grasp of the offense. He is, though, a work in progress.
Champ Bailey, the all-time all-pro cornerback, and safety Brian Hawkins, two veteran leaders, have really warmed to Tebow as a player and a person. And, truthfully, much of the hubbub about Tebow has calmed.
Training camp starts next month. The first regular-season game is in Jacksonville. This is the calm before the storm in Wonderland for Tim.
Later I asked Woody if there was a shot that Tebow would start some games for the Broncos this season – he has inside access to McDaniels – and he affirmed that he thought Tebow had a good chance of doing just that.
Thank you for the report, my friend.
Quick Jump Starts
1. Seems a little odd that Florida and FSU would travel all the way to Omaha to play baseball, even if the 4:30 matchup Monday is an elimination game in the College World Series.
2. More on the statues of Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow: I kinda agree with the reader who calls himself (herself?) The Raid and wrote me: “They should have the statues in their typical iconic poses: SOS throwing, Danny’s post-TD arms in the air or praying hands, and Tebow’s classic karate fist flexing his bicep.”
3. If I told you five players were in the hunt for the U.S. Open on the back nine of Pebble Beach and gave you your choice of two, which three of following five would you leave out? Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell and Gregory Havret?
4. Yeah, I thought so – and you would have missed on the eventual winner, McDowell. Last time an European won our national championship was 40 years ago when Englishman Tony Jacklin did it at Hazeltine.
5. Don’t ever say Billy Donovan isn’t generous to his former assistants, as proven by the fact that he was willing to play Donnie Jones’ UCF team at the new Amway Center in Orlando, Dec. 1. Don’t get too generous, Billy.
6. If you are taking note of ESPN’s “Top 25” players in the SEC so far – they’re through No. 12 – then you’ll note that only CB Janoris Jenkins has made the list at No. 15. Can there be any doubt that No. 1 will be Alabama running back Heisman winner Mark Ingram?
7. Funny thing is that most folks say Ingram will be dividing time with Trent Richardson. So much for being the Crimson Tide’s only Heisman winner!
8. I agree with the Texas politicians who are saying that the near-death experience of the Big 12 proved that the BCS is in danger of losing its hold on college football because of how easily rich TV deals can be configured within the conferences themselves.
9. In other words, as one of the politicos said, “We now know where the money is buried.”
10. I dunno, but if Snoop Dog showed up at a Florida football practice, wouldn’t we consider that a bit out of the ordinary? Apparently Pete Carroll didn’t at USC and therein lies a fairly good hint about the Trojans maybe not being in compliance.
Short Stuff
The news that former fullback Eric Rutledge was arrested Friday and charged with home invasion was disturbing, because that kind of violent crime is menacing to the general public. … If somebody’s young son wants to be a football player, it might be a good investment to send him to Shane Matthews’ Fun-n-Gun football camp at the Southwest YMCA in Gainesville July 17 (http://www.funngun.com), also featuring Errict Rhett, Willie Jackson, Jacquez Green, Chris Doering, Travis McGriff, Fred Weary, Eli Williams, James Bates, Neal Anderson, Tony Joiner and Earl Everett. … According to the Elias Sports Bureau a couple of weeks ago, Major League Baseball home run production had dropped below two per game (1.87) for the first time since 1993 when the so-called “Steroids Era” began. … This is the week when the remainder of the 2010 recruiting class shows up and gets to experience the iron hand of Ironman Mickey Marotti.
And good morning …
… All you World Cup fans. When you’re done having fun, please return ESPN to my TV set.