Continuing my one man...errr...two man (sorry Jay Moore) effort to get Tim Tebow haters all the facts that they choose to ignore Numbers Never Lie. Let me begin by building my credibility in saying that the Denver Broncos did not, I repeat, did not make a mistake in choosing Peyton Manning over Tebow. Manning is a future Hall of Fame member and current top-five quarterback. But let me also say that Tebow is no slouch. Tebow started 11 games at quarterback for the Broncos in 2011 and finished the regular season with a 7-4 record as a starter (.636 winning percentage). His passer rating was 72.9. He completed 46.5 percent of his passing attempts (126-271) for 1,729 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Tebow also rushed for 660 yards on 122 attempts (5.4 yards per carry) and six touchdowns. He lost six fumbles, however, for a total touchdown-to-turnover ratio of 3:2 (or 1.5:1). In comparison to the 2012 season, Tebow produced greater than/equal to the following starting quarterbacks in the respective categories (quarterbacks needed to start more than half of the regular season games or be benched midway through the season due to poor performance in order to qualify for comparison): Note: For the purposes of comparison, each team is allotted one starting quarterback (the better of the two or three who played) as determined by me (with the exception of the Arizona Cardinals). Passer rating: Brandon Weeden (Cleveland Browns, 72.6), Mark Sanchez (New York Jets, 66.9), Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs, 66.7) and any Arizona Cardinal. In 2011, Tebow posted a better passer rating than four of the 2012 starting quarterbacks. Completion percentage: None. In 2011, Tebow did not post a better completion percentage than any of the 2012 starting quarterbacks. Passing touchdowns: Michael Vick (Philadelphia Eagles, 12), Ryan Tannehill (Miami Dolphins, 12), Jake Locker (Tennessee Titans, 10), Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers, 10), Blaine Gabbert (Jacksonville Jaguars, 9) and any Arizona Cardinal. In 2011, Tebow threw more passing touchdowns than six of the 2012 starting quarterbacks. Passing yards: Blaine Gabbert (Jacksonville Jaguars, 1,662) and any Arizona Cardinal. In 2011, Tebow threw for more passing yards than two of the 2012 starting quarterbacks. Interceptions: All except Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers, 3), Robert Griffin III (Washington Redskins, 5) and Blaine Gabbert (Jacksonville Jaguars, 6). In 2011, Tebow threw fewer interceptions than 29 of the 2012 starting quarterbacks. Rushing yards: All except Robert Griffin III (Washington Redskins, 815) and Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers, 741). In 2011, Tebow rushed for more yards than 30 of the 2012 starting quarterbacks. Rushing touchdowns: All except Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers, 8) and Robert Griffin III (Washington Redskins, 7). In 2011, Tebow rushed for more touchdowns than 30 of the 2012 starting quarterbacks. Touchdown-to-turnover ratio: Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1.4:1), Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys, 1.3:1), Philip Rivers (1.2:1), Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts, 1.2:1), Carson Palmer (Oakland Raiders, 1.2:1), Christian Ponder (Minnesota Vikings, 1.2:1), Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears, 1.1:1), Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions, 1.1:1), Ryan Fitzpatrick (Buffalo Bills, 1.1:1), Blaine Gabbert (Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:1), Michael Vick (0.9:1), Brandon Weeden (Cleveland Browns, 0.8:1), Ryan Tannehill (Miami Dolphins, 0.8:1), Jake Locker (Tennessee Titans, 0.7:1), Mark Sanchez (including one butt fumble; New York Jets, 0.5:1) and Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs, 0.4:1). In 2011, Tebow posted a better turnover-to-touchdown ratio than 16 of the 2012 starting quarterbacks. Disclaimer: I may have inadvertently missed or miscalculated a quarterback or two, but you understand my point. But perhaps most importantly… Winning percentage: All except Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons, .813), Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos, .813), Matt Schaub (Houston Texas, .750), Tom Brady (New England Patriots, .750), Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers, .688), Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts, .688), Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks, .688 [sort of; replacement referees]) and Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears, .667). In 2011, Tebow posted a better winning percentage than 24 of the 2012 starting quarterbacks. Playoff wins: All except Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens, four) and Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers, two). In 2011, Tebow won as many or more playoff games than 30 of the 2012 starting quarterbacks. In the Denver Broncos’ win versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, the game unofficially known as The 3:16 Game, Tebow completed 10 passes for 316 yards (an average of 31.6 yards per completion), two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He rushed for 50 yards and one touchdown. On the first play from scrimmage in overtime, Tebow threw a perfectly placed ball to a slanting Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard, game-winning touchdown. In the 2011 playoffs, Tebow was sixth (out of 12) in total passing yards, seventh in passing touchdowns and seventh in quarterback rating (despite playing only two games). His 316-yard performance on Wild-Card Weekend was the sixth-most passing yards in a 2011 postseason game by any quarterback. Granted, Tebow struggled at times and it was not pretty. On November 13 versus the Kansas City Chiefs, Tebow finished 2-8 for 69 yards and one touchdown…in a win. Nearly two months later and versus the same team, he finished 6-22 for 60 yards and one interception in a 7-3 loss. In 2012, Christian Ponder (Minnesota Vikings) threw for 58 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 21-14 win versus the Arizona Cardinals. Two games later, he threw for 63 yards and one interception in a 30-20 loss versus the Seattle Seahawks. Four games later, he threw for 91 yards and one interception in a 21-14 win versus the Chicago Bears. Sound familiar? Or sound worse? In the movie Moneyball, Billy Beane (portrayed by Brad Pitt) defends one of his potential players to his dismissive scouts by saying: “He gets on base a lot. Do I care if it’s a walk or a hit? Pete?” Peter Brand, his new Assistant General Manager replies: “You do not.” Tim Tebow wins games. Do I care if it’s by one point or three touchdowns? Do I care if he throws for 60 yards or 300 yards? Do I care if he turns the ball over one time or seven times? If he wins, I do not. And he wins. How come quarterbacks (with the exception of Dan Marino) are judged on wins, but Tebow and Flacco are judged on how they win? In addition, Tebow is a role model and a positive locker-room presence. He is the type of player and person that teams and fans should want; the type they need. A wide receiver with three arrests in a seven-day span is not the type of player or person teams and fans need. In my opinion, Tim Tebow is as good or better than the projected starting quarterback on the following teams: Buffalo Bills (Tarvaris Jackson), New York Jets (Mark Sanchez), Cleveland Browns (Brandon Weeden), Jacksonville Jaguars (Blaine Gabbert), Tennessee Titans (Jake Locker), Oakland Raiders (Matt Flynn), Minnesota Vikings (Christian Ponder) and Arizona Cardinals (Carson Palmer). I left out two that I wanted to include, but felt it necessary in order to retain my objectivity and credibility. And I would be remiss if I did mention my initial plan (since the end of the season) for Tebow: starter for the Washington Redskins until RGIII is healthy. His skill set, playing style, actions and words would be an excellent fit with that team and coaching staff and, to be frank, would be a better fit than Kirk Cousins. Is Tebow being blackballed because of the “media circus” by which his presence is accompanied? Is he being blackballed because he has John 3:16 and Philippians 4:13 written on his eyeblack? Is it because his completion percentage is slightly below 50 percent? Or is it because, instead of showing his championship belt or dancing the salsa after he scores a touchdown, he drops to one knee? While it may surpass all understanding, one thing is for certain: Tebow is not being blackballed for his winning percentage. Sign Tim Tebow. Win games. You’ve got to have faith. You’ve got to believe. Or, at the very least, you’ve got to be logical. Because much like the ball…numbers never lie.
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 05:30:20 +0000
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