The End of Tebow-Lunacy

Today is undoubtedly one of the brightest day in Denver Broncos history. Usually you dont have days like this in football during the start of spring. But today, it was made official as Pat Bowlen and John Elway officially introduced Peyton Manning as the new Quarterback of the Denver Broncos. Which means...Tim Tebow and his sideshow circus of ineffectiveness is OUT!!!

Not since December 6 of 2010 (the firing of Josh McDouchebag), have I been this happy as a Denver Broncos fan. Not only does Denver acquire the greatest QB to ever hit free agency, but they also rid themselves of the albatross of limitations known as Timothy Richard Tebow. I know many people in the Mile High area are going to be upset here...ask yourself one question...why? Why would anyone not residing inside of an insane asylum, be even a little miffed at Tim's exodus and Peyton's welcome? Everyone wants to tell you how Tebow "led" the Broncos into the playoffs from a 4-12 team to a Division title and a playoff win. Well there was more personnel responsible than just Tebow. Namely an entire new coaching staff, the #1 run game in football and a defense. Not known by many people the Broncos had the league's worst defense in 2010 allowing a league high 471 points and 6253 yards. But honestly how can anyone sit there & tell you with a straight face, they actually want a QB that can't complete half of his passes & is an erratic decision maker to lead their franchise?

What's really unfortunate, is two Hall of Fame Quarterbacks today sat at a Press Conference, and actually had to answer questions referring to Tebow and what HIS future was with the team. Can you imagine that? Two guys as elite as Manning and Elway having to answer questions about Tebow? These are one of the times i wish all diplomacy was thrown out the window, and the truth would have been spoken. I would have put it quiet simple if I was John Elway..."Look I know what it takes to be a good QB and unfortunately Tim wasn't blessed with great skill. He can't throw in tight windows with timing, he can't make more than one read, he doesn't look off because he only looks at one target, he can't make a read and our team is basically handcuffed running the wishbone offense catered to him instead of a pro style offense. He's a great competitor and has a lot of heart, but we're here to compete for championships and simply put, in a quarterback league where 3 guys threw for 5000+ yards this season alone you can't have a hack who averages 123 yards passing per game...those are just facts...sorry."

Of course all the Tebow supporters will ignore that and reply with he won games, got us into the playoffs, & beat the Steelers. To you people I say this...it wasn't that long ago that I remember John Elway on the field. If you saw John play, you know what a QB is supposed to look like. An on-field general who commanded his teams to improbable comebacks ROUTINELY. Sharp and accurate spirals in tight spaces with pressure bearing down. So after seeing a Hall of Famer, orchestrate such on the field beauty, how can you possibly be want someone like Tebow leading this team? Sorry but I want my Quarterbacks to sit in the pocket, call an audible, make reads, & be able to make completions. I not only welcome a Tim Tebow trade, I would offer to help him look for apartments in his new city.

The business of football is winning. And while Tebow was a nice fad (much like Lin-Sanity), sooner or later the novelty wears off. You need to have actual on field talent to continue winning in the National Football League. And whether you like or hate Tebow, its undeniable that he isn't a capable QB at the NFL level. And anyone who thinks he is needs to get a clue.

Indy No Longer Peyton's Place

For weeks we know this was coming. And no matter how much we tried to ignore it, we knew the decision both Peyton and the Colts were about to make. By now you should all be aware that the business of sports has yet claimed another victim. Today Colts owner Jim Irsay announced "the conclusion of Peyton's playing career with the Colts," indeed the sad end to an era.

I rarely get choked up during pressers, but this one kind of hit me close even though I'm not a Colts fan. People often get angry at athletes for holding out or wanting a new contract, but here is a perfect example of why it happens. One year into a five year deal, the Colts made a financial decision to release the man who single handedly changed the culture in Indianapolis and the fortunes of a dreary franchise. Before Manning came to the Indy, the Colts hadn't had a 10 win season since 1977, when the schedules were 14 games & the Colts resided in Baltimore. That was a span of 22 season before Peyton's second year when he led the Colts to a 13 win season. Think about it, before 1998, Indy was known as a basketball state, the Hoosiers & Bobby Knight, The Reggie Miller Pacers, football was really an afterthought. But Manning changed that and instantly made Indy a winner. Not just a winner, a juggernaut that won 10 plus games every year he was there except for two (1998 rookie season) & (2001). Last year without him Indy was 2-14.

Don't get me wrong here I understand the business aspect here, you cant tie up this much money into one position. With Andrew Luck coming in you have to sort of make room. But lets be honest, Luck won't be ready next year. I always thought Indy would keep Manning to transition into Luck, somewhat like the Packers did with Favre & Rogers. And in my opinion that's what should have happened. There is no one better than Peyton to learn from. Maybe Irsay felt he owed it to Manning to call his own shot after doing so much for his franchise and go to a contender. Regardless, this was the biggest franchise decision since the Irsay's said back up the Mayflower trucks we're blowing out of Baltimore. But the realization that this is indeed happening, that Peyton Manning will actually have another uniform on this September is unreal.

Years ago when I was going through a divorce a friend of mine told me, "divorces are hard no matter what people say. I knew mines was coming for a year & the day I was in court I still cried." Something I can relate to & something we witnessed both Irsay & Manning do at the presser earlier today. This hits us harder because Peyton is a class act. I mean anything you see a guy get choked up at a presser talking about the equipment manager you know he's as genuine as it gets. "Times change, circumstance change, & that's the reality of playing in the NFL." Truer words will never be spoken in an NFL press conference.