All he does is grin.
Even if the Denver Broncos are beaten by the host New England Patriots Saturday night - and they are of course an underdog - quarterback Tim Tebow will still be doing that - grinning...all...the...way...to...the...bank.
No matter what Tebow's critics have said and will continue to say - and those know-it-alls have said way too much already - what the 24-year-old southpaw signal caller did to the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers cannot be taken away from him - ever.
Tebow beat the Steelers fair and square - and still many of the so-called experts of the game knock him.
Why is this?
The know-it-alls say he can't pass. He can't do this. He can't do that. Their negativity is a real concern.
But one thing Tebow does and will do that not many, if any, NFL quarterbacks will even consider is call his own number. In other words, he's not afraid to mix it up with hard-hitting defenders like James Harrison, Ray Lewis, etc.
Can you imagine New England's Tom Brady, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers or New Orleans' Drew Brees lowering their head and plowing into an opposing linebacker?
No way.
Former Steelers' great Jack Lambert once quipped that NFL quarterbacks should all wear "skirts." Lambert wouldn't and couldn't say that about Tebow.
So give Tebow credit. Fortunately, at 6-foot-3, 236 pounds, he's big enough to hit and also get hit.
Along with that grin of his, he's got courage.
He's also got convictions.
Tebow considers himself a Christian, non-smoker and non-drinker - and that might bother some people, especially his critics.
Thing is, Tebow can't be that boring, or why is this so-called Tebowmania (See Tebowmania, Page C3) sweeping the land? Really, the only people who are boring are his naysayers.
Needless to say, though, Tebow's no Bobby Layne, Joe Namath or Ben Roethlisberger when it comes off the field, extra-curricular activities. He's also no Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, or John Elway as far as on field exploits go.
But then again, Tebow never said he was any of these guys.
Tim Tebow is Tim Tebow. He's his own man, and so far that's been good enough for the Denver Broncos.
All he does is win?
Nah, it should be all he does is grin. It's a language anyone, even stone-throwers, can understand.
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com
