Tim Tebow has accumulated more than his fair share of detractors over the last three months, and figures to accumulate even more in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft. From draft analysts to general members of the media to fans, there seem to be individuals around every corner looking to take a shot at the former Florida quarterback and his pro potential.
Now, however, even a former teammate is looking to get in a shot or two on the former Heisman winner for how he orchestrated the QB position at the collegiate level.
Aside from Urban Meyer‘s return, the biggest storyline for the Gators this spring is John Brantley taking over UF’s offense. Brantley is more of a throw-first QB, especially when compared to Tebow’s “go through two reads, run like Pamplona bull into opposing defense” style of play.
The differences between the two quarterbacks has not been lost on his teammates, especially wide receiver Deonte Thompson. And, whether or not Thompson meant it to come out the way it did, his words as quoted by the Orlando Sentinel when talking about the differences between Brantley and Tebow were a direct, biting shot at the latter.
“You never know with Tim,” Thompson said. “He can bolt. You think he’s running but he’ll come up and pass it to you. You just have to be ready. With Brantley, everything’s with rhythm, with time. You know, a real quarterback.”
Ummm, ouch?
Obviously, this means little or nothing as far as the 2010 Florida Gators are concerned, but it’s still a little jarring to see an ex-teammate take a shot — however indirect or unintentional it may have been — at one of the iconic college football players in the last quarter century.
Again — “A real quarterback”???
That stings me and I’m pretty much agnostic — compared to most — when it comes to Tebow. And, I would assume, it’s a quote that Urban Meyer will not appreciate when it comes to his attention, especially in light of the criticism he’s received for what observers see as a QB woefully prepared for success at the next level.
Of course, that also means that while Tim kept the other team on edge, Brantley allows them to get more comfortable. Now, I’m a fan of Brantley and think he’s done a pretty good job when he’s been put in there in the past but let’s face facts, he’s NOT Tim Tebow, just as Deonte Thompson, is NOT Percy Harvin.
People talk about Tebow as being one of the greatest college QB’s ever?! Does anyone talk about Ronnie Brown as being the best NFL QB ever? No. And he throws a better spiral. He’s the best Wildcat QB in the NFL. Tebow was the best fullback to play a wild cat / 11 yard pass QB at the college level under a Gimmicky offense that doesn’t translate to the Pro’s.
His words definitely do not reflect his intention. When you think quarterback, you think about passing; not Tim Tebow. That is what he meant.
he could of meant “proto-typical” quarterback when he said “real”, but not being able to hear the tone in a voice is a HUGE toss-up and I don’t know what to think.
I’m no Tebow defender, but he obviously meant real, as in traditional pocket passer.
PFT just stirring the pot, nothing to see here.
Except you ignore the fact that, by all statistical measures, he’s the greatest QB in SEC history.
And that’s not debatable.
Why do people dislike him so? Geezus you’d think he was a bad guy. Remember people used to say his Frosh year he couldn’t throw(because all he did was run) and forgot about his HS career. He did not win and produce by accident.
If Deonte Thompson’s name were Terrell Owens = NATIONAL CRISIS!!!!
I think you are taking what he said out of context.
Dude averages 21 catches per year and 300 yds, and has 7 total career TD’s. That’s about a game and a half for Percy Harvin. Don’t think he should be quoted as experts on qb’s. Just saying.
Being a good college quarterback and a good nfl quarterback are two completely different things you moron. He is one of the greatest COLLEGE QB’s ever. He took over games. Up your football knowledge or keep your ignorance out of the comment section.
I find it funny that all of a sudden Urban Meyer is taking hits for not preparing his QB for the next level when many college coaches were never asked why they weren’t preparing black QBs for the next level. Vince Young, Michael Vick, and Pat White were told to go through 1 or 2 reads than run. And not only black QBs, but how many kids have entered the NFL ill prepared at the QB position? Alex Smith, Akili Smith, Jamarcus Russell, Kyle Boller, Patrick Ramsey, Cade KcNown, Jim Drunkenmiller, and every Florida QB over the past 20+ years.
UF football players = dumb as bricks. They’re clearly not articulate enough to distinguish between “real” and “traditional.” Unless his inflection emphasized “real” where you italicized it, this is an absolute and complete non-story. How did this make it out of the newsroom?
However he meant it, i’m sure he wasn’t complaining when they won two National Championships. Not sure how old Thompson is, but im sure he has at least one. I know he probably means “proto-typical,” but this also means he knows Brantley isnt going to run as much which may mean more catch opportunities for himself. Which also means he is just another typical receiver who is crying because he doesnt get the ball enough. Big surprise!
It makes sense, it’s why Atlanta eventually fell apart with Vick (before all the dog stuff) those recievers were just a mess because they never knew wether Vick was going to throw or run. QB’s throw the ball, RB’s run the ball! Now if you have designed running plays for your QB or designed throwing plays for your RB that’s all well and good because everyones on the same page but when the whole team never knows wether the QB’s going to throw or run the ball it just leads to discombobulation.
So a supposed writer is standing there, holding a voice recorder and the player says something like that and there is a followup or clarification request?
Sounds like a writer who either wasn’t paying attention or who got the (sort of) juicy comment he wanted and let it hang there without asking him what he meant by “real”.
@ J.P.
I think it is gunny that of all the guys you list Urban Meyer is responsible for two of them. Sure Spurrier sent his fair share of system QB’s from Florida to the NFL to fail, but in recent memory can you think of any other coach who runs a gimmicky offense that has sent 2 QB’s to the NFL completely unprepared?
If I were a football player at any level, I don’t think I’d ever say “boo” to a reporter for fear I’d find my name in negative headlines the next day -
“F*DeSmithANDObama”
Just know that I laughed for a good ten minutes after I saw your name LMFAO
Deonte Who?
Would “A conventional quarterback” make you feel better? Geesh.
Hey Deonte or what ever the hell your name is, let me know the next time you produce anything for the Gators because it will be your first time. Until you can produce like a big-time player, keep your pie-hole shut!
deonte will be crying in his bad of weed when the gators don’t achieve the winning percentage that tebow did….deonte only cares about deonte, not the team
I hope Tebow does do well in the NFL, if only to shut guys like this and Henne up.
It’s a blessing!
Does anyone remember another QB from Florida named Harmon Wages – UF 1968.
Threw 4 passes for Atlanta. Percentage was good he completed 3. He was never a QB but a
RB in the NFL.
Who’s this WR? Who cares? And I still don’t understand why people think that Urban Meyer’s job was to prepare Tebow for the NFL….
Outsyder,
That is pure ignorance.
He’s not the qb that Wurawful was, and either Manning is exponentially better as a qb than Teblow.
Maybe Dooley should have let Herchel throw some passes in the red zone.
It’s funny how the media can take one line and put their own spin on it, to make it seem like a ex teammate hate Teebow like the rest of the Gator hators. Teebow was great for Florida, no one can argue that after 2 rings and a Heisman meaning he was THE BEST PLAYER…period. We all know just like “Vick” what made him dangerous was the fact that he was a QB that could also RUN over a linebacker or Eric Berry(Vick could elude). Bottom line as real Gator fans and the rest of you hators seen last year Deonte Thompson was open plenty of plays, waving his hand for the ball…along with Riley Cooper and Hernandez. Teebow didn’t see them because he was gaining 8yrds running. either way it go Teebow and Brantley has taken over and just like last year he found the open receivers b/c he is a pure passer who think pass first. Brantley – Teebow….Harvin – Thompson….entirely different people. Just watch Brantley lead Florida back to Atlanta this year when everyone think it’s over because The Best QB to play college is no longer there.
As a PFT reader who has only occasionally clicked through the traps set by florio to get some traffic over here, I did not realize that the account on PFT was good over here, having realized that, I figured that there must be a huge audience (both of you) over here that is is currently unaware that the packers suck some tremendous ass, and should be stripped of their membership in the NFL, due both to the retardation of their fanbase, and flamboyant lifestyle of their front office.
Well he’s obviously talking about his style of play and not how good he is. I’ve never been on CFT before. It’s clearly as bad (if that’s possible) as PFT.
I am thinking about starting A “CFT Hate on Tebow” counter and track the number of times a CFT or PFT writer ( if you can call them that) puts in a dig on Tebow.
“Day’s without a bashing of Tebow” = 0
panty-man: As a college QB, no, neither Manning was better than Tebow, in terms of statistics. Whether they looked better doing what they did, whether you feel it translates better (obviously, Peyton changing his mechanics a bit worked out well for him!), that’s all speculation. Statistics, though, have this annoying tendency to be black and white:
http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/11_3171_A_tale_of_six_quarterbacks.html
Outsyder says:
March 22, 2010 9:31 PM ET
Except you ignore the fact that, by all statistical measures, he’s the greatest QB in SEC history.
And that’s not debatable.
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Spoken like a true fanboy. I’d pick any of the three Mannings, Grossman and Namath ahead of him for starters.
Ok, so that last line from the kid should have been “a drop-back QB”, not a real QB….anyone with any common sense can figure that’s what he meant to say. There’s no reason to get all worked up about this. That said, I’m not a Tebow fan anyway.
As to Meyer’s part in ‘woefully preparing’ Tebow, hogwash. Meyer’s job is to win games and championships at Florida. He’s doing that. His job isn’t to make everyone of his players “NFL” ready. How many players, not just QBs do you see come to the NFL not ready ?? More than most. Most of these guys, particularly the higher round drafted guys come with exceptional athletic skills and the NFL’s coaches job is to make them NFL players…
Either way, I’m not a big fan of Florida so it doesn’t really matter to me, but this was in no way a shot at Tebow…
This was obviously a shot toward Tim’s unusual ability to be able to swallow an entire zucchini without chewing. Most QB’s can’t do that.
Hey Deonte Thompson… TEBOW won you a couple national championships.. not you.. Shut your face..
I thought the primary responsibility of a college player AND coach was to help the college team be the best it could be.
For some that means passing, others run, some tackle, some block, some catch. Some sit the bench and stay ready…others just practice daily and help the Varsity prepare each week, but seldom suit up themselves.
No ONE player wins a game, much less a title.
If some college player collects a paycheck after school, good for them. Some programs inherently develope successful pros, and that certainly draws top recruits, bu the GOAL is to win with the team you’re on…not pad your future. I would like to see all my favorite college players win Heisman trophys…(maybe a Lombardi or two as well) but I am more concerned with each Saturday and a January Bowl game. I trust whoever plays on Saturday will do their best…in WHATEVER system…and they will undoubtedly make a larger contribution than I did. Best health to all…I hope the National Champion comes from the SEC, and in a perfect world…GAINESVILLE!
“there seem to be individuals around every corner looking to take a shot at the former Florida quarterback”
I wonder why this is. Is it because Tebow doesn’t get DUI’s, beat and rape women, or have a vehicular manslaughter charge on his record?
Instead he gets ridiculed for signing autographs for charity.
Color me confused; people hate him because he’s a good guy. His pro prospects, however poor they may be, don’t deserve the ridicule and attention he gets.
Deonte Thompson was the worst WR the Gators had, probably explains why he has distaste for Tebow.
Funny…I watched every game and Thompson…dropped more balls then he caught..that is why Tebow didn’t trust him….Harvin did great…sorry..you have to catch the ball to get the credit!
I guess the great Thompson would rather Tebow throw the ball to a covered receiver and risk the chance of an interception instead of tucking it and run. Where is your head Thompson cause it’s surely not on your shoulders. Every football player wants to be the best but that’s just impossible. In college or the NFL you must first prove yourself to be deserving it just doesn’t happen because you put on the uniform. I’m sure you will make a great receiver next year in which I hope you do but put some Duck Tape around the place on your face between your nose and chin.
Hrudey,
You have to be an ignorant SOB, if you think Teblow was half of the college qb that Peyton, Eli, or even Archie for that matter.
I guess you would say Jemelle Holloway was the best Sooner QB over Bradford.
Was Tebow good at running Urban Meyer’s high school offense? Yes, but from a a true quarterback’s perspective he sucks, and that will show when he fails, like Wurawful, Groosman, Johnson, Spurrier, and every other Florida quarterback that has ever took a snap in the NFL.
For the guy who said that Tebow won two titles. Leak won one, Tebow won the other.
I’ll give you this. All gimmick offense team, Teblow edges Vick.
When it comes to football, and SEC football for that matter, the three Manning’s are 1-2-3 on the depth chart.
Teblow had a GREAT team to “run/q.b.” behind. The N.F.L. is showing he is nothing more than a pretender.
TEBOW IS GARBAGE. 4th round pick up to a nobody team and he will disappear. THANK THE LORD!