Tim Tebow will have to wait another year before he can return to the NFL again.
He was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars after one preseason game.
This time, he was trying to make the team as a tight end, not a quarterback.
Blocking defenders is an important part of the job description.
Unfortunately, that poor block he threw that went viral might have been the final nail in the coffin.
To begin with, he was the fourth tier on the team’s tight end depth chart.
With an uphill battle in front of him, a highlight (or more like lowlight) like that doesn’t help.
Maybe head coach Urban Meyer is using this development to communicate with his players to keep the hustle because no one is safe.
During training camp, Meyer spoke highly of Tebow which could have elevated his position in the depth chart.
Ultimately, his college coach at Florida ended his journey, to which he was grateful.
Thankful for the highs and even the lows, the opportunities, and the setbacks. I’ve never wanted to make decisions out of fear of failure and I’m grateful for the chance to have pursued a dream…
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) August 17, 2021
Yet even if he didn’t crack the final roster, Tebow’s Jaguars jersey sold like hotcakes.
There’s a sizable part of the American population that supports what he’s doing and admires what he stands for.
Conservative individuals will identify with his clean, religious image that stems from his parents’ evangelical mission.
No wonder he remains a popular individual even if his NFL career was largely a failure.
But while the love for him is real, the hate is equally authentic as well.
There are people, mostly football fans, who can’t stand him even if he hasn’t done anything wrong to them.
Mention Tebow’s name to them and they might cringe or start to vent out anger.
Why the hate, though?
Are these expressions legitimate?
Or are they overblown reactions that do not merit emotional hostility?
Hating The Alpha Male
Some would say that the Tebow hate is because they don’t share his religious beliefs.
That’s the easiest reason to point out, but is it really the foremost reason?
For sure, some of those who can’t stomach the way he manifests his faith did the “Tebowing” at one point in time.
To say the least, faith is always a polarizing matter, and delving into it may turn this into a Christian discourse.
But there’s another reason haters won’t acknowledge: he’s an alpha male, despite his on-field blunders.
Yes, his throwing mechanic is slow and he completed less than 50 percent of his passes.
That’s the easiest flaw to point out and blow up against him because you’d be hard-pressed to find any.
Think about it: he has got a good physique and looks plus he’s still a better athlete than you.
#TBT to those great Tim Tebow shirtless rain pictures #TimTebow #TebowTime pic.twitter.com/3DAjjn43oA
— Football Hotties (@footballhott1es) February 5, 2015
Add to that his other income streams as a broadcaster, an author, and a public speaker and the hate intensifies.
It doesn’t help that he’s married to a former Miss Universe either.
He basically has everything going right for him, except success on the football field, and that’s why it’s easy to hate him.
If you can trade places with him, you probably would.
But since you can’t have what he does, that envy turns into hate.
That said, the next time you see Tebow on television or your mobile phone, ask yourself: Do you really hate the guy?
Dig deep for an answer and that will set you free.
NEXT: Falcons Trying To Make Most Of Matt Ryan's Remaining Years
GaryB says
Tebow is constantly polite, constantly compassionate, constantly humble.
“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.” ― Mark Twain, Pudd’nhead Wilson
Jess Mee says
Speaking for myself, I don’t hate him. Personally I’m indifferent to him. But he is the embodiment of white male privilege. He gets opportunities nobody else would even dream of because he’s Tim Tebow.