Tim Tebow is the biggest sporting star in the NFL. OK, Terrence “Mount” Cody (Ravens) is technically bigger at 350 pounds, but Tebow is without doubt the shiniest star in the US sporting galaxy.

And the fact there is an army of people shouting as loudly as they can that Tebow simply can’t cut it and will be toast doesn’t appear to be having any effect on his staromoeter – nor, it appears, his ability to keep winning.

In fact, the Tebow brand is being so amplified right now that everyone’s favorite young QB is giving Justin Bieber and Lady Ga-Ga a run for their money as one of the biggest stars in the whole country. On paper it all stacks up.

The Heisman winner who took Florida to the national championship twice, got selected in the first round of the Draft, is the now the established starter in Denver after coming in when the Broncos were 1-4. He’s posted a W/L record of 4-1, to put them at .500 and with a very real shot of the playoffs when a month ago, if you’d suggested that, people would have laughed for longer and louder than I did when someone suggested to me: “I don’t care what you say. The Devil’s Advocate is the best thriller of the last 30 years.”

In an improbable debut as starter, Tebow led his team to late win over Miami, making Denver the first team in NFL history to win a game after being down by at least 15 points with three minutes to play in a game.

Of course, his all American good looks and virtuous, “good guy” demeanor – the latter inspired by his deep seated, and often ridiculed religious faith – have helped fan the flames of celebrity. Kids want to be like him. Parents want their sons to grow up like him and hope their daughters grow up to marry someone like him.

But here’s the thing – and make sure you whisper it because I like the kid and don’t want his feelings hurt. No-one seems to think he’s gonna last.

OK – let me rephrase that. No-one I know with any credible understanding of the NFL considers him a Pro Football Quarterback. For starters, he can’t throw, which tends to be a major hurdle for somebody who’s paid millions of dollars to, well, throw.

Let’s look at his stats this season:

- He’s completed 44.8% of his passes

- He’s passed for 709 yards in 8 games. Yes Einstein that’s under 100 yards per game

- His QB rating is 78.4. Which to be fair is better than John Beck’s. Mind you, so is mine.

It’s not just Tebow’s technique which makes naysayers wary – and in his defense, plenty of players with have lacked decent technique. It’s the fact that this reliance on a combination of his unfazeable drive and ability to run his team to victory irrespective of his clear lack of natural pro level QB ability will surely, at some stage, run out of gas.

But here’s the thing. Until someone sets the precedent, creates the blueprint, is the first, we’re always going to say that he/she/it won’t work because “it’s not how it’s done”. Exactly how many African American Head Coaches were in the NFL before Art Shell?

Sean Alexander won the MVP award in 2006 – when the league was all about running. He sunk without trace 18 months later and now we’re in the golden era of the passer.

Sure, he’s had a poor season, but only 12 months ago everyone was declaring that Michael Vick has redefined the QB position, and that he’s unstoppable.

So there’s time for Tebow, yet. Because things change in the NFL! We could all be sitting here in 18 months time, wondering where the next Tebow is coming from, and chuckling at the days when we used to recognize arm strength – traditionally way over valued (JaMarcus Russell, anyone) as far more important than anything else.

It’s worth pointing out that for all the lack of convention Tebow displays, he has clear intelligence; which is, undoubtedly, one the most important aspects of surviving (in that position) in the pros.

Paradoxically, the increasing sophistication of defenses is also in his favor too. Offensive coordinators will need to continually change things up as schemes and routes get clocked, and Tebow is the master of the unexpected. Who would have forecast the return of the option? Even college teams rarely roll out this old school playbook these days. With his diversity, Tebow will become increasingly more valuable as an offensive asset.

Video Credit: DJ Steve Porter mashes up ESPN’s studio analyst Skip Bayless to create an ultimate Tim Tebow tribute…”All He Does Is Win”

Plus there’s the not inconsiderable fact that Tebow’s (currently) stone cold in the last two minutes of close games. What’s the age old test of a real QB’s mettle? Can he drive downfield, Kosar style, in 120 seconds and bring his team home? Tebow can and has. Plenty of technically more proficient players (yes, Mr. Mcnabb I mean you) have struggled.

And what about his weapons – or lack of? No disrespect but when Eric Dekker is your go-to guy downfield, it’s not exactly the embarrassment of riches that Green Bay has, right?

Another plus point for Tebow is his Broncos are in the stumbling AFC West one game behind the post-Al Davis Raiders. It is not going to take much for Tebow to lead his team into the promised land of the playoffs. And then we’ll see the true test of the man.

Sure, an implosion is possibly on the cards, and two years on he may just be an afterthought. But right now, we can’t write Tebow off until he forces us to do so.

Watch Tim Tebow in action for the Broncos as they take on Philip Rivers and the Chargers on ESPN America (Nov 28th As Live 14:30 CET)
Please check local listings for times and availability.

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