Tim Tebow hasn’t played for the Denver Broncos since 2012. But some Broncos fans apparently still haven’t gotten over that. Or maybe those supporters just feel that their former quarterback is the solution to their problems at the position now.
The Broncos need a starting quarterback. Last year’s starter, Peyton Manning, won the Super Bowl and rode off into the sunset. His backup, Brock Osweiler, actually started seven games for Denver while Manning battled injuries, but he bolted for the Houston Texans in the offseason.
In response to all that, the Broncos acquired Mark Sanchez. The Sanchize is a fine backup, but a disastrous No. 1 for a Super Bowl hopeful and Sanchez is currently the top quarterback on Denver’s roster heading into the NFL Draft.
The Broncos are not in play for one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft, and the talent depth at the position is thin. But Denver could make a move for one, especially if one of those signal-callers drops to their pick at No. 31. But a rookie starting quarterback is likely out of the question, so the Broncos have been browsing the league’s available veterans and the results there don’t look much better.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was too expensive, as was Sam Bradford (for now). With little movement on the veteran front, and the rumored names being less than ideal, some fans now feel compelled to look back to the past for an old savior. A petition for the Broncos to sign Tim Tebow has popped up, and as of this writing, it is almost at 5,000 signatures.
Tebowmania began in earnest when he led Denver to the playoffs in 2011-12, and peaked with his overtime heroics against Pittsburgh in the Wild Card round. Since then, Tebow endured a miserable season with the Jets — competing with none other than Mark Sanchez for the starting job — and two brief stints with the Patriots and Eagles.
Despite not playing in a regular season NFL game since 2012, Tebow still has a cult of fans and supporters. It seems unlikely the Broncos would actually consider bringing him back, considering how many headaches his fame brought the team.
But it says a lot about the current state of the Broncos’ quarterback position that Tebow is viewed as a potential solution for a segment of the Denver fanbase. However, for as long as Tebow can walk and move his arm in a throwing motion, there will likely be people who are incredulous that an NFL team refuses to give him another shot.
