From my Random Shots Column, November 30, 2011:
Fearless prediction on how this plays out for Tim Tebow over the next ten years.
Denver closes the season at 9-7 with wins over Minnesota away, and Chicago and Kansas City at home. They lose to New England in Denver and Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Stadium and miss the playoffs.
Tebow finishes the year about where he is right now with rabid support from his fan base and team, lukewarm support from his coach, and thinly veiled disdain from John Elway. Who just happens to be the Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the company employing Tim Tebow. Owner Pat Bowlen loves the marketing excitement Tebow generates and all the intangibles he brings but ultimately puts his faith in his “football guy” John Elway. He remains publicly invisible on the issue so people still come to his Christmas party.
Elway privately suggests Tebow should try out for the Colorado Rockies with “that windup”. ESPN’s Skip Bayless releases an article detailing jersey preference among Bronco fans and it’s revealed the polling data shows #15 jerseys outweigh #7 jerseys by 50 to 1. Among the all important 21 to 45 year old Female segment, the ratio is 10,000:1.
Elway informs Pat Bowlen they are drafting a quarterback in the 2012 draft but every agent makes it clear their client is not entering the public relation black hole of playing the sacrificial Kyle Orton role. Elway is outraged a quarterback would try to dictate where he will play.
The night before the NFL draft, Elway announces he’s traded Tim Tebow to Jacksonville as new owner Shahid Khan makes a splash after purchasing the Jaguars for $760 million a few months earlier. Blaine Gabbert is Jimmy Claussened. And likes it.
Tebow leads Jacksonville to a 10-6 record in 2012 and their first playoff appearance since 2007. The following year, Jacksonville is 6-10 as Tebow misses the last 5 games with a collarbone injury. In 2014, Tebow returns healthy and the Jaguars are back in the playoffs. For 2015, Tebow leads Jacksonville to the Divisional playoff game where they lose. After the Super Bowl, Tebow announces his retirement to pursue other interests.
One of these “other interests” happens to be serving as the primary investor in a company that becomes the 2021 version of Twitter. The company goes public and Tebow buys the Denver Broncos for 2 billion dollars and makes John Elway the highest paid Team President in the league.
You just wait…
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