Are You Serious?: Tim Tebow Currently Fourth In AFC Pro Bowl Voting Among Quarterbacks

By: Tyler Ward

Okay, you've got to be kidding me. How in the hell is Tim Tebow fourth among AFC quarterbacks in Pro Bowl voting. It's got to be April Fool's Day because this seems like an utter joke to me.

Sure, the guy has won five of the Broncos' last six games, a few of them being comebacks. He led the team to an overtime defeat of the Dolphins in his first 2011 start and then lost in a laugher to the Lions, 45-10.

The Broncos then won four straight (and are still in that streak), beating the Raiders (38-24), Chiefs (17-10), Jets (17-13, comeback), and Chargers (16-13, overtime and comeback).

But the guy hasn't done enough to warrant himself into Pro Bowl consideration. He has played in nine games this season, starting six of them after quarterback Kyle Orton was benched, who coincidentally plays for the Broncos' main rivals, the Chiefs.

Tebow has been a decent quarterback this year, more so with his legs than his arm. He is currently completing 45.5 percent of his passes (65-for-143) with eight touchdowns and one interception.

Sure, the one interception is a great stat as that is his only turnover but that doesn't put him among the "elite" quarterbacks in the NFL. But he is completing less than fifty percent of his passes.

To quote the pre-game Monday Night Football crew, "C'mon, man!"

Tebow has not thrown for over 175 yards in a single game this season and only has 852 passing yards all season long. Hell, against the Chiefs three weeks ago, he only completed two passes! TWO! And how he won the game, I have no idea and will never know. The two completions did go for 69 yards, however, but that still shouldn't be enough to win a game.

In fact, that is the lowest amount of completions in a game for the winning starting quarterback in NFL history. I still can't fathom how he was able to do that.

But one thing I do know is that he is not a top-four quarterback in the AFC. That is utterly ridiculous.

Let's take a look at some of the AFC quarterbacks over their last six games when Tebow took over the starting reins for the Broncos:

- Tim Tebow, Broncos: 61-for-133 (45.8%), 773 yards, 7 TD's, 1 INT
- Tom Brady, Patriots: 144-for-225 (64%), 1,753 yards, 14 TD's, 4 INT
- Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: 136-for-213 (63.8%), 9 TD's, 4 INT
- Andy Dalton, Bengals: 125-for-206 (60.1%), 10 TD's, 7 INT
- Philip Rivers, Chargers: 131-for-233 (56.2%), 10 TD's, 10 INT
- Matt Schaub, Texans: 104-for-179 (58.1%), 9 TD's, 3 INT (before injury)
- Mark Sanchez, Jets: 113-for-200 (56.5%), 10 TD's, 6 INT
- Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills: 123-for-197 (62.4%), 9 TD's, 10 INT
- Matt Moore, Dolphins: 105-for-159 (66%), 8 TD's, 2 INT

Some of these player's stats may not be as "pretty" as Tebow's, but most are just as good, if not better. And compared to these player's season stats, I'd much rather have all of them over Tebow.

Maybe I'm just a "hater" of Tebow, but he's not a top-8 quarterback in the AFC. And he does not deserve Pro Bowl consideration.

"Tebowmania" has gotten way out of control and the fans are taking full advantage of it. It has become one of the most annoying stories on ESPN as of late and if you watch the network, you know that when a story is popular, they talk about it over and over and over and over again. And that's what's happening with Tebow, as there is a new story about him every single night.

Yes, I understand the Broncos are currently in the playoff race, but the Broncos also play in one of the weakest divisions in football. They would not be in playoff contention if they were in the AFC North or East, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

And before I end this, I'll say it again: Tebow does NOT deserve to be in the Pro Bowl.

Broncos Receiver Kenny McKinley Found Dead

By: Tyler Ward

(Yes, I know I'm a little late on this story, but I felt entitled to still do something about this).

Broncos receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead at his home on September 20, 2010. The cause of death appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said in a statement, "Although the death of McKinley appears to be the result of a self inflicted gunshot, the investigation into this matter, conducted by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office, is on-going."

Authorities were called to McKinley's apartment at approximately 5:35 P.M. ET. A female friend found the Broncos receiver's body after returning to the apartment with McKinley's son, Keon. The NFL Player's Association has set up a trust fund for McKinley's son, in hopes of providing health care and educational expenses for the one-year old. 

Brittany Boyd, McKinley's best friend, was one of two women taking care of his one-year old son when they discovered McKinley had commited suicide. She told the Associated Press that he had shown no signs of distraught or depression, but she wouldn't rule anything out. "That's not the type of thing he would say and if he did say it, that's not the type of thing that you would take seriously coming from him. Because of his personality, because of who he is, nobody would have ever believed he would have done it." Boyd said that she had picked McKinley up from the airport last Sunday and nothing seemed wrong with him - he seemed perfectly fine.

Head Coach Josh McDaniels was emotional at the news conference that was hosted shortly after McKinley's death. "Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more important, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room," McDaniels said. "This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."

McKinley, South Carolina's all-time leading receiver, had not found his groove in the NFL since being drafted with the 141st overall pick by Denver in 2009. In his rookie season, he appeared in eight games, but failed to register a reception - he was primarily used as a returner, bringing back 3 punts for 32 yards and 7 kickoffs for 158 yards. On December 28, 2009, he was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury and did not play the rest of the season. The team put him back on injured reserve prior to this season, so he would not be able to play at all during the 2010 season.

The Broncos receiver was reportedly battling depression shortly before his untimely death. A police report showed that McKinley was showing bad signs of depression - he apparently stated that football was all he knew, and if he wasn't able to play the game he loved, he "should just go kill himself." Also, according to the report, McKinley was taking 500 milligrams of Naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-flammatory drug. No one entirely knows what was going through McKinley's head at that point and we will never know. The only thing I know is that it was too soon. He, like other athletes, had potential and could have been a very good player in the NFL. Now, we'll never know.

Broncos president and CEO Pat Bowlen said in a statement, "Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley. He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends."

Steve Spurrier, McKinley's coach at South Carolina, said, "I saw him here. He came to the Georgia game. He seemed in good spirits. He had a great smile, like he always had. I don't understand it, if it happened the way they say. It's hard to comprehend. Kenny was one of my favorite all-time players. He was one of them. He was a wonderful guy. It's hard to figure out how, or why, this happened."

McKinley's funeral was held on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia at the World of Faith Family Worship Cathedral. A few hundred people attended the funeral, along with Steve Spurrier and former South Carolina teammates.

McKinley's death is just another tragic loss for the Broncos. Cornerback Darrent Williams, a promising player, was killed in a drive-by shooting on January 1, 2007. Running Back Damien Nash collapsed at a charity basketball game on February 24, 2007. Both players were just 24 years old. McKinley was 23.

Rest in peace, Kenny. You will be sorely missed and it's a shame that we will never get to see your full potential. Hope you feel better on the other side.

*R.I.P. Kenny McKinley (January 31, 1987 - September 20, 2010)*

Tebow Reportedly Wants Bigger Deal Than Dez Bryant

By: Stephen Patterson

Tim Tebow hasn't reported for Broncos' training camp because the two sides have been unable to negotiate a deal, apparently because of financial differences. After Dez Bryant, selected one spot ahead of Tebow in April's draft, signed with the Dallas Cowboys, Tebow's agent Jimmy Sexton said he wants his client to land "a bigger signing bonus, higher base salaries and more money overall."

Tebow should feel lucky to even have an opportunity to play in the NFL, much less as a quarterback, and shouldn't be crying over how much money he will earn. He hasn't played a single down in the NFL yet, and because he is holding out over his money, hasn't even really proved to be worth that kind of investment. He might not even be the team's starting QB this season.

Although the team is close to finalizing the deal with Tebow, head coach Josh McDaniels has even his voiced his anger over Tebow sitting out valuable time, saying he "can't afford to miss it". While I haven't agreed with a single move McDaniels has made up to now with the Broncos, I couldn't have said it better myself. Tebow really can't afford to miss playing time if he expects to have any chance of being a QB on the NFL level. While he has gotten famous because of his unblemished reputation on and off the field, Tebow is not doing himself any favors by making this move and sitting out valuable practices.

While Tebow shined in college at the University of Florida, he never proved to have a very accurate passing arm, and has completely revamped his throwing motion since the end of last season.  The team selected Tebow because of his proven leadership capabilities and dedication to winning, but if he wants to contribute to any of the winning, he needs to get on the field as soon as possible and fight for the starting role. With Brady Quinn and Kyle Orton already on the roster, Tebow should quit worrying about his contract and show Denver some of the dedication they drafted him for if he wants to see the field this season.

NFL Six Big Questions: AFC

By: Tyler Ward


Q: Are the Raiders on the right track?


A: I wouldn't say they're completely on track, but they're headed in the right direction. Jamarcus Russell was holding the Oakland offense back completely. He was one of the worst draft choices ever in NFL history (see my draft busts post). With the addition of Jason Campbell, they could finally get the offense stable. Also, with the signings of John Henderson and Kamerion Wimbley, the Raiders are slowly building their defense back to the Raider Nation's standards. Henderson and Richard Seymour can supply a formidable defensive line. Wimbley, along with young star Thomas Howard and newcomer Rolando McClain, can also produce a solid, young linebacker corps. The trade for Quentin Groves can provide a valuable back-up at the LB or DE position. Also, the Raiders' hiring of Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson takes pressure off Head Coach Tom Cable, who was forced to call the plays last season. Their only real weak spots include lack of depth at Wide Receiver and the struggles of the offensive line. But, the Raiders could very well be a potential darkhorse this year and could contend at some point in the near future. They have definitely gotten better, but I think they will be competitive when Al Davis finally hands the reins over.


Q: Can Peyton Manning keep up the pace?


A: Of course, since I'm a Colts fan, I say yes. But, realistically, I think Peyton can put up the numbers he always does. Peyton has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in all but two of his NFL seasons. He has won 10 or more games since 2002 and although they may take a dip this year, I think they can still win more than 10 games. I also think that Peyton can pass for over 4,000 yards and 25 TD's this year. With the return of Anthony Gonzalez, Peyton has a nice corps of receivers in Gonzalez, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie. With the receivers that he possesses, they still have a very talented corps. Manning may not have that many years left in the tank, but what he does have will probably still be considered up to the Colts' standards.

Q: Is Tim Tebow the QB of the future for the Broncos?
A: Simply put, no. I don't think he is an NFL caliber player. He had success in college, but it does not translate well into the NFL. Many teams thought that he would be a RB/FB or a TE, so he really didn't even have a natural NFL position until Josh McDaniels took him 25th overall in this year's draft. After an emotional loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game, he realized that he would not have a shot at another title. Tebow ended his career with a dominating win against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl. He entered the draft and was thought to get drafted anywhere from the 2nd-3rd round. But, McDaniels thought he was the best QB in the draft and even said that "Tebow would be the next Tom Brady". He isn't much better than Kyle Orton, but I think Orton can do a better job on the field than Tebow. I think that Tebow will end up being a bust and he will never succeed in the NFL like he did at the NCAA level.

Q: Will the Browns compete sometime soon?
A: They are the Browns, but they may be able to do decent. Mike Holmgren has proven they can lead a team. He led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl appearance in 2005, but lost to the Steelers. It was their first Super Bowl appearance ever and only one thus far. Eric Mangini isn't the best coach in the entire world, but he can do better with Holmgren hovering above him. Since they brought the expansion back in 1999, they have only been to the playoffs once (2002) under Butch Davis. They have somewhat solidified the QB position with the acquisition of Jake Delhomme. But, he is getting old and may not do that well on a very young Cleveland team. I think this is the last chance to revive his career because Colt McCoy will almost certainly be given the reins next year. The addition of CB Sheldon Brown also provides depth at that position and could have a formidable duo alongside Eric Wright. The retirement of RB Jamal Lewis hurts the running game slightly, but Jerome Harrison can be a very valuable player and with Peyton Hillis blocking for him, he could have another 1,000 yard season. Benjamin Watson's arrival works out for the passing game, as it was horrendous for Cleveland last year and the re-signing of WR/KR Josh Cribbs is spectacular because he may be the most electrifying player in the NFL. They are definitely a good amount of players away from competing, but when that happens they could be pretty decent. They will probably win 6-7 games this year, but they will not be the worst team in the NFL.


Q: Will the Jets supplant the Patriots as the best team in the division?


A: The Jets have slowly gotten better and better and I think they can possibly run the Patriots out of the AFC East lead. Mark Sanchez doesn't have a great arm, but he is solid enough to lead the franchise. With receivers like Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Jerricho Cotchery, and Dustin Keller, Sanchez can supply a good offense. And with the addition of LaDainian Tomlinson at RB, he can back up the underrated Shonn Greene. Jason Taylor also came over to help out one of the best defenses in the league last year. This is a very talented team, who could very well have had the best offseason than any other franchise. I think they can take over the East and beat out the older Patriots. New England has run the division since the beginning of the decade, but their time is running short. Miami is even getting better and could challenge both teams this upcoming year. Even though I wouldn't go as far to say the Jets will definitely make the Super Bowl, but I think they can go 12-4 or 13-3. I can say that they are my lock to win the division and this may be the year the Patriots finally take a downward spiral in the division.


Q: Is Roethlisberger's absence the end of the Steelers' season?

A: Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for the first 6 games by Commissioner Roger Goodell earlier this year for his off-the-field incidents. This leaves the Steelers with underachieving QB Byron Leftwich and incumbents Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch at that position. The first six opponents for the Steelers include Atlanta, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Miami. They could very well lose 4 of those first 6 and almost fall out of playoff contention. The rest of their games don't get much better as they have tough games against New Orleans, Cincinnati (2x), New England, Baltimore, and the New York Jets. They may win 2 or 3 of those games behind Roethlisberger, but they will probably garner an 8-8 or 9-7 record. And with that, they will probably not make the playoffs. So, with the Steelers possibly starting off 1-5 or 2-4, they may not recover and miss the playoffs like last season.