A Nod to Tebow

I'm admittedly a Tim Tebow-hater. I am rooting for him to fail, so that he doesn't have a platform to spout his ultra-religious views. Besides, it's pure joy when someone as universally loved as Tebow falls on his face, and legions of genuflecting fans are left heartbroken.

But even though I want him to fail, and I've predicted that he'll never play QB in the NFL, his recent pro day has shaken my conviction.



Both his footwork and his throwing motion are vastly improved, in only a six-week period. Of course, he was throwing against air - he wasn't playing in the fourth-quarter of a high-pressure game with bodies flying around him - but still, his improvement was called "ridiculous" by respected college scout Mike Mayock.

The history of QBs changing their throwing motion is stacked against Tebow. I can't think of a single example of a quarterback who was able to drastically alter their mechanics while maintaining accuracy...but during Florida's Pro Day, Tebow looked more accurate than he did during his college career. It's normal for QBs to make tweaks, but sometimes even minor changes can cause problems, since throwing motions are instinctual, formed the first time a boy picks up a stone and tosses it at a stop sign.

The workout wasn't perfect - according to Todd McShay, there were four times he reverted to his waist-high, windmill delivery - but when NFL coaches see that much improvement over a six-week timespan, they'll be very excited to get him into their systems and give him a year or two of practice to solidify the new mechanics.

He's still got work to do, and he certainly isn't going to be an impact player as a rookie, but I now definitely believe he'll be drafted by the end of the second round...as a quarterback. It will not surprise me if he plays, and wins games, as a QB in the NFL. His arm strength and athletic ability, combined with an unbelievable determination and work ethic, will earn him a chance to prove himself.

Let's just hope it's not with the Eagles.