I have been with the Denver Broncos for 34 years and in pro sports for 37, and in that extensive time span I have seen a lot.
People often ask, “Have you ever seen anything like this before?” The answer is no, and I always add that the reason for this is not that I have not been paying attention—it is just that no one has seen anything like this before.
I am not going to sit here at this keyboard and pretend to project accomplishment and development—we do not know the future other than to say it sure looks positive right now.
But one of the things that struck me right away, and continues to do so each week—literally, each week, so far—is that in every game Tebow has started and won, he has accomplished something for the record books, something that either he alone or very few other quarterbacks have done.
That is part of why it is called a phenomenon. A phenomenon is described in the dictionary as “a rare or significant fact or event.” Halley’s Comet would never have been given a name if it came every night.
Last year when Tim Tebow started and led the Broncos to a victory over the Houston Texans, in a game the Texans badly needed to win to help secure a playoff berth—which our dear friend and Houston coach Gary Kubiak never got—Tebow earned his first win as a starting quarterback and became just the second Broncos since Frank Tripucka (who did it twice in the early 1960’s) to lead the Broncos to victory after a 17-point or greater halftime deficit.
After taking the starting job in Miami, Tebow helped the Broncos become the first team in National Football League history to win a game when trailing by 15 points or more with just three minutes remaining. Denver won.
Two weeks later at Oakland, he rushed for 117 yards to join Norris Weese (also an SEC player, as Weese attended Ole Miss) as the only Bronco quarterbacks ever to rush for 100 yards in a game.
Again, Denver won.
Three weeks later at Kansas City Tebow became the first quarterback with more rushes than passes in a game since Joe Ferguson did it back in 1974 with the Buffalo Bills. Again, Denver won.
Four weeks later against the New York Jets, Tebow led the Broncos on a 95-yard game winning touchdown drive in the game’s closing minutes. And when he dashed 20 yards for the game-winning score with 58 seconds remaining Tebow became the NFL’s only quarterback in history to have a touchdown run as long as that in the final minute of the fourth quarter in history. Somebody asked me how far back history went in that case, and the answer is entire history of the game.
And five weeks later, one week ago, the Broncos swept the AFC West on the road with a win at San Diego and in that game Tebow had 22 rushing attempts, the most by any quarterback in a game since 1950, which was the starting point for the delineation of rushing attempts by position (that is, defining that they all came as a quarterback, rather than some having occurred from the halfback or fullback position). And the Broncos won.
So this has all happened in a five-week span this year, five weeks in which this year’s Broncos became just the third Denver team to be three games under .500 (in this case, 1-4) and come back to the .500 mark.
Since Tebow became the starter Denver has gone from 23rd in the NFL in rushing to first, with an average of 201.4 yards per game over the last seven—by the way, that is the most productive seven-game span in Bronco history on the ground.
The running attack has seen a tremendous performance by Willis McGahee, who last week went over 100 rushing yards for the fifth time this year, the first Bronco since 2006 to have five 100-yard games in a season. McGahee is averaging an excellent 4.8 yards per carry this year.
But Tebow leads all qualifying NFL players with a 5.8 yards per carry average—78 rushing attempts for 455 yards, a total that also stands as the most rushing yards by a quarterback for a single season in Broncos history.
A lot of fans and media observers spend a lot of time pondering future seasons, but my advice is to prepare for the future, but live the moment. Don’t spend all your time cleaning your telescope in advance of the next visit of Halley’s Comet—you might miss it streaking across your sky right now.
-Jim Saccomano
Tags: Jim Saccomano, Tim Tebow
Truly some beautiful writing, Mr. Saccomano!(I wonder if John Elway reads these things?)
Great article, and I must say I was moved by the way you ended it. It’s so true that all anyone wants to talk about with this “Tebowmania” is how he can or can’t do it in the future. Sports are about right now, and so many people want to talk about the future. I myself am going to stay in the moment, and take the ride for what it is, and not get caught up an the future of Tim. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Lovely article. Thank you
This week I think Denver wins 24 to 17
As always an enjoyable read with a bonus history lesson. Nice article Mr. Saccomano.
Can’t wait for Sunday
I have something to discuss with a moderator. How do I go about that?
In the past I’ve just e-mailed the blog administration.
Is there a Contact Us of email address. I’ve looked but haven’t seen it.
Thanks for the help Brian.
Great article Jim. One thing that people seem to forget about this young man. People have been telling him all of his sports career that “he can’t do this or that”. He has continually proven them all wrong. He will prove them all wrong once again. He also takes no credit for any of this. To him, it was the efforts of the entire team that has allowed them to do and be where they are right now, and accomplish all that they do.
I love the message you deliver in your closing. People need to really pay attention to it and enjoy this ride we are on. It hasn’t ever happened before, and may never happen again.
Carsonic, I think a lot of people read this blog. More than even we think. I have read lots of articles on many many sites and lots of them say things that get said here, one talked about the “orange koolaid” and other things. I bet Mr. Elway and many of the players read this just to see what the fans think and feel. That being the case I would even wager that some of the bloggers are players themselves.
Just remembered another reference that stuck out as far as other people reading this blog. Remember when we were calling Tebow “you know who?”and then we started seeing it everywhere…LOL
Tebow did an energy drink commercial that listed the things he “couldn’t” do. It’s very moving and representative of how he uses it as fuel to push himself. Check it out on youtube. I can’t remember what drink or product it was.
i have been a broncos fan for35 wonderful yeaars..ive seen players come…and players go…ive yelled in victory so hard that i could not talk for two days..and ive cried like a baby ….and never…never have i seen or felt the buzz and belief..that ive seen from the bronco faithful….anytime you walk in a room, and the conversation turns to tebow..people cant help but smile and say…WOW…can you belive that pass, or can you believe that run…people cant help but feed of his constant upbeat never give up attitude..bronco fans have been waiting a long time to have something to cheer about..and finnaly we have something..theres only one thing fans want under there tree this year ..a superbowl trophy wraped in a teBOW…
You know I was just thinking about what some of the analysts are saying about the other players getting jealous of the credit given to Tim. I read his book and I have listened and read what the other players say about Tim not looking for attention or taking any personal credit for the wins. I also remember reading that Tim doesn’t even go grocery shopping because he is so recognized. Can you imagine what it is like to not be able to go into public because you get bombarded by fans or you take the risk of getting hurt by the haters. He never asked for all of that he just wants to play the game he loves and possibly touch some lives along the way.
man it’s good to be a bronco. Same can’t be said about our 1-4 start. I say the win streak continues 20-12 final score.
Great article. Excited for next Sunday.
the comment: “But Tebow leads all qualifying NFL players with a 5.8 yards per carry average”…
I am not sure that is accurate. I checked the NFL stats, and both Michael Vick (65 for 535) and Darren Sproles (59 for 402) also have very high attempts and average yardage.
Still, third aint so bad either!
PS: love the closing line too: live in the moment!
I never think of the future – it comes soon enough.
Albert Einstein
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
Buddha
I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following.
Mohandas Gandhi
Very nice, bay!
RH709: I thought I had saved the e-mail address but apparently I did not sorry. I’m sure baylinorcrush probably knows of how to get in contact with them.
doubleang, he mentioned “qualifying” rushers and I think the required number of rushes is 75 to qualify the season totals. I’m not sure of the threshold, but I seem to remember hearing 75.
RH, I rather not get into that not knowing what the reason is, don’t feel like being the carrier for bad news if it’s a complaint, but you could just call the Broncos headquarters and ask for that info, Denver Broncos Football team out of Englewood, information should get you that #.
that was an awesome inspiring article Mr. Saccomano!
Thank you Bay.
I am just confused is all. If I try to access the blog on my smart phone is gives me a white screen saying “YOU ARE BANNED”.
Obviously, my account hasn’t been banned cause I can still post. So I am guessing the IP address of my phone was banned. I have not recieved any email to the email account I used to create my user info which I would assume I would get if I participated in any bannable behavoir or postings.
I am not aware of any posts of mine that are offensive or arguementative but If I did so accidentally that was not my intent.
I can’t find the email or contact info for blog admin to discuss this. I think the ban may have been made in error.
Stuart should be able to help you with that:
Stuart.Zaas <Stuart.Zaas@Broncos.nfl.net
Correction:
Stuart.Zaas@Broncos.nfl.net
Thank you Bay.
Touchdown for Saccomano! Tebow hasn’t done all those things by himself and it’s great to know we have a lot of play makers on this Denver Broncos team. Suprisingly, the thing I enjoy most is watching that smile come on coach Fox’s face when the tide turns our way at the end of the game. Go Broncos!
Nice right up Jim. I`m Enjoying the ride. I heard someone say a few days ago on ESPN, why are we focusing on all of Tim Tebows negatives instead of the postives, lets celebrate those positves, he`s winning isn`t he?.
I`ll say this: IF Tim Tebow were to HELP take this team to the AFC Championship game, the whole NFL WORLD would be turned upside down. Many who don`t believe will have to believe. I say it can happen, especially how our DEFENSE is PLAYING!! I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!!
The great thing about Tebow is that he never takes credit for it like he is doing it alone, he always gives credit to his teammates. This is one of many things that make his teammates love him. They won’t get upset with all the talk about Tebow this and that because you know Tebow always gives them credit in public and the locker room.
Yeah! Who would you rather have, Cutler the selfish brat or Tim Tebow the selfless QB who praises god and his fellow man. I`ll take Tim Tebow anytime!!
Thank you for the detailed Article!
:O) I have always believed in Tim Tebow… I have fully enjoyed watching these last 6.5 games, and as I have stated several times in multiple debates about his future, he can and will do great things for the Denver Broncos…
The Greatest thing?!? He makes us believe… and it feels good to believe again!!!
VON TEBOW FOOTBALL!!!
FTV!!!
We haven`t won the AFC west in quite awhile. Long time coming. It`s fun to see at this time of the year that the Broncos are in the mix for the playoffs. It`s a pretty picture. HaHa!! It`s still early though but atleast we`re in the running.
1 Game at a time Strandsky!!! 1 Game at a Time!!!
TEBOW TIME THAT IS!!!!
)
Did you see the article about Rolando McClain?
Did anyone see that ESPN clip last night on the Broncos on their current success? I was so stoked watching my Broncos getting national attention.
Yeah turtle…. I posted info from ESPN on McCLain a couple of blogs earlier under Miller named defensive rookie of the month.
New blog
Journalism at its finest…
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
I love it!!
Great Stuff, Saco–
Thanks, for sharing…
Go Broncos, Go! Go Timmy, Go!
This, my friends, is a year to remember. Enjoy it.
Well said Mr. Saccomano. I think you have relatives in Trinidad CO right? There was a Mr. Saccomano that refereed our basketball games. Great writing! I am along for the ride and loving it. Personally, John Elway is one of my 4 heroes in life, but his flippant attitude about Tim Tebow is troubling to me. You can sense the greatness, willingness to get better, and winning attitude that is contagious to the team, yet John talks about looking for a franchise QB next year and Tebow “may not” be the QB. How much effort would it take my hero Elway to have an offseason clinic with Tim to rub some of his QB proficiency off on him, i.e. reading routes and passing. Personally that’s the only thing I think Tim needs to round himself out is making reads and improving his accuracy. All else is probably better than John. For example, scrambling, running, endurance. There will come a day when Tim will need to stay in the pocket, but until then, I think the Offensive coordinator and QB coach are geniuses at working to his strengths. To my hero, John Elway, if you read this, help a brother out! Don’t throw him under the bus because he doesn’t fit your paradigm! Love you MAN!
Jim, that was the greatest blog I have ever read about sports, funny how while one is reading it it feels like an old commentary on gridiron heroes of the leather-heads era,FANTASTIC, I’m an idiot for the Broncos and there has been four times in my life that i felt like great things were coming our way….No.1 was the day we traded for Neil Smith and the chefs gave us the Division for to more years.(I ran down the street in Honolulu 49ers turf and was yelling we’re going to the Super bowl people thought I was Crazy, hee hee hee, like a fox!)And we all know haw that ended. No.2 was when The Drive happened and my buddy and I were pretty smashed and painted his house blue with orange shutters No.3 was when #7 did helecopter and No.4 was draft day when we picked Tebow in the the first round I won’t go into what I did that day but it was on par with what I did when we aquired Neil Smith, I just could not believe we didn’t start him sooner but cudose to the coaches for haveing the courage to go against the flow and try a little of the unconventional, we could be whatching the start of the way football is played in the NFL. I allways wondered if there was still some of that old playing style from the old NFL that was still relivant today and you know what? Tim is the proof, GO BRONCOS WIN!!!
I see it Denver 27-3
I think images can speak loader than words sometimes but these words are hard to beat. This series “Tim (The Rock) Tebow” on youtube comes closest… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9j1UvjJEQA
Very insightful piece! Nice write-up…not like some of the opinionated pieces written by many of the so-called NFL analysts.
Enjoyed the article. I am 60, first great qb I followed was Unitas. Man, he was slow in the pocket. I hope people will begin to enjoy what Tebow can do-lead, not turn the ball over, run,win, show grace under pressure and insult, inspire, not disgrace his city by off field behavior, and throw extremely accurate passes in clutch situations. I have enjoyed this season. It is like a great sports movie where the hero is attacked by the evil ESPN and other analysts and the climactic scene gets repeated again and again.The comebacks keep happening. The naysayers have just started to look foolish. Stephen A. Smith, Sapp, Hoge still don’t give him credit. I honestly feel if we win the SB, people will still yell for us to get rid of Tebow. No Respect. Great article.
Great writing Mr. Saccomano. Sort of makes me want to pull out some old posts from weeks 6, 7, and 8… not that I need to tell anyone “I told you so.”
TT is a different type of QB and if you recall, (those who manage to not go cross-eyed with my long posts), I compared TT to Shannon Sharpe in the sense that TT is going to rewrite the manual on QB position like SS rewrote the manual on the TE position. It is a phenomenon.
What’s worse is that it might not be possible to duplicate…. TT is doing it different and he is successful because of superior character qualities not because of superior athleticism, intelligence or talent.
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