It won’t be long before training camp is upon us. For now, the Broncos, like other NFL teams, are going through organized team activities (OTA’s), which gives us a great opportunity to share some thoughts from some of the players.
We start our series of interviews with new Broncos’ quarterback Tim Tebow (TT), whom the team selected 25th overall in the draft last month.
Shortly after the draft, 850 KOA had the chance to talk with Tebow. Here is part one of our two-part series.
850 KOA: You are now a member of the Denver Broncos. Can that seem possible?
TT: To be honest, it’s kind of surreal. It’s like, “Wow, this is my new home.” I’m excited about it. I’m jacked about it. It is a dream come true. Good things still do happen because along the way, ever since I met Coach McDaniels, he was my favorite coach, this was my favorite spot. I didn’t even think they (the Broncos) were interested because they didn’t talk to me. But kind of at the end, they said, “Hey, we want you to come in for a visit.” So I came in here and they said Monday we’re going to work you out. So they flew in four days ago, worked me out and met all day and it ended up (with my) being a Bronco. It was worth everything and I’m just so excited. I’m thankful that Coach McDaniels believes in me enough to take me. My two biggest goals here are one, trying to prove him right and number two, trying to make him proud. I’m excited about both of those.
850 KOA: You’re well aware, obviously, of all the debate, all the discussion about your skill set. Why has there been so much more passion about your skill set compared to all the other guys in the draft?
TT: I’m not really sure. It could be for a lot of reasons. There are a lot of things that are a little bit unique about me. I’m outspoken. I stand up for what I believe. I’ve had a little bit of success in college. Those are some of the things. I just try to go out and live my life passionately every day and try to be the best player/person I can be and let the chips fall where they may.
850 KOA: You’ve worked a great deal on how you throw the football. Talk about what you’ve done and the progress you’ve made to try to be the kind of quarterback the NFL wants.
TT: I’ve worked with several different quarterback coaches to try to improve my fundamentals footwork-wise, throwing motion-wise, trying to shorten my delivery, make it more compact, more precise, more accurate. I feel like I really have accomplished it. I was blessed with great quarterback coaches and I think they helped me out a lot. I’m excited to continue working and getting better here.
850 KOA: Is it fair to say that the phrases, “He can’t,” “He isn’t” motivate you a little bit?
TT: I think it’s more than fair to say. It definitely motivates me. I’m going to have a chip on my shoulder for a long time because that is going to be my goal, to try to prove people wrong and to handle the criticism and handle people saying, “You can’t” and show them that I can.
850 KOA: There seems to be a connection with you and Coach McDaniels. What is it about him, what was it when you first met him that caught your attention?
TT: There are so many things. If I had to pick, I’d say that we’re passionate about life and football and we’re determined. There are a lot of similarities between him and my former coach, (Florida) Coach (Urban) Meyer. We (Coach McDaniels and I) love football, we’re passionate about life (and) we’re determined to accomplish our goals. He has people saying that his style doesn’t (work). I have people saying mine doesn’t (work). We can go out there and try to prove people wrong and I’m excited about it.
850 KOA: You’ve been very outspoken about saying you believe you can be a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL. What do you know that many people watching you and evaluating you don’t know?
TT: The biggest thing about playing quarterback is (it’s) about what you can’t teach. It’s about what’s inside of you. You can’t measure your heart; you can’t measure your head; you can’t measure who you are as a person. There have been a lot of people who haven’t been as big, as strong, as fast but have been great players because they’ve had the heart of a giant. That’s what I’m trying to have and feel I do (have) and I’m just trying to go out there and show it.
Please be sure to check back soon for part two with Tim Tebow. Tim will talk about how similar the Broncos’ offense is to the offense he ran at Florida, his perspective on life and football, and more.
Thanks for reading and if you would like to post your thoughts about the Broncos’ new quarterback, please feel free to do so. I always enjoy your posts.
Best,
Mike
TT!! Definetely this guy will be great for the Denver Broncos.. I surely believe..
mike thanks for showing this to us. I really hope TT can be our starter… he’s determine to be the best.. and that’s what i want in my Denver Broncos.. can’t wait for the season to start!!! Fly – Errrr
Thanks for the info Mike,and I think this kid has the biggest heart,and the biggest will to win,than any other player in the draft.If McD can mold him into shape(without trying to change too much)I think he can make it as a big time NFL QB and a big time leader,something we’ve lacked at the QB spot since the Master,Elway.
I have a question fot you:Honestly what do you think of Tebow,and do you think he will pan out,and when(just asking for an opinion).
Westbrook visiting today,if we sign him,he’ll take the place of JJ Arrington.I know there is controversy about whether we should sign him or not,and he has concussion issues,but I think if we could use him 5-10 plays a game,keep his touches to a minimum,for the right price,I’d sign him,he’s a great receiver outta the backfield,and a workhorse,and would provide leadership on Offense.jomho
Thanks to all for the comments.
BeastFromEast92…When the Broncos traded back into the first round and drafted Tebow, I said then I loved the move and I loved the pick. I still believe that.
Can Tebow play? I don’t know. But my opinion is he can and he will be a really, really good player. And it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he turns out to be a great player.
He has everything you would want. Coach McDaniels told us on 850 KOA that he believes Tebow’s mechanics can be corrected by repetition and work ethic.
As you mentioned, his heart, work ethic, passion, and leadership are absolutely off the charts. He will be able to correct whatever it is in his throwing mechanics that needs to be corrected.
I think Tebow will get on the field this year. I’m not sure he’ll be the starter at the beginning of the season but as the season goes along, my opinion is he will get more and more playing time.
I’ll share a story about why I’m so excited about Tebow. Recently Coach McDaniels told us that he and his staff focused more the qualities Tebow has and his accomplishments rather than his shortcomings or things that he needs to change. I love this approach.
In 2006, the San Francisco Giants drafted right-handed pitcher Tim Lincecum with the 10th overall pick in the baseball draft. Lincecum was a college star but was only 5-11, 172 pounds, an especially slight build for a right-hander.
In addition, Lincecum’s mechanics are, to say the least, unique. Many talent evaluators believed his unorthodox delivery would lead to injuries and he would not develop into a good major league pitcher.
Needless to say, the doubters were dead wrong. Lincecum has won the last two NL CY Young Awards (best pitcher in the league) and is one of the very best pitchers in all of Major League Baseball.
In 2006, the Rockies had the second overall selection in the draft and picked a right-hander named Greg Reynolds, whose career has been derailed by injuries and has not yet taken off.
A year or two ago, I asked Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd what he would do differently when again faced with the possiblity of taking a guy with some qualities like Lincecum. He told me he would focus more on what Lincecum had done in college, his success, the reasons he was a great pitcher for that level, etc. and not worry so much about things like an unorthodox delievery, height and weight and such.
I see Tebow as a parallel situation. I believe too many people have focused on the wrong stuff. The guy is a winner. The guy is a leader. The guy lives football. The guy works his tail off. The guy inspires others.
All that is left is for Tebow’s NFL career to take off. We all know there are no guarantees. But if I were a betting man, I would bet on Tebow’s career taking off.
Mike
Thanks for all the info Mike. Exciting read. Well I`m a betting man, and I`ve put all my chips in on Tebow. I love everything I know about Tebow, and I`m as excited as I am today as I was about John Elway when we got him in the trade back in 83. WOW!WOW!WOW!
Thanks for posting this Mike. Just confirmed what I already thought about Tebow… that he will be a very hard-working player and who loves the game. That’s what we need. This guy is definitely a class act. I have all the faith in the world that Tebow will overcome the odds, defy the critics and make a name for himself. He’s gonna write his own story in the NFL and I can’t wait to see it. Go get ‘em you Bronco!!!!! lol
Keep the faith Bronco Country…
GO BRONCOS in 2010!!!!!
i must admit i held a pretty negative view of this pick on draft night based solely on the negative spin so many had put on tim’s mechanics. but i must admit that ive changed my opinion of the guy and cant wait to see him leading our team. i dont know if i think he should start this season but the point is to put your best 11 on the field and if he wins the right to be one of those 11 through hard work and dedication then i would certainly not be disappointed!
Go Broncos
“THE BATTLE IS WON IN THE TRENCHES”
PS… i heard a rumor (second hand) that tebow already has his playbook memorized….. if thats true then we could be in for a SERIOUS battle come training camp!
24_champbailey…it will definitely be fun to see things start to play out in training camp and then into the preseason and regular season.
strandoftds…I agree it is exciting. There was probably more of a concensus that Elway was going to be a great player than there is with Tebow. The concensus with Tebow seems to be that there is no concensus. But I, too, am excited to see how this plays out. I’ll say this, if Tebow can play, he will take Denver and the region by storm.
07elway…you hit the nail on the head when you used the phrase “class act.” Tebow is undoubtedly that. And he will work really, really hard to be a great player. I know Broncos fans are hoping he becomes that. Shoot, I’m hoping that, too!
rayjr26…thanks for your honesty. Regardless of what anyone thinks, regardless of what has been said to this point, we will all find out soon enough how good Tebow is, or how good he isn’t. There is no hiding in the NFL. If you can’t play, then you won’t have a job. I believe one Mr. Russell could comment on that.
Your comment, “The battle is won in the trenches” also brings up a good point: Tebow can’t do it all by himself. He needs good players around him. I am interested to see how the whole team comes together starting in training camp.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Tebow already has the playbook memorized but I can’t say for certain he does. I heard a story after the draft that when Coach McDaniels and others went down to Florida shortly before the draft to work Tebow out and get a sense of how he might pick up the Broncos’ offense, Tebow quickly was able to grasp concepts and offer thoughts on what should be done in certain situations, what should be done given this defense or that defense.
Again, I can’t say for certain that story is true but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if it were. Regardless, there will be great QB competition in training camp.
Mike
Thanks for the feedback Mike,it’s always great to get the prospective from a person like yourself.
I drink Orange Koolaid….
I have Orange Raybans…..
They call me a Joshkateer……
I LOVE ME SOME DENVER TEBRONCOS!!!!!!
I LOVE ME SOME MIKE RICE!!!!!
Love, Love, Love, Love, really, really, really, LOVE, LOVE me some Tebow!!!
As I said before, THis is going to be a great season win or lose!
I also wanted to share the fact that all of those wanting to get thier TEBOW jersey still… http://www.jersrysrus.net has all three colors, stiched Tebow jerseys with free shipping for only $55! THis is not a pitch just wanted to share with Broncos Country!
I cant wait to see what plays they delvelop just to get him on the Field.
I also hope we can address the third down problems we encountered last year!
One little side note, not to rub it in but I am so excited to say I am finally a season ticket Holder!!!!!!
This is BRONCOS COUNTRY!!!
I was critical of the pick, but after hearing everything since he became one of our beloved Broncos, how could you not root for the guy. Good luck Tebow and great piece Mr. Rice.
GO BRONCOS 2K10!!!!!!!!!!
I’m a Gator; and Bronco fan now. Good luck Tebow; you had to prove to us coming in and you did; fantastically; seriously O’ fans……this guy is bigger than life; you’ll see…here are some fun facts about tebow;
When you open a can of whoop-ass, Tim Tebow jumps out.
When Google can’t find something, it asks Tim Tebow for help.
You can lead a horse to water. Tim Tebow can make him drink.
Tim Tebow can get McDonald’s breakfast after 10:30.
Tim Tebow can get a Big Mac at Burger King.
When the boogie man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Tim Tebow.
Did not take him long to show us what he had….made people do crazy things; example below;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfQm1Lg_8oA
I honestly dont know if it was a good idea or not. Sure he was a great QB in college but we cant decide whether he’ll be good or not off of that. There has been many many busts and i hate to see it but i can see him becoming a huge bust possibly the biggest in history and we can only hope he proves us Broncos fans that he can lead us to a championship…
“PAY DOOM”
Go Broncos!!!
hopefully one of our qb is the answer for this season. I like what mcdaniels is doing but I feel we are going to need a nother season. I want a superbow we have the perfect team.l if we only still had john!! Ho and pay doom!!!!!!
60 minutes of football go broncos!!!
Thanks, for the article, Mike…the more we find out about TT, the better–
Tim, you are the REAL DEAL! I am so glad you are a Bronco now, and you can bring your great convictions, both on and off the field, to the Broncos world.
Keep being a great disciple!
Proud of you, man–