If you follow the NFL, you know that Sunday marked the true start of the Tim Tebow era in Denver, as he made his first 2011 start at Quarterback after replacing the struggling Kyle Orton.
And in that game, against the winless Miami Dolphins, Tebow performed a fourth quarter miracle, leading the Broncos to an overtime win. Tebow led two drives and helped the team score 15 points in the last few minutes of regulation. After the game, it was obvious that Tim Tebow was thrilled. The rest of the Denver Broncos also seemed pretty happy. Lord knows that the Denver fans, who had been calling for Tebow for months, were ecstatic.
But how did the rest of the world feel about Tebow after he led his team to victory? Twitter seemed to become one large discussion board, focused on the merits of the young quarterback.
And it’s fascinating to see the level of interest that the Twitterverse has in Tebow. Sports Illustrated writer Richard Deitsch sums it up perfectly:
@richarddeitsch
Richard DeitschHilarious to follow NFL games on Twitter: anger, joy, sarcasm, ego, irrationalities, deification. And that’s just on the Tebow tweets.
18 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
On that note, let’s look at what the sports analysts had to say:
ESPN personality Doug Gottlieb had a lot to say about Tebow:
@GottliebShow
Doug GottliebTebow game everyone wins-Fins suck for Luck,Tebow fans get scoreboard-legit analysis says Tebow cant throw-narrative lasts another week 17 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@GottliebShow
Doug GottliebTebow is a nice sideshow for Denver- Cam Newton is starting to limit mistakes-superstar in the making 17 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@GottliebShow
Doug GottliebTebow Followers are the Palin followers of sports-cant have a normal conversation w/them-like Palin no one in industry believes long term 13 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@GottliebShow
Doug GottliebRT @Jonesy2x4: @GottliebShow Tebow cant throw the football, so when people say hes not a typical QB that must be what they mean first 13 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
ESPN’s Jim Rome was also critical:
@jimrome
Jim RomeTim Tebow looked like an H-back trying to play QB for most of the game. Credit for beating the NFL’s worst, I guess. He has a long way to go 13 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@jimrome
Jim Rome50% of responses to Tebow tweet: “Hater.” I’m not here to hate: just to say he should throw it to his receivers, not the beer vendors. 12 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
Not everyone in the sports world was hyper-critical of Tebow after his first start:
@RealSkipBayless
Skip BaylessTim Tebow just wins. Road underdog vs. pretty good D, rush all over him all day, no real weapons, just started making late plays. Just won. 17 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@AdamSchefter
Adam SchefterOf the six quarterbacks that made their first start of the season Sunday, Tim Tebow was the only one to emerge a winner.. 3 hours ago via WhoSay · powered by @socialditto
@StuartScott
Stuart ScottTim Tebow–not great mechanics or arm strength/accuracy–BUT leader..Passion Integrity Hard work..what matters more SKILLS or INTANGIBLES? 22 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
The Tim Tebow obsession spreads far beyond the world of paid sports analysts, and Twitter has been a hotbed for Tebow jokes since the game on Sunday:
@FauxJohnMadden
Faux John MaddenOn this Sunday, Tim Tebow has resurrected the Broncos from the dead! 19 hours ago via Echofon · powered by @socialditto
@TheFakeESPN
The Fake ESPNTim Tebow has started to call 3rd downs “Muslims” because of how much trouble he has converting them. 20 hours ago via HootSuite · powered by @socialditto
@TheBillWalton
The Bill Walton TripThe glowing force behind Tim Tebow has evidently anointed Miami as his destination of choice for Andrew Luck. 18 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@anthonyjeselnik
Anthony JeselnikPretty impressive that Jesus carried Tim Tebow for 65 yards today. 18 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@kenthinguy
Ken SchultzTim Tebow led the Broncos to a comeback victory over Miami. God’s work sure is easier when he puts a winless opponent on the schedule. 4 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto
@robfee
Rob FeeTim Tebow played 3 awful quarters but has had an amazing 4th. He’s bizarro Lebron James. 19 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
And speaking of LeBron James, the King himself tweeted about Tebow’s victory:
@KingJames
LeBron JamesCongrats to @TimTebow for that comeback win today. Impressive! He’s just a winner. 18 hours ago via UberSocial for BlackBerry · powered by @socialditto
And he received massive backlash for the tweet –
@billbarnwell
Bill BarnwellIf anyone would know… RT @KingJames: Congrats to @TimTebow for that comeback win today. Impressive! He’s just a winner. 17 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
@RealSkipBayless
Skip BaylessCan’t wait to talk about LeBron’s tweet about Tebow. If only LeBron could say that about himself … 17 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto
It’s clear that Tebow is a highly controversial sports figure, for reasons on and off the field. What do you think? Why is he such a lightning rod when it comes to internet chatter? Let us know in the comments.