Oops, He Did It Again

This Friday I will be having lunch at a Mexican restaurant.

1:00pm.

I don’t usually plan that far ahead.

But this Friday has been on my calendar for six months.

Unfortunately.

Friday is the day that I will be paying off a debt.

You see at the beginning of the NFL season I made a bet with a friend.

If my Raiders won the AFC West, he would buy me lunch.

If his Broncos won the AFC West, I would buy him lunch.

If neither team won the West.

Which seemed the most likely at the time.

We would go Dutch.

Well, we’d go Mexican, but each of us would pay.

Five games into the season, the Raiders had a winning record.

The Broncos had just one win.

Thanks to Tim Tebow that feels like a million years ago.

If you need me to recap what Tebow has done over the last 12 weeks, you’ve probably already stopped reading this blog.

The bottom line is Tebow and the rest of the Broncos will be playing a game next weekend.

While 24 other teams will not.

Including the Raiders.

Call it luck.

Call it faith.

Call it laith.

Call it fu...

Call it whatever you want, but Tim Tebow is a playoff winning quarterback.

Period.

And because of it he’s 250 geez richer.

You see Tebow gets a quarter mil for every playoff game the Broncos win.

As long as he played in most of it.

That’s on top of the eight mil he already got during the year.

So even with all the criticism he gets, don’t feel too bad for young Timmy.

But still.

Everybody but his mother thinks that he’s a joke.

Did you watch the halftime show?

The Broncos were winning 20-6.

You would’ve thought they were losing by 9000.

These ex-jock super geniuses gave Tebow exactly zero credit for leading this game.

Well Shannon Sharpe might’ve given Tebow credit, but I can’t understand a word he says.

By the end of the first half, Tebow had thrown for one touchdown.

And run for another.

The first Broncos quarterback (not named Elway) to do that in a playoff game.

But instead of praising Tebow, CBS expert Norman Esiason said...

“But can he do it again in the second half?”

Now this is the same Norman who averaged 150 passing yards in his six career playoff games.

Tebow did that in the first half of his.

In fact, he threw for 185 yards before the break.

In double fact, Tebow completed four passes of at least 30 yards in the second quarter.

That’s the first time in NFL Playoff History.

HIS-TOR-Y.

That a quarterback has done that in one quarter.

Tom Brady didn’t do it.

Peyton Manning didn’t do it.

Dan Marino didn’t do it.

And Norman Esiason certainly didn’t do it.

But instead of praising Tebow, Norman was still trying to tear him down.

And it wasn’t the first time.

Just five months ago Norman said this about Tebow:

“He can’t play.  He can’t throw.  I’m not here to insult him.”

REALLY?

“The reality is he was a great college football player... but he’s not an NFL quarterback right now.”

HOW ABOUT NOW NORMAN!

“Just because he’s God-fearing and a great person off the field... doesn’t mean his game is going to translate to the NFL.”

TELL THAT TO KURT WARNER.

“If he wanted to marry my daughter, I’d be happy as hell.  But I wouldn’t want him to be my starting quarterback.”

TOO BAD.

For a few nervous moments in the second half, it looked like Norman and the rest of the CBS crew might get their way.

But it was a fumble by Tebow’s teammate, Willis McGahee.

And not a turnover by Tebow that turned this game around.

But even with the Steelers coming back, it was Tebow’s arm that sent the Broncos fans home with a smile.

And sent the Steelers home for the rest of the winter.

A 15-yard strike, which turned into an 80-yard touchdown.

An 80-yard overtime game winning playoff touchdown. 

Tim Tebow stood toe-to-toe with the great Ben Roethlisberger Sunday afternoon in Denver.

And he beat him.

Well Tim's Broncos beat Ben’s Steelers.

But you get the point.

You can blame it on Ben’s overinflated left ankle.

Or the Steelers overinflated list of injuries.

Or the altitude.

Or the horoscope.

Or the whatever you want.

Bottom line.

Broncos-29, Steelers-23.

And this is a Raiders fan talking.

And believe you me this was a painful game to watch.

My heart said screw the Broncos.

My head said, RUN FOREST RUN.

The last thing I want to see is the Broncos win.

Especially with a team that uses more smoke and mirrors than shoulder pads.

Honestly, I’m not even sure this Broncos team could beat Alabama.

But what I do know is that they beat the Steelers.

And next week, they have a chance to beat the Patriots.

Ok, they have NO chance to beat the Patriots.

Or do they?

I'm a Tebowliever

Let me begin with this disclaimer.

I am a huge fan of the Oakland Raiders.

Diehard.

And that’s what this team does to its fans.

It kills us.

Yes, we have won three Super Bowls.

But the last one happened when I was in high school.

And lets just say that the silver in my hair has nothing do with the Raiders colors.

Good or bad I haven’t missed a game all year.

Including last week’s disaster in Miami.

This week’s disaster in Green Bay.

And next week’s disaster against Detroit.

But we will bounce back.

We always do.

And then we will lose again.

We always do that too.

Screw the box of chocolates.

Life is like the Raiders.

You never know what you’re gonna get.

Win or lose, they are my Raiders.

And they’ve got my unconditional love.

But reality is reality.

Whatever we had going for us a few weeks ago.

Is gone.

Long gone.

The way things are going right now, there’s a better chance of me running a marathon.

Uphill.

Both ways.

Barefoot.

In a snowstorm.

Than there is the Raiders making the playoffs.

The same can’t be said for the rival Denver Broncos.

It was really cute two months ago when their lovable lefty quarterback pulled out a miracle win against the Dolphins.

But then he did it again.

Against the Raiders.

And the Chiefs.

And the Jets.

And the Chargers.

And the Vikings.

But what happened on Sunday against the Bears was nothing short of divine interception.

Ok, it was a fumble.

But you get the point.

Houdini would’ve blushed at the way this game finished.

This ending was so far fetched, I thought I was watching the Buffalo Wild Wings commercial.

Tim Tebow is far from perfect when it comes to playing a football game.

But when it comes to talking the right game, he is a Hall of Famer.

Humble.

Optimistic.

Fearless.

I could go on all day.

I’ve got thesaurus.com bookmarked.

Now as a disciple of the Lox, Eggs & Onions, I could do without all his “my lord and savior” stuff.

But when you’ve pulled out more miracles than Elijah you can praise any one you want.

There’s no question that Tim Tebow’s recent success has opened many eyes around the country.

But thanks to my friend Jon, I knew about this train way before it left the station.

Almost a decade ago Jon told me about this home-schooled high school kid in his Jacksonville neighborhood.

The next big thing.

But even after winning a National Championship.

As a freshman.

A Heisman Trophy.

As a sophomore.

Another National Championship.

As a Junior.

Being selected 25th out of the 255 players in the 2010 draft.

Tim Tebow was still considered nothing more than a joke.

But who’s laughing now.

The Broncos have won seven of their last eight games with Tebow under center.

They are locked in first place.

On the verge of making the playoffs.

Tim Tebow is as legit as M.C. Hammer.

As a Raiders fan, it’s been difficult to watch.

But thanks to my friend David, everything is getting more in focus.

Like me, David is a Raiders fan.

And like me, we both hope there’s one of them miracles ahead for the Silver and Black.

We spoke last week after the Broncos last second win in Minnesota moved them into a first place tie with our team.

When David heard the woe is me in my voice, he knew it was time to bring out some Tebow-style inspiration.

David told me that because of his undying love for the Lakers and the Dodgers.

He spent his childhood hating Pete Rose and Larry Bird.

Instead of appreciating their genius.

Now as a much more mature sports fan, he wasn’t going to let that happen again.

The Raiders are still #1 in his heart.

But instead of rooting against everything Broncos.

He is sincerely enjoying a phenomenon that we have never seen before.

And may never see again.

He is a Tebowliever.

I knew exactly where he was coming from on the whole Rose/Bird thing.

To this day, I get sick every time I think of John Elway or Graig Nettles or Jack Clark or ...

I could go on.

But the point is, what we are seeing with the Broncos right now is nothing short of ... miraculous.

And rooting against Tim Tebow just because of the color of his... 

uniform... 

...is rooting against everything that is right with sports.

Enjoy the ride.

Go Raiders!

Just Joshing

It feels so good to be right.

It doesn’t happen very often.

To me.

But when it does...

WOO-HOO.

April 22, 2010.

Josh McDaniels was right.

Oh so right.

That was the day McDaniels made Tim Tebow the future of the Denver Broncos.

A year and change later Tebow is the hottest quarterback in the NFL right now.

McDaniels wiggled his way into the 25th overall pick in that 2010 draft.

He traded three precious draft picks to do so.

And he selected Tebow.

A winning quarterback who did everything wrong.

Everything.

He runs instead of throws.

Throws left instead of right.

Praises God, instead of making it rain.

The football world couldn’t believe McDaniels would put his faith in a no-talent nothing whose only quality was his faith.

Brian Baldinger, who played 13 years in the NFL and is now an analyst for the NFL Network, said...

“It’s a move that puts the Broncos behind five years.”

CBS Sports National Columnist Mike Freeman wrote:

Denver wasted a valuable first-round pick on a player who will do nothing for years unless they move Tebow to fullback or make him a missionary and have him snip foreskins. 

ESPN, who broadcasts the NFL draft, gave the Broncos a grade of F for taking Tebow.

But even with all the jokes, McDaniels got his guy.

And he couldn’t have been happier.

“He’s been a winner and you could see why,” McDaniels said.

“Tim’s a player that’s capable of doing different things.  He gives you an opportunity to create some packages.”

“You can get creative.”

That was April 22, 2010.

Just 592 days ago.

McDaniels was the head coach of them Broncos.

The man put in charge of returning this great franchise to glory.

Owner Pat Bowlen had given McDaniels the keys to his car.

And McDaniels was taking that car for quite the spin.

From the moment he arrived, the 160-pound McDaniels threw his weight around.

He got into a public spat with star quarterback Jay Cutler.

Two months later, Cutler was gone.

He got into another public spat with star receiver Brandon Marshall.

Within a year, he was gone too.

McDaniels was doing it his way.

Dammit.

Some thought maybe the altitude in Denver was causing McDaniels head to swell.

That was never confirmed.

But what we did know is that this guy finally got a seat in the big boy chair and he was calling the shots.

All of them.

At the ripe old age of 32, McDaniels was the third-youngest head coach in the history of the NFL.

But he didn’t get this job without some good credentials.

Eight years under Bill Belichick as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots.

Where he was the voice in Tom Brady’s helmet.

When they won three Super Bowls together.

McDaniels was the real deal.

And he paid instant dividends for the Broncos.

Six of them.

He became the fourth rookie coach in the history of the NFL to win his first six games.

Hall of Fame, here I come.

(RECORD SCRATCH SOUND)

Not so fast.

Out of nowhere, something went wrong.

Terribly wrong.

Like two wins in their last ten games of that 2009 season wrong.

Three wins in the first 12 games of the 2010 season wrong.

And poof, McDaniels was gone.

Just.

Like.

That.

Fired, with an F.

Exactly one year ago today.

Happy Anniversary!

Now a firing is never a good thing.

Especially these days.

But in the case of McDaniels you can put aside the kleenex.

The Broncos still owed him $7.5 Million when they let him go.

Which he will collect in full.

And after losing that job, he found another one.

As the offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams.

Granted -- one of the worst teams in the entire league.

But McDaniels still has a future in front of him.

It will just be the past that haunts him.

A past where he was right.

When everybody said he was wrong.

It's Tebow Time

How can you not love Tim Tebow.

He’s the Sanjaya of the NFL.

No matter what he does.

He wins.

No matter how he does it.

He wins.

No matter how many experts say what a loser he is.

He wins.

Now as a diehard Raiders fan, I’m not really wild about having such a winner in our division.

But this guy is truly something.

Terrible.

Erratic.

Brutal

Odious.

Wretched.

That’s Tebow.

But at the end of the game.

He just beat you.

Somehow.

And nobody can really explain how he does it.

Not me.

Not the broadcasters.

Not his coaches.

But today I found a higher source that must know something that none of us do.

My iPhone.

When I went to send a text with Tebow’s name in it, my iPhone told me that Tebow is not a word.

It suggested changing “Tebow” to “Renown”.

As in “a state of being widely acclaimed or highly honored.”

Now that’s a smart phone.

Tim Tebow might’ve been great at throwing a football through a tire at the Florida Fairground.

But in the NFL, he can barely complete a pass.

Last week in Kansas City he threw the ball eight times.

In the entire game.

Completed two.

As in One.

And Two.

That’s it.

That’s 25% for those of you without a calculator.

Those two passes went for a grand total of 69 yards.

Tom Brady does that in two minutes.

Tim Tebow does that in a game.

For most quarterbacks, 69 passing yards in a game would equal a trip to the Arena Football League.

For Tim Tebow it meant a win.

Another win.

His third win in four weeks since becoming the starter.

Wins against the pathetic Miami Dolphins.

The enigmatic Oakland Raiders.

And those anemic Chiefs from Kansas City.

But in the NFL, a win is a win.

And right now Tebow is piling them up.

Like a stack of pancakes at IHOP.

His latest conquest came Thursday night in Denver.

Against the not-so-high flying Jets of New York.

For 55 minutes, Tebow was his usual terrible self.

15 passes.

Six completions.

69 yards.

The same exact 69 yards he threw for one week earlier.

When he beat the Chiefs.

But the game is not 55 minutes long.

It’s 60.

And in the last five minutes, Tebow did what Tebow do.

Win.

He led the Broncos on a where-in-the-hell-did-this-come-from 95-yard drive.

From one side of the field.

To the other.

Running the final 20 yards.

Into the end zone.

For the game-winning touchdown.

Again.

Watching a Denver quarterback rally his team to victory in the final minutes of a game is nothing new.

John Elway made a career of it.

But Tim Tebow is no John Elway.

He is better.

Hey, that’s not me talking.

That’s the numbers.

In his first eight starts, John Elway had a record of 3-5.

With three touchdowns.

And 10 interceptions.

In his first eight starts, Tim Tebow has a record of 5-3.

With 10 touchdowns.

And four interceptions.

Wait, there’s more.

In his entire career -- you know, those eight starts (plus two in relief).

Tebow has rallied the Broncos back from 10+ points in the fourth quarter to win three times.

In his 234 games, Elway -- the Hall of Famer -- rallied the Broncos back from 10+ points in the fourth quarter.

Twice.

Now you don’t need 3D glasses to see that the style of Tebow and the style of Elway have absolutely nothing in common.

Nothing.

But at the end of the day, they both know how to win.

And now they are attached at the hip.

When Tebow reached the end zone to win the game on Thursday night.

The first thing the TV broadcast did was cut to a shot of Big John.

In his luxury suite.

Wearing his new hat as the Executive VP of Football Operations for the Broncos.

Tebow’s Broncos.

Elway was clapping.

And almost smiling.

But let’s be honest.

Tim Tebow winning in Denver is the last thing that John Elway expected when he took the job in January.

And if I were a gambling man, I would double down that Elway doesn’t believe that Tebow can win a Super Bowl.

But after the last month, there is a 0.0 chance Elway will be able to get rid of Tebow at the end of the year.

As he had planned.

And with TebowMania running wild, there is a 0.0 chance Elway will select his franchise quarterback in the next draft.

As he had planned.

But Tebow Time is not just a Denver story anymore.

It's the best story to happen to the NFL in years.

And that's something that nobody expected.