Ok not everyone but anyone that was remotely connected to the broncos was sayin Tebow was gone. Ex-Players especially where all over the radio. Rod Smith, Bill Romanowski, Al Williams, etc... to man said they couldnt see Elway holding on to Tebow if Manning signed.
Again, that was different people offering their opinions. yes, many said that he would be gone. Others thought that he could stay and be the backup. In the end, both camps were offering their opinions, but that's really moot as the decision was up to Elway.
We're just going to go back and forth on this forever so I'll be quick and to the point here. Yes I was talking about Tebow's 3rd year, this coming year. I've never seen a comparison made like that before, with 2 QBs who haven't been in the league more than 3 years. When you make comparisons, you compare similar situations. For example, comparing Mark Sanchez to Eli Manning is one of the best ones out there. Mark Sanchez had nearly identical stats to Eli in his first 3 seasons in the NFL. The comparison is valid because they both started straight out of college, played for teams with a heavy rushing attack and a strong defense. You can look at both careers and deduce that Sanchez could possibly reach Eli's level some day. That would be a valid comparison although it certainly doesn't mean he definitely will. Their careers started out almost the same exact way. Eli won his first superbowl in his 4th season, btw and now I consider him elite or close to it. Fair enough, I misjudged you then. Tebow & Sanchez simply don't have enough in common to compare them, and not enough time in the league because they haven't fully developed.
My friend, if you "haven't seen a comparison like that", then I'd have to submit that you haven't read too many threads on too many team boards. Comparisons like this are done just about every single day and people try to "factor in" things like the type of offensive system, or how bad so and so's Oline is, or what weapons they are surrounded with, or how bad a guy's OC was and how he was inhibited because of it. Scenario and question for you. Say that Sanchez and Tebow get in a horrible wreck out at Jet's West, and McElroy starts every single game this year. When people start evaluating him, will they compare his performance to other 2nd year starters ? Say, like Cam Newton, or perhaps Sanchez's or Eli's 2nd year as a starter ? OR, given that he hasn't started a single game to date in the NFL, would he be compared to other "first year" QBs ? Like Sanchez or Eli's first year ? Do you honestly think he would be expected to put up the same kind of numbers in his first 16 starts (after 1 year as 3rd string QB), as Sanchez and Eli put up in their 16th - 30t starts ? Of course not. Oh, and BTW, Sanchez and Eli didn't both "start straight out of college". Eli sat behind Kurt Warner and didn't start until the 10th week of the season. Therefore, by your logic, it would be unfair and invalid to compare the two as Eli had the benefit of sitting a whole 10 weeks and learning, while Sanchez was thrown into the starting role right from the get go. Thanks Really ? The Jets were ground and pound for Sanchez's first 2 seasons. Funny thing, as much as people talk about Denver only being a running team, the run/pass split in Tebow's starts was 61.75% run, 38.25% pass. In Sanchez's first year, the Jet's run/pass split was 60.70% run, 39.30% pass. That's a difference of a whopping 1.05% if my math is correct.
You don't compare rookies as first time starters because there is a learning curve. Just as you dont compare a freshman QB to Senior QB even though they maybe first time starters. It takes time to adjust to the NFL the speed but most importantly time to work the playbook learn the reads where to go with the ball how to study film. Things rookie QBs get to do even when they are not starting. So Yes Mccelroy should be compared to second year starters not rookies because he is not a rookie. There have been a lot of QBs with Tebows numbers. You say Blaine Gabbert sucks and he very well may (To early yo tell) yet he threw for a higher completion percentage than Tebow did. He also demonstrated as you say on occasion he can throw from the pocket. By my criteria Gabbert has not shown he can throw from the pocket as Tebow has not either. The difference is nobody is praising how good Gabbert is he has to prove it on the field first.
2011 Stats: Blaine Gabbert threw 12 TDs to 11 INTs with 5 fumbles lost in 15 starts for a 65.4 passer rating (2,214 yards). He rushed for 98 yards and 0 TDs. Tim Tebow threw 12 TDs to 6 INTs with 7 fumbles lost in 13 starts for a 72.9 passer rating (1,729 yards). He rushed for 660 yards and 6 touchdowns. So yes, Blaine Gabbert had a marginally higher completion percentage, but total yards, TDs, turnovers, and passer rating... Tebow wins out pretty easily.
So just by virtue of having been in the league for a year, as a third string QB, you'd expect McElroy to put up numbers comparable to another QB who already has 16 starts under their belt ? That is absolutely asinine. There's more to learning about being a QB in the NFL than reading a freaking playbook or breaking down film. On the field experience does actually matter in most cases. Actually taking game day reps and seeing defenses up close and personal comes into play.
You would think this is an easy concept for people to grasp... You and I disagree on whether Sanchez is the better QB now - I think Tebow gives the Jets a better chance to win right now, but on pretty much every other point including this one, I agree with you completely.
yeah, some people just can't wrap their heads around it. I guess they think that the third string QB gets the same number of first team reps in TC and preseason. That they spend the same amount of time with the coaches going over things. Game planning, dissecting defenses, yada, yada, yada. On top of that, watching from the sidelines apparently provides just as much experience as actually stepping onto the field as the starter.
The irony is that the guy that they say has no ability and is not even an NFL QB is held to a higher standard than HOF QBs as far as how long it will take him to get comfortable in an offense and pass better. It makes no sense to me that someone with his history of prolific PASSING can be viewed as a poor passer based off of a ridiculous offense installed by John Fox, a marginal *at best* receiving corps, and very little OTA time. But of course, I am making excuses now because apparently I am an evangelical cultist, Bible thumping, Tebow-lover. No dude, actually I just went to UF and saw what Tebow can do.
