Tim Tebow: The most overrated player in the NFL?

Even many NFL players concede that Tebow is massively overhyped

The New York Jets' underperforming quarterback Tim Tebow has become one of the sports most polarizing athletes.
(Image credit: Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

NFL fans all over the country have spent the last year grappling with the grating, confounding popularity of Tim Tebow, a quarterback whose passing game is as mediocre as his personal character is admirable. And now, it seems that even Tebow's fellow NFL stars are tired of "Tebowmania." A recent poll of 180 active NFL players conducted by Sports Illustrated found that a whopping 34 percent think that Tebow, currently serving time as the New York Jets' backup quarterback, is the most overrated player in the league. Tebow earned that ignominious title last year, too, though in 2011's poll, he scored just 22 percent of the vote — indicating that players believe he's growing more overrated with time, not less. Is Tebow really the most overrated player in the NFL?

Of course he is: The players "nailed it," says James Walker at ESPN.com. Tebow has "quickly become one of the most popular and polarizing athletes in sports," bafflingly drawing as much media attention as elite players like Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. But he's not anywhere near their league, and it shows. This season, Tebow has thrown for just 32 yards and rushed for 76. Though he's not entirely unskilled, it's no surprise that the "unjustified hype" over his debut with the Jets has led to criticism from his fellow players.

"Players nailed it: Tim Tebow is overrated"

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Tebow doesn't deserve all this criticism: Tebow may have underperformed this season, but it's important to remember that he's "never been considered a franchise quarterback," and shouldn't be expected to compete with the league's top players, says Tim Kephart at CBS Sports. All the backlash against Tebow "has been built largely on his coverage by ESPN" — attention that Tebow "never actively sought." Tebow is widely reported to be "a great teammate" and "a hard worker both on and off the field," which is all anyone should expect him to be.

"Poll: Players name Tebow most overrated player in NFL"

Forget Tebow. What about Mark Sanchez? Whatever your opinion of Tebow's performance, the real loser here is the Jets' starting quarterback, Mark Sanchez, who tied with the Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo for the second most overrated player in the league, says Kacy Capobres at Fox News. Sanchez has now been ranked as the NFL's most overrated starter by his fellow players and one of the least popular players among NFL fans in a poll at Forbes. And don't forget that he was just publicly dumped by girlfriend Eva Longoria. Tebow can shrug off a single poll, but calling Sanchez's "past few days 'rough' would be an understatement."

"Tim Tebow & Mark Sanchez most overrated players in NFL"

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us