"Tebowmania" dies this weekend

"I once caught a fish THIS BIG"

The Tim Tebow Train continues to roll on.  Between ESPN, NFL Network, and the various web outlets, "Tebowmania" is running wild.  This, despite the fact that the golden boy comes into his first NFL playoff game off of three consecutive failures, games in which he was the absolute reason for his team's inability to win.

Let's do some inventory here......

Yes, Tim Tebow was a fantastic college player. He led Florida to consecutive 13 win seasons, won a BCS National Title, and added a Heisman Trophy to round it all out.  He did all of this while becoming the most popular human in the state of Florida since Walt Disney decided to turn 1,000 acres of swampland into the "Happiest Place on Earth".

Tim Tebow may be the greatest player to ever come out of the University of Florida, a school that has provided us with such icons as Emmitt Smith and Jack Youngblood.  There is no doubt that when the list of greatest NCAA football players of all time is created (again), Tebow has a shot to be on the list.

However, the National Football League is NOT college football.  The NFL is where major college football stars go to die.  It is where men are separated from the boys, where the "flash in the pan" comes and goes faster than a Kardashian wedding.  Many players over the years have intrigued the masses with a streak of early success at the pro level, only to return swiftly to their bed of mediocrity once they use up all 15 minutes of their fame.

Case in point....

Don Majkowski was the "Magic Man" in 1989 for the Green Bay Packers.  A franchise that had gone through a severe drought of talent during the previous decade, Majkowski became a national sensation when he led the Pack to a 10-6 record and made the Pro Bowl.  After that, injuries and fate took their turns banging the magic out of the "Magic Man".  In 1992, he was the starter coming out of camp and looked to be getting his act together until he tore up his leg in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.  He was replaced by fate......a man named Favre.  You all know how that story ends.

Brian Bosworth was one of the most publicized players to enter the NFL, but for all the wrong reasons.  Considered one of the most dominating defensive players to ever play college football, Bosworth was a sure-fire 1st round pick in the NFL Draft.  Unfortunately for "The Boz" he tested positive for anabolic steroids prior to the 1987 Orange Bowl, ending his college career early.  He entered the NFL Supplemental Draft in 1987 and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks - who amazingly enough were not on Bosworth's list of teams he stated he "would not play for".  The Seahawks being the Seahawks, they figured they might be able to sell some seats in the Kingdome if they brought Bosworth in.  Unfortunately for Seattle, Bosworth could never cash the checks his big mouth wrote.  In a Monday Night Football game against the Raiders, he called out RB Bo Jackson and stated that he could contain Jackson.  "Bo Knows" knew what to do.  He proceeded to rush for 221 yards and 3 TD's, one of which came on a goal line play where Jackson simply ran over the brash rookie LB.  A short two years later, a lifetime of steroid abuse had taken its toll on the 25-year old player and he was forced to retire.  Bosworth will be remembered as perhaps the most talked-about athlete of the pre-internet era.


Will Tim Tebow join the ranks of these past "greats" of the flash in the pan variety?  In short, the answer is yes.  Tebow has gotten to this point of the season by virtue of luck.  His luck ends this Sunday, when he sees the first REAL NFL defense of his short career.  The Steelers will force Tebow to make quick decisions and they will take advantage of his desire to leave the pocket by rushing him from both sides.  When he decides to make a rushed throw, he will be throwing to the best defensive unit in the NFL against the pass.

Game. Set. Match.


So after this Sunday, "Tebowmania" can take its rightful place on the shelf of highly hyped up fads of the past 20 years.  Once his locker is cleaned out this Sunday, he will go back to playing altar boy as the Denver Broncos begin the search for a real NFL quarterback.  A few "fads" comparable to "Tebowmania".......

The Tupperware Party!

Garbage Pail Kids!

Spuds McKenzie!

..and the California Raisins!

"Tebowmania" will look great sitting between Furbys and Pogs!

The death of "Tebowmania is upon us folks, whatever will the main stream sports media do?