Jets fan first to be buried in Tim Tebow Jets jersey

A lifelong New York Jets fan made a deathbed prediction last week that his favorite team would get Tim Tebow and then, sadly, passed away.


In a cruel twist of fate, Russell Francis, spoke those words to his wife before news broke that Tebow was headed to New York in a trade with the Denver Broncos.  A swap that nobody saw coming, according to The New York Daily News.


His family will now send the Jets fan into eternity on Friday sporting a brand-new, green-and-white No. 15  New York Jets jersey as Tebow-mania hits its most unlikely venue yet: a funeral home.

The ink isn't even dry on the new Tebow jerseys and they're making their way into heaven already.

Widow Wendy Tatum told the Daily News she recalled one of her last conversations with her husband Francis, 44, as he battled lung cancer.

"He kept saying, 'They're going to get Tebow.  They're going to get Tebow,'" she said after shopping for the jersey for the shirt on Thursday.  "This was a whole week before the trade."

It sounds like Francis wasn't much of a Mark Sanchez fan.

Francis may be headed to that great stadium in the sky, but other visionary words he left behind might excite fans of Gang Green.

"He said they're going to the Super Bowl this year," his wife said.

Tebow-mania touches down in New Jersey; Next stop: New York

Tim Tebow finally arrived in the New York area as either the New York Jets latest experiment or new backup quarterback.  The unannounced flight touched down at Morristown Airport by — what else— private jet at approximately 3:20 this afternoon before he was whisked away.

Tebow exited the jet, shook some hands and was driven off the runway in a black luxury SUV as news choppers circled overhead.

Tebow-mania has already started and he's still 30 miles west of Met Life Stadium.

Last night, Tebow had a chance to address the media in New York via phone after the trade with the Denver Broncos was finalized.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity to to play for such a great organization," he said.

Tebow, who has spent a lot of time in the spotlight in the past year, was asked if he had any trepidation about life in the big city.

"Not really.  I'm excited about it," he said. "I think it's a great market.  It's a great city.  I'm excited to be a Jet now."

 The Jets have made it clear that incumbent quarterback Mark Sanchez was, and will be,  the Jets starter in 2012.  The new guy in town didn't seem bothered.

Tebow said he already talked with Sanchez on the phone after the trade and everything was fine between the two quarterbacks.

"We spoke on the phone yesterday.  Got caught up a little bit," said Tebow.  "Had a great conversation and looking forward to seeing him soon and working with him and, you know, we've been blessed to know each other over the last few years.  "I definitely have a lot of respect for him."

The Jets have not released the day and time of Tebow's official introduction as a Jets player, but expect a media crush.

If news choppers stalking a country airport is any indication— I think Tebow-mania is going to be bigger than ever.

Lin can't wait for Tebow-mania

If anybody knows sports hysteria it's Jeremy Lin.  The man who kicked off Linsanity in a New York Knicks uniform is thrilled that Tim Tebow is coming to town.

"It's awesome.  I'm just excited for him and to see what he does," said the Knicks point guard.

"We'll see what happens next year, but I'm excited obviously that he's going to be in New York," said Lin after dumping 16 fourth quarter points on the Philadelphia 76ers in last night night's 82-79 win.

Lin's rise to worldwide celebrity didn't come with the baggage Tebow-mania lugs into New York.  The journeyman NBA player was an anonymous benchwarmer crashing on his brother's couch when his star rose.

Tebow just doesn't want to end up being a couch— Tim Couch that is.

The expectations and questions surrounding Tebow's role as New York Jet are a lot more complicated than Lin's magical turn and the New York media is ready to pounce.

Tebow had his shining moments last season but now comes in with a $2.5 million, two second-round draft picks price tag.

Tebow-mania in Denver is being Cinderella — Tebow-mania in New York is the clock striking twelve.

Lin dealt handily with the few weeks of Linsanity and had some tips for the incoming quarterback/tight end/fullback/fill-in-the-blank to help cope with the distractions in his new city.

"Everyone gave me some advice— they said, 'Make sure not to read the papers,'" Lin joked with reporters.  "But I don't want to offend you guys.  But that's what I've been told.  I don't really read anything.  I think it helps me."

Lin said he did not talk with Tebow— who's #15 Jets jersey will soon replace Lin's as NYC's best seller— yesterday during the wild trade-talk frenzy between the Denver Broncos and Jets, but said he'd like to catch a few Jets games this season.

Both athletes are deeply religious men, and Lin revealed that he has never Tebowed with his fellow Christian.  That could all change once Tebow gets into the Jets dysfunctional locker room.

"I've only talked to him like once," said Lin. "But he's a great guy from everything I hear, and the conversation I had with him was great as well."

After Tebow meets Gang Green and the hungry media, he might want to keep a Bible handy and his phone's speed dial set to Linsanity.

Jets Tebow jerseys could already be collectibles

When word got around that Tim Tebow was traded to the New York Jets this afternoon, Tebow-mania hit New York City like well...  Linsanity and it didn't take long for the New York Jets Store in mid-town to start ironing out green and white #15 jerseys with Tebow's name on the back.

After the deal shockingly hit a snag, the store stopped producing the shirts.

Lucky for the few dozen New York Jets fans, who snagged the jerseys bearing Tebow's name on the back, they could now be holding a valuable collectible.

Apparently the Jets didn't read the fine print (who would have guessed) on the contract and found out they must pay an additional $5 million to secure the rights to the Broncos quarterback or the deal is off.  The decision is now in the hands of the Jets themselves.

If the Jets back out of the deal, cha-ching for the jersey owners.

As for Tebow, the good news is that #15 is currently not taken by any other Jets player.  The bad news  is it's on a Jets jersey.

The only other person I can remember wearing #15 for Gang Green was Babe Parilli.  Parilli was Joe Namath's backup in Super Bowl III.

Antonio Cromartie: No room for Tebow on Jets

Antonio Cromartie apparently isn't too keen on the New York Jets taking an interest in Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow in any capacity.  Cromartie tweeted about it after Denver signed Peyton Manning— all but ending Tebow's career with the Broncos.

The outspoken Jets cornerback used Twitter to express his feelings about pursuing Tebow.

"We don't need Tebow," Cromartie tweeted Tuesday.  "We sell out every home game let him go to Jacksonville Tampa or Miami."

Cromartie— one of the leaders of the mayhem in the Jets locker room— wasn't through trying to sway the Jets brass from bringing in the unorthodox quarterback.


"Our Wildcat offense can be run by (Jeremy) Kerley or Joe McKnight,"he tweeted.  "We have Mark_ Sanchez and just signed Drew.  Mark has taken us to 2 AFC championship game.  We need to build on the team we have right now."

Could introducing Tebow's ultra-religious character to the dysfunctional Jets locker room have something to do with Cromartie's rant.

Cromartie has a troublesome background and has fathered nine children with eight women in six states and doesn't exactly adhere to Tebow's beliefs.

The Jets cornerback does make some good points for not getting Tebow, but several people in the Jets organization have told the New York Daily News that he might be a good fit.

Many insiders believe the Jets new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano could put Tebow's abilities to good use in certain Wildcat schemes.  Sparano was the head coach for the Miami Dolphins when he began using the Wildcat offense to pump up the anemic offense.

There are a lot of pros and cons that come with bringing Tebow into the Jets family.

For one thing, Tebow's character could play a big role in bringing the fractured locker room together, but could just as well split the team in two.  The team isn't exactly a group of choirboys.

The media attention surrounding Tebow could distract the press enough to take the cameras away from oft-targeted Sanchez but, on the other side of the coin,  there is also the possibility that Tebow could wilt under the 24/7 New York media spotlight.  'Aw, shucks' only goes so far in New York— unless you win it all.

Just ask Eli Manning.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum hasn't commented on Tebow except to say that "Tim Tebow is a player under contract with another team."

Tannenbaum also avoided dumping any more negativity onto the tattered psyche of Sanchez— after the 'Peyton Manning to the Jets' stories and disappointing 2011 season— by saying he "feels good about" the quarterbacks on the roster, which includes Greg McElroy and Drew Stanton.

Tebow-mania and Linsanity in the same city might be a little too much anyway.

Tebow's photos already removed from Broncos facility

On the day that the Denver Broncos celebrated the arrival of Peyton Manning, all of the photos of Tim Tebow— that once lined the halls of the team's facility— were taken down, according to The Associated Press.

The outright removal of the indelible images of Tebow running, scoring and rallying the troops were removed from the walls and could be a subtle hint of things to come.

While executive John Elway and head coach John Fox haven't just come out and say it, it looks like the only remnants of Tebow-mania will be memories of last season.

"Tim Tebow is a great kid.  If I wanted someone to marry my daughter, it would be him," said Elway.

Ouch.

"We have to go back and address Tim and see what the next situation is for the Denver Broncos as well as him," continued Elway.

Goodbye.

Manning said he plans to reach out and speak with Tebow and has nothing but respect for last season's Rocky Mountain High.

"I know what kind of player Tim Tebow is," said the new Broncos quarterback.  "What an awesome year he had this year.  If Tim Tebow is here next year, I'm going to be the best teammate I can be to him.  He and I are going to help this team win games.

"If other opportunities present themselves to him, I'm going to wish him the best.  He's going to be a great player wherever he is."

Hear that San Francisco, Green Bay, Jacksonville and Jets?

Frank Tripucka has no problem giving Peyton Manning his retired No. 18 jersey

Now that we know Peyton Manning has instructed his agent to begin negotiations with the Denver Broncos, there is one small detail that looks like it will not be a deal breaker— the retired No. 18 jersey worn by quarterback Frank (Trip) Tripucka in the early 60's.

 Tripucka has already made it clear he would be honored if Manning chose to wear the same No. 18 the incoming quarterback wore during his 14-year career with the Indianapolis Colts— even though the Broncos retired the jersey nearly fifty years ago.

"It's perfectly OK for him to go ahead and use it," the New Jersey native said.  "I would be honored to have him wear it."

Tripucka's No. 18 is one of three numbers retired by the Broncos.  The other "untouchable" numbers are Floyd Little's No. 44 and John Elway's No. 7.

The 84-year-old Tripucka was the first quarterback to call signals for the Broncos.  The #1 draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1949 had a 15 year career and threw the first touchdown pass in the history of the old AFL.  He was a Pro-Bowler in 1962.

It is too soon to know if Manning is even thinking about what number will be on his back, but it would be a nice symbolic gesture from both sides if Manning dons the No. 18 in tribute to the old days and remind people about Tripucka's contributions to the early years of the franchise.

"It's been retired for fifty years," said Tripucka said.  "That's long enough."

Tripucka carved out a nice career after football as a beer distributor and raised a family of six boys— including NBA star Kelly Tripucka— and one daughter with his 84-year-old wife Randy.

Most Broncos fans probably never heard of Tripucka— never mind getting to see him play— and must wonder what he did to have his number retired after compiling a 13-23-1 record with 51 touchdown passes and 85 interceptions after four years with the team.

For one thing, in 1960, Tripucka was the first quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season and was one of the first pioneers of the wide-open passing game the AFL became famous for.

The late Broncos owner, Bob Howsam, was so appreciative of Tripucka's services he just decided to retire the number as a thank you in 1963.

If Manning passes on pulling the old No. 18 out of storage, he could go back to wearing the No. 16 he wore at the University of Tennessee.  Jake Plummer was the last notable Broncos player to wear it.

Word is No. 15 should be available pretty soon too.

Bradying replacing Tebowing as latest Web craze

Tom Brady's hunched over pose during the Super Bowl loss to the the New York Giants has started new Web craze by fans that could soon replace Tebowing in popularity.

Dejected after the New England Patriots upset loss to the Giants, Brady sat on the ground with his head bowed on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.  Now that pose is being imitated around the country and Bradying is becoming the latest Internet fad.

Bradying is a lot simpler than Tebowing and less dangerous than planking.

It all started with the widely published photo of Brady on his butt with his legs splayed, hands clasped, shoulders slumped and head resting on his chest.

There are different reports of where the trend originated.  Most people agree Bradying started with a series of pictures posted on Boxden.  The post showed numerous people copying the Brady pose at various locations.

Tebowing had been the rage but Bradying already has an official website to document fans imitating the depressed quarterback.

While Tebowing celebrated the Denver Broncos quarterback's victories, Bradying was spawned by losing.

"It's a humbled position— shoulders down, head down— that's all about being humbled," said former Army anti-terror instructor Greg Hartley, an expert on body language and interrogation techniques.

Brady has remained silent about the fad he inadvertently started, but it's a sure bet his outspoken supermodel wife could end up ranting about it in public.

Call it Bundchening.

CBS Wants Tebow For Playoff Studio Show

Think you've seen the last of Tebow-time after the 45-10 thrashing of the Denver Broncos quarterback at the hands the New England Patriots?  Don't count on it.

Hoping to cash in on the Tim Tebow craze, CBS is trying to put the TV ratings-maker on television screens next Sunday even though he won't be playing in the AFC Championship game.

USA Today reports that the network has asked Tebow to appear as a guest analyst in its studio show.

"We've had conversations with his people,' said Sean McManus, CBS Sports chairman.  "We have a request in.  We haven't heard back."

CBS said they are expecting to get an answer from Tebow by mid-week.

The network may have to get on one knee and Tebow to lure in additional viewers.

The much ballyhooed rematch between Tebow and Tom Brady was, relatively, a ratings bust— probably due to the one-sided dominance by the Patriots.

While Tebow-mania was building over the past few weeks, so were the Nielson ratings until Saturday.

Early stats reported by USA Today that the audience for the Broncos-Patriots AFC divisional playoff game peaked early between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET, during the game's first half.  Viewers turned away as Tebow floundered and Brady helped the Patriots build up a big lead.

The blowout drew a 20.6 overnight rating, slightly behind the New Orleans Saints-San Francisco 49ers game it followed.  Still, the game was up 14% from the Green Bay Packers-Atlanta Falcons game in the same time-slot last year.

"If it [the game] had a chance to build [drama], it could have been a record rating," said McManus.  "But I'll take it."

CBS analyst— and former Broncos tight end— Shannon Sharpe said he thinks Tebow should take advantage of a national stage (pulpit?) while he can.

"The fans love this guy," said Sharpe.  "I don't know if (another player) can come in there and get an honest shake at beating him out for the starting job."

Not so fast says ESPN analyst Merril Hoge— a frequent Tebow critic.  He thinks that Tebow-mania will fade away like other trends.

"It's kind of like barbed-wire tattoos or bell bottoms.  (Tebow has been) a fad." Hoge said.

Doesn't Hoge realize that tattoos don't disappear and Jordache jeans are already making a comeback in hipster neighborhoods?

Pittsburgh Mayor 'Tebows' After Losing Bet

It's probably safe to say that not many people in Pittsburgh thought there was a chance in hell that their Mayor Luke Ravenstahl would ever lose a playful wager with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock over last Sunday's playoff game— but there he was, getting down on one knee and striking the contemplative Tebowing pose on Tuesday after losing the bet.

The "Mile High Messiah" strikes again.

Ravenstahl was so confident that his Denver counterpart would end up losing the bet and donning a Steelers jersey while waving a Terrible Towel that he boasted about it in a phone call to Hancock.

"Fortunately for me, I have won more of these than I have lost," Ravenstahl boasted.  "If somehow Denver pulls off a miracle and wins Sunday, I will wear a Denver Broncos jersey and 'Tebow,' I think they call it, in front of a historic landmark here in Pittsburgh."

Ravenstahl— like just about everyone outside Denver— couldn't have foreseen the 29-23 overtime upset by the Broncos on the horizon.

Even insiders inside the Denver mayor's office said they were preparing to purchase a Pittsburgh jersey and Terrible Towel on Monday morning.

Fortunately for Hancock, another Tim Tebow miracle did occur.

Yesterday, the Pittsburgh mayor sheepishly put on the Broncos quarterback's No. 15 jersey and knelt in Roberto Clemente Memorial Park in the pose made famous and often imitated by the Denver Broncos player.

In the meantime, Hancock is figuring out what his wager will be with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino for Saturday's playoff game against the New England Patriots.

Tebowing In Denver Is Back In Style

Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos shocked the football world in a historic, 29-23,  overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

After winning the coin toss to begin the extra period, Tebow threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime to give the Broncos a surprising AFC wild card victory.

It was the first playoff game in NFL history to use the revised overtime rules which gives both teams a chance to score unless a touchdown is scored on the first possession.

After the victory, a jubilant Tebow hugged his teammates then bent over into his famous "Tebowing" pose for the first time in weeks.

Tebow and the celebrating Broncos players then did a lap around the field slapping hand with the fans who chanted: "Tebow! Tebow! Tebow! while Broncos executive John Elway jumped for joy on the sidelines.

The team had lost three games in a row before backing into the playoffs.

Tebow was lucky to even be in the game at the end because head coach John Fox said during the week that he would yank his starter if he got off to a slow start.

Backup QB Brady Quinn was spotted warming up at the end of the first quarter after Tebow was ineffective at the start of the game.

A 17-point second quarter onslaught by Denver in the span of 5 minutes, 58 seconds began with  30-yard touchdown to Eddie Royal and kept Tebow behind the center.

After the Broncos jumped to a 20-6 lead, the Steelers roared back and tied the game at 23, had momentum and were driving towards field goal range at tend of regulation. 

In the second half, Fox milked the clock while a costly Willis McGahee helped the Steelers get back in the game after a bad ruling by officials on a fumbled lateral gave the visiting team new life.

The Steelers could have won the game by taking a chance on a n NFL record 66-yard field goal with :03 seconds left in regulation,  but opted to try for a TD instead.  Ben Roethlisberger was sacked on the play and the game headed into overtime.

Tebow came out throwing in the extra period and that's all it took.

Next up for Tebow and the Broncos, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Expect to see a lot of Tebowing next week in Colorado.

Michele Bachmann Ad Compares Her To Tebow And Disses Suh

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann jumped on the Tim Tebow bandwagon and is being compared to the Denver Broncos quarterback in an ad paid for by a group of her supporters.

In the days leading up to Tuesday's Republican nomination in Iowa, the TV spot portrayed the Minnesota Congresswoman and Tebow as targets of a political and sports "establishment" which "love to hate" their strong Christian views.

Last time I looked, she was the establishment.

The ad even takes an indirect pot-shot at Detroit Lions star Ndamukong Suh for stomping on the head of a Green Bay Packers player during a nationally-televised game on Thanksgiving.

The Tea Party ad also says Tebow "just keeps winning" even after the Denver Broncos had a three-game losing streak and backed into the playoffs.

The ad mixes photos of Tebow looking at the heavens with "40:31" (Isaiah: Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength) written on his eye black inter cut with a smiling Bachmann.

A narrator says the "establishment" hate the out-spoken Bachmann and Tebow because they make the "experts" feel sinful and then takes a minute to throw the unnamed Suh under the bus:

"Maybe they're so invested in his failure because he makes them all feel guilty.  He doesn't drink, smoke, cuss or even kick his opponents when they're on the ground.  He has no baggage and, oh yeah, he's a Born-again Christian."

While the Tea Party may be looking at the religious quarterback for support, they might want to give Tebowing a second look.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry previously compared himself to Tebow and his campaign has been third-and-long since.

Right now, the Broncos are 80-1 longshots to win the Super Bowl.

Just like Tebow's passes, the ad isn't very accurate.

Could Tim Tebow End Up Hosting "Saturday Night Live?"

Rumors are swirling that the producers of "Saturday Night Live" want Tim Tebow to host the popular television sketch show less than a week after a four-minute skit on the show mocked his strong religious stance and had members of the Christian Right railing against the program.

Imagine, Tim Tebow becoming a possible, would-be savior of the stumbling network.  Talk about turning the other cheek.

If anyone can be a big draw it's the Denver Broncos quarterback.  Last week, the Tebow-led Broncos-New England Patriots game drew 30 million viewers according to USA Today— and it wasn't to see Bill Belichick's scowl.

Now, SNL wants to cash in on Tebow Fever.

The producers want Tebow to host the show as soon as the NFL season is over, according to  HollywoodLife.com.

"SNL realizes it would be a huge ratings and they are hoping he will say yes," said the website.  "Tim just can't and won't be able to do it while the season is still in play."

It also depends on how Tebow feels about being skewered on national television about his devout stance on Christianity.

Other NFL quarterbacks—like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have satirized themselves on the show in the past, but the material might be a little too racy for Tebow and his Christian image.

If Tebow accepts, it probably means last week's skit where actors portraying him and Jesus Christ in a locker room didn't offend him.

In the skit—which was all over the Internet— Jesus tells Tebow to tone down the praise and hit his playbook more than the bible.

The show was a big hit with viewers.

Conservative televangelist, Pat Robertson went ballistic about the sketch and called it, "anti-Christian bigotry that's just disgusting."

If Tebow does the show,  does it mean he is snubbing his finger at Robertson or just showing he has a sense of humor?

The most talked about player in the NFL has shown that he can take a joke after "Tebowing" was satirized everywhere.  He told reporters if people used the pose to pray and reflect, he had no problem with anyone doing it.

I don't think a little irreverent humor would bother Tebow and imagine how much Robertson's rants leading up to the show will boost the ratings.  Think of how many souls Tebow might convert then.

Tim Tebow "SNL" Skit Is "Anti-Christian Bigotry," Says Pat Robertson

You knew it was only a matter of time before the "Saturday Night Live" skit— where actors portraying Jesus Christ and Tim Tebow in a locker room would ruffle a few of the right's feathers. 

"700 Club" host and televangelist Pat Robertson isn't laughing at the four-minute skit mocking Tebow's devotion to Christianity and called it "anti-Christian bigotry that's just disgusting."

Is it Tebow or Tea Party?

In the skit, Jason Sudeikis appears as Jesus visiting the devout Christian, Tebow, played by Taram Killan, in a Denver Broncos locker room where he tells the quarterback that he should take his praise "down a notch" and get his play cranked up a little earlier in the game.

Sudeikis' Jesus also tells the Tebow character that he mostly answers prayers now wherever he gets them the most—mostly beauty pageants and football games.

"If this had been a Muslim country and they had done that, and had Muhammad doing that  stuff, you would have found  bombs being thrown off!" railed Robertson on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

Robertson is the same man who once called the Haitian earthquake "a blessing in disguise."

The segment was a big hit with viewers but it infuriated Robertson who praised Tebow for his devoutness to Christianity.

"Tebow is an example, and I think he  is a wonderful human being," the conservative, one time presidential-hopeful Robertson said.  "We need more religious faith in our society.  We're losing our moral compass in our nation and this man has been placed in a unique position and I applaud him."

In one exchange during Saturday's skit, Jesus tells Tebow, "I could throw better than you and I'm 2,010 years old."

He also tells him to read his playbook.

"The Holy Bible is my playbook," says the Tebow character.

"That's great," replies Jesus.  "But you need to read the regular playbook.  Seriously, okay? I'm doing all the work here."

Bears Barber Get Tebowed By Broncos

Two costly mistakes by Chicago Bears running back Marion Barber in the final minutes gave the Denver Broncos another come-from-behind win for the seventh time in eight weeks. 

Call it a Mile High Miracle or a testimony to Tim Tebow's grit, but this improbable 13-10 victory seemed like it had higher power— or at least some unbelievable luck.

After leading 10-7 with under two minutes to play, the Bears Barber inexplicably ran out of bounds to stop the clock—giving the Broncos an additional 35 seconds of play when the Broncos got the ball back.

Tebow drove his team to the Bears 42 yard line where Prader kicked the game tying 59 field goal with three seconds remaining in regulation.

In overtime, the Bears won the toss and were moving the ball at will until, on a play where it looked like Barber (the anti-Tebow) was going to break free for a long gain or score, the running back fumbled in field goal range with 12:46 left in OT.  Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil picked up the loose ball and it was Tebow time once again.

The Broncos QB did just enough to get his team to the Bears 34 yard line and close enough for kicker Matt Prader to split the uprights in the thin Colorado air.

After the 51-yard field goal by Prader with 8:40 left in overtime gave Denver the win, Tebow pointed to the skies and thanked "my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ... and my teammates" in an interview.

For three quarters, Tebow was as accurate as a sightless sniper.  He completed  3-of-16 passes in the first three quarters, as has been his m.o. throughout his 7-1 streak as a starter.

But once again, Tebow came alive in the fourth quarter.  He went 15 of 20 for 163 yards in the final 15 minutes.  He finished the game 21-40 for 236 yards with a TD and an INT with a few dropped passes but nary a spiral in the bunch. 

Again, he did enough to get the win and put the Broncos two full games ahead of the second place Oakland Raiders—who were sliced and diced by Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers—in the AFC West.

The Denver Broncos may not be the most polished team in the NFL, but with the soft-speaking Tebow strong-willing his team to fourth quarter comebacks, they are a fun group to watch and Tebow Time is something to cheer for.

"I believe we're a team that keeps the faith and keeps believing in each other," Tebow said.  "And that's special."

"Tebowing" Makes Time Magazine's 2011 Top 10 List

Tim Tebow just got a spot on Time magazine's "The Top 10 Everything of 2011" list.  The weekly publication picked the quarterback's signature "Tebowing" pose as No. 5 on its 2011 list of "Top Ten Memes."

Memes—for the Luddites—is a name used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet and is commonly used in viral marketing as a cheap form of mass-advertising.

Tebow's pose was surpassed by the No. 1 meme—"We Are the 99 Percent" protesters and other memorable memes like Planking, Princess Beatrice's Fascinator (don't ask) and "Winning" by Charlie Sheen.

The Denver Broncos quarterback did top other popular memes like Hipster Ariel, Ted Williams' (not the baseball icon) Golden Voice and Bronies (again, don't ask).

Tebow first introduced the often parodied move after an upset win over the Miami Dolphins in October when he dropped to one knee in a zen-like state and the act went viral.

The practice has been copied by many Tebowers and attained its impressive meme status through the Internet and on the football field.

"Typically it's wide receivers who are known to make a statement when their team makes an impressive play," wrote Time.  "That was until Tim Tebow.  The Denver Bronco's habit of dropping to one knee and bowing his head in prayer after a particularly successful play made him not only the most visibly faithful member of the NFL, but an Internet celebrity."

Time even described that "Tebow's prayerful pose, reminiscent of Rodin's Thinker sculpture" has inspired a website devoted to the move and has turned it into a global phenomenon.

People have been photographed Tebowing underwater and at the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

For now, people will just have to get used to Tebowing becoming a part of our popular culture as long as the Broncos keep winning.

Skier Lindsey Vonn dropped to her knee after her first U.S. victory this week and members of the Colorado Avalanche have also been spotted Tebowing on ice.

Tebow, himself, is endorsing the fad as long as it remains focused on the prayer aspect.

"At least it's being talked about, and that's a cool thing," Tebow told reporters.  "If I can help be an example of that, then I look at it like a blessing."

Lindsey Vonn "Tebows" After First U.S. Victory

Downhill skier Lindsey Vonn won her first World Cup race on a U.S. slope and her fourth straight Alpine race on Wednesday at the difficult Birds of Prey course in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

After the gratifying victory, she did a little "Tebowing" and gave a shout-out to the Denver Broncos.

Vonn's Super-G win was her first on American snow and it came near her hometown of Vail.  It was so hyped, local kids were excused from school to watch their hero.

"Getting a chance to win at home, with a home crowd here," gushed Vonn.  "It's just more than I could've expected."

Vonn's excitement was not as surprising as the Tebowing move and the rumors it fanned.

Different media outlets have linked the the attractive and newly-separated Vonn and the wildly popular Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow's brother Robby since last week after a Public Relations Coordinator at the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association tweeted about the two sports stars:  "Depressed after learning about the new couple: Lindsey Vonn and Robby# Tebow.  Only in Colorado."

Vonn dropped to one knee, pumped her arms and did her Tebowing on the victory stand after getting permission from Robby—who was a member of the skier's "Vonntourage"—to perform the move.

 "I said if I did it [won] in Colorado or at home I would do it," said Vonn.  "Go Broncos.  I did it.  I got to represent."

Tongues and blogs started wagging about a Vonn/Tebow relationship after she pulled out of a season opening world cup slalom event due to a bad back on Nov. 27.  On the same day, Vonn released a statement saying she was divorcing her husband—and trainer—of four years, Thomas Vonn.

Vonn said she and Robby—who she met at the ESPY Awards are "just good friends."  

And what does the Denver quarterback's bro think about Vonn's imitation of the once-ridiculed Tebow pose?

"It's pretty cool," he said.

Tebow Becomes T-Pain in "All I Do Is Win" Video Remix

What do you get when you superimpose Tim Tebow's head on T-Pain's body in a remix of DJ Khaled's song "All I Do Is Win?"  A funny viral sensation.

The Denver Broncos quarterback's grinning face is prominently bouncing around in the foreground of the rap video which features Ludacris, Rick Ross, T-Pain, Snoop Dog with a bevy of sexily-clad women and flashy cars—exactly the image Tebow is the polar opposite of—and it's become a viral hit.

The video has gotten over 500,000 hits on YouTube.

Maybe the only thing the bible-thumping Tebow has in common with the rap-lifestyle video is the title.

The unorthodox QB has lifted the once pathetic Broncos (7-5) to six victories in seven starts and a first place tie with the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West with another come-from behind victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Maybe the saintly Tebow could get a little more street cred by changing his name to T-Bow and doing a song called "Mile High" with Snoop Dog.

Broncos' Eric Decker Leapfrogs Lance Ball After TD

The Green Bay Packers may have the made the Lambeau Leap the most-widely imitated post-touchdown jump in the NFL, but now comes its little brother-- the Mile High Leapfrog.

Eric Decker's hop over Lance Ball, who caught a TD pass from Kyle Orton, was ultimately in vain, as the late score couldn't help the Denver Broncos vault over the Oakland Raiders in the second game of Monday night's doubleheader.

With 3:43 left in the game, and a driving storm and a sea of orange calling for Tim Tebow raining down on Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium,  Orton completed a pass to Ball who hurdled a Raiders player at the two yard-line and rolled in for the touchdown.  It capped off an 80 yard drive.  The extra point brought Denver to within three points of Oakland despite an error-turnover-penalty-filled Bronco performance.

More importantly for Orton, the Broncos quarterback wouldn't have to worry about the popular Tebow hopping over him for the starting job-- at least for another week.

Denver could not stop Oakland after the kickoff and the Raiders held on for the 23-20 win in the scuffle-filled game.  The difference was Sebastian Janikowski's record-tying 63-yard field goal to close out the first half.

Janikowski, who's most famous long kick before tonight was a comical 76-yard miss in 2008, joined Jason Elam and Tom Dempsey in the record books

The victory snapped Oakland's streak of losing the previous eight straight season openers.