By Josh Taylor / Sports Columnist
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
Tebow. There, I said it. Tebow. Oops, I said it again.
Can you name the third-string quarterback on any other NFL team besides the Denver Broncos? Most fans can’t either. The guy hasn’t played a single regular season game and is currently third on the depth chart behind Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn, but he’s most definitely getting the headlines.
Tim Tebow left Florida as one of the most decorated players in the history of college football. He entered the NFL as one of the most scrutinized quarterbacks to ever be drafted. Most NFL commentators don’t think he’ll amount to very much on the pro level. I disagree.
There’s two kinds of guys in the NFL. The first is the kind that goes through college dreaming about draft day. They dream about that first, big pay check. Once they get that first million in the bank, they’re done. The will to work is gone. We’ll call these the money guys. JaMarcus Russell and Matt Lienart come to mind.
The second kind of guys are the passion guys. These are the guys that go through college dreaming about the day after draft day. These guys aren’t focused on the pay check. They’re focused on getting into training camp, watching film and winning games. The money is nice, but it’s not their primary motivator. Competing and winning is what drives these guys.
Tebow is a passion guy. He’s playing football because he wants to play football and he wants to win. He’s going to do whatever it takes to win. Doug Flutie, Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Bruce Matthews are all passion guys. They are also winners. When the time comes for Tebow to lead an NFL team, he’ll be ready.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos started off 2009 on a 6-0 tear that surprised most everybody. Unfortunately, they finished 2-8 and missed the playoffs. Year 2 of the Josh McDaniels show likely won’t be much different for the Broncos. An 8-8 season wouldn’t surprise me at all.
The Broncos were going to rely heavily on linebacker Elvis Dumervil and a seasoned defense to lead the charge in 2010. Unfortunately, Dumervil suffered a torn pectoral muscle last month and will likely be out for most of the season. This defense finished in the top 10 in 2009 with Dumervil. His absence is going to make that hard to repeat in 2010. The Bronco offense was middle-of-the-pack at best in 2009. Quarterback Kyle Orton is dependable, but he’s not going to light up the scoreboard.
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers have been the class of the AFC West as of late. They’ve held the division crown four straight years, including a 13-3 finish in 2009. That being said, the Chargers are absolutely horrible in the playoffs. This talent-laden team has been pushing for a Super Bowl berth on a consistent basis. However, that window is closing fast.
The Chargers are blessed to have one of the top quarterbacks in the league under center. Phillip Rivers is good. He finished 2009 as the third-highest rated quarterback in the NFL. They also made a smart move in letting an aging LaDanian Tomlinson depart, opting to go with rookie Ryan Matthews. Everything I have read about this guy leads me to believe he’s going to be the real deal. Matthews and Darren Sproles should be good enough to keep defenses honest when dealing with Rivers.
One major goof the Chargers made over the offseason was not keeping standout wide receiver Vincent Jackson locked up for 2010. This is a top 10 guy. Without him, Rivers will have to rely almost entirely on tight end Antonio Gates in the passing game. Gates is good, but a guy like Rivers needs a down-field receiver.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have suffered through hard times as of late. They finished 2009 at 4-12 and have only one AFC West crown over the last decade. Don’t fret, Chiefs fans, the times they are a changing.
A quarterback’s best friend is a good running game. The Chiefs have quietly put together a stout rushing attack that could give quarterback Matt Cassel enough room to win some games. Young gun Jamaal Charles showed signs of brilliance in 2009. The Chiefs also added back Thomas Jones, a guy that had 23 touchdowns over the last two seasons with the N.Y. Jets. Jones is easily one of the toughest backs in the NFL.
Kansas City didn’t stop there. They spent a 2010 draft pick on Ole Miss’ Dexter McCluster. He’s officially listed as a wide receiver on the roster, but he’s a grinder either way. Training camp reports consistently showed that McCluster knows how to work hard. Like Tebow, he’s a passion guy. The trio of Charles, Jones and McCluster could prove potent for Kansas City.
The real drawback to this team is a defense that finished at the bottom of the rankings in 2009 and no real changes made leading into 2010. This defense needs an identity if the Chiefs are going to compete in 2010.
Oakland Raiders
Oakland has been in steady decline since their Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay in 2002. I blame owner Al Davis. Once a bellwether of the league, Davis is now merely a punch line. Tom Cable, JaMarcus Russell, Lane Kiffen, Aaron Brooks. What more do I need to say.
To be fair, the Raiders made one of the best draft picks in 2010 with Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain. I just hope McClain can get out of Oakland before it ruins his career.
• Agree/disagree? Email sports@themeridianstar and let us know your thoughts. Next week we’ll wrap up our NFL previews with a look at the AFC North.
