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Tim Tebow's tumultuous year

 

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  • Tim Tebow's third year in the NFL has been anything but normal. The NFL's most written about backup quarterback has tasted success, been traded to another team, and been the subject of endless rumors. Now, with quarterback Mark Sanchez benched by the New York Jets, the spotlight shines brighter on Tebow. In other words, it's not easy being Tim. Here's just a short sample of his roller coaster 2012:
  • Tim Tebow's year started by guiding the Denver Broncos to their first playoff game since 2005. In a scene that would be replayed throughout that season Tim Tebow takes a moment to himself on the sidelines. The moments of meditation became synonymous with Tebow as would miracle comebacks.
  • With an 80-yard catch and run by Demaryius Thomas on a Tim Tebow throw in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC Wild Card game, the Broncos extended their miracle season. The play - the longest overtime touchdown in playoff history - would cement Tebow's short Broncos legacy.
  • A week after rallying the Broncos past the Steelers in the Wild Card round, Tebow and the Broncos were run out of the playoffs by the New England Patriots by a relentless rush in a 45-10 debacle in Foxborough, Mass. It would be Tebow's last game in Broncos uniform.
  • Tebowing (a trademark owned by Tim Tebow) remained a fad for a small portion of 2012. Even host Alec Baldwin paid tribute to Tim Tebow's kneeling pose during the inaugural NFL Honors show in February before the Super Bowl.
  • Fans in Denver welcomed the arrival of future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning in March, expecting Tim Tebow still be part of the team. Four days later the quarterback that led Denver back to national spotlight would be shipped off the New York Jets in exchange for draft picks.
  • Before he even arrived in New York, a judge blocked Reebok sales of Tim Tebow Jets jerseys after Nike, the NFL's new apparel sponsor, sued in response to rash of sales prompted by Tebow's trade to New York. Tebow's No. 15 Broncos jersey was the second-best selling jersey of 2011. His Jets' No. 15 is this season's eighth best-selling NFL jersey.
  • In a bizarre press conference, Tim Tebow is introduced as the New York Jets' backup quarterback following a trade from Denver.
  • The Jets' acquisition of Tim Tebow was met warmly by the New York fans who flocked to training camp for an autograph.
  • Often warming up in sleeveless technical shirt, Tim Tebow drew cat calls for his muscular physique. But it would come nothing close the raves he drew for a shirtless run through the rain during July training camp.
  • Tebow sponsor Jockey helped New Yorkers celebrate Tim Tebow with billboards splashed across five boroughs.
  • Rumors swirled, linking Lindsey Vonn to Tebow romantically, after the American skier Tebowed after winning a race last December. Vonn explained she wasn't seeing the then-Denver Bronco and that she was friends with Tebow's brother, Rob.
  • Photographer Annie Leibovitz shot the New York Jets quarterback for the September issue of Vogue. The image of a shirtless Tebow pushing a large tire (used to represent a halo) through a rocky ravine appeared with an article title
  • Prayer after a game is nothing new. But when the NFL most outward Christian kneels down, it's more noticable.
  • Tebow has been used sparingly by the Jets (11 games, 39 yards passing, 109 yards rushing and 0 TDs), is case by teammates as
  • Tebow misses playing time in November due to a rib injury.
  • Tebow replaced Mark Sanchez for a drive in the second quarter of Monday night's game against the Tennessee Titans. The five-play drive included two rush plays by Tebow, a sack, and a delay-of-game penalty that set up a third-and-16, which ended with Tebow scrambling and throwing the ball away.
  • Mark Sanchez's status as New York's starting quarterback has been questioned throughout the season with Tebow as his backup. After 15 weeks, Sanchez was benched in favor of No. 3 quarterback Greg McElroy, not Tebow.
 

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