Merril Hoge has been spouting off a lot about Tim Tebow lately, ripping the quarterback on ESPN’s SportsCenter and then continuing to slam the second year quarterback via his Twitter account. Here’s a quick recap:
Sitting watching tape off bronco offense from last year! Orton or Tebow? It’s embarrassing to think the broncos could win with tebow!! (August 3)
Orton or tebow? QB play is not just about who works hard gives rare rare college speeches or who is a good guy!! Because orton works hard (August 3)
College credentials do not transfer to NFL raw raw speeches do not work! You must poses a skill set to play! Tebow struggle with accuracy! (August 3)
Classy as always, Hoge.
As for Tebow’s response to the criticism? A simple, “Hey Merril…… ‘ppreciate that.”
Oh, snap. Merril just got Tebow’d.
But that’s not all. Shortly after Hoge’s comments, an unlikely supporter snapped to Tebow’s defense: Miami Heat superstar Lebron James.
Listened to Merril Hoge today on SC and he was just blasting Tebow. The man hasn’t even play a full season and its only his 2nd year in.
Guys get on that TV and act like they was all WORLD when they played. How bout encouraging him and wishing him the best instead of hating!!
And then former NFL quarterback turned in-game analyst Rich Gannon put in his two cents, calling out Hoge and questioning his ability to evaluate quarterback talent on his Sirius radio show.
“It bothers me when old running backs or old offensive linemen who’ve now become analysts start analyzing the quarterback position. They’re not experts at it. They’ve never played the position. I’m always curious, when they put on the tape, what are they watching? Are they watching footwork? Are they watching mechanics? Are they watching anticipation? Do they understand what the quarterback is told in terms of the progressions, where the read is? You know, so those are the things that really bother me and I just thought he came out and his comments were very strong and I thought a little out of line when you talk about Tim Tebow.”
Faced with the onslaught of (negative) attention, Hoge addressed Tebow personally — on Twitter.
@TimTebow I’m not going to say its nothing personal, or hide behind its my job, or my producer made me do it, because anytime someone like (…) me in this case makes a FOOTBALL evaluation of you I understand its taken personal and i understand what comes from that.
My views are football only!! I have only met you once but feel your a good soul. Nothing would make feel better than to eat crow!!
I’m a straight shooter and I have no agenda, so know i mean this, good luck this season and prove me wrong!
Hoge’s presumption that Tebow took his comments “personal” is probably based on his original comments. Hoge said it was “embarrassing” to think that Tebow could be the Broncos starting quarterback. That is, one might content, a personal shot. It’s one thing for Hoge to question Tebow’s accuracy or mechanics — everyone, including Tebow, admits he needs work. But Hoge is claiming Tebow will never be a decent starting quarterback, that it’s embarrassing to think the Broncos might start him this season.
Why? Are the Broncos are a playoff contender with Orton? Is Orton’s just getting a raw deal from the fans, who claim (and I would argue rightfully so) that he’s a game manager and not the future of the franchise?
Get real. The Broncos are a team struggling to rebound, and Kyle Orton flat-out isn’t a Super Bowl quarterback. He’s not efficient in the red zone or on third downs. Let’s not gloss over the fact the Broncos have won only 5 of the past 21 games started by Orton. And it wasn’t just defensive struggles that cost Denver those games — it was inefficiency and weak scoring.
Point is, both of these quarterbacks can be criticized. But it’s not embarrassing to suggest either could earn the starting role.
Related Posts:- Does Kyle Orton Give Denver the Best Opportunity to Win?
- Reports from Denver Say Tebow Competing to be QB2
- Tiki Barber Works Out for Dolphins
- Gore Ready to End Holdout, Desean Jackson Likely to Follow
- McGahee Joins Broncos, Orton Still Starter
Original Story:
http://www.nflminute.com/2011/08/05/t...
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