Tim Tebow is the biggest story for media outlets going into the 2010 N.F.L. draft. Ever since ending his legendary career at the University of Florida, Tebow has been catapulted into a mess of confusion centered on when he will be drafted. Some had him as high as the tenth pick in the draft, while others contend he is not suited to play quarterback at the next level and will drop into the second round or beyond. While many disagree on his draft stock, one thing is certain: The media, whether unintentionally or not, has casted an aura of greatness around Tebow. This high regard for which the media holds of Tebow puts to the test how much of an impact the media can have in the draft process.
At various times early in the draft process, Tebow was suppose to be the savior to the Jacksonville Jaguars franchise as we know it. With the tenth pick in the draft, Jacksonville was suppose to ignore Tebow’s shortcomings and make him the new face of the franchise. Season tickets were supposed to sell out within the hour, Tebow would lead the Jags to the next five Super Bowls, at which point he would call it quits, stating he’s done everything he could do in football, and move onto a career in politics. OK, maybe I took that a bit too far. However, the most important part of that whole statement was that the media had blindly casted him as a top ten pick. He is a different player on and off the field, a fascinating one at that, and the media cannot let go of the story.
Enter into the discussion Pat White, the former West Virginia quarterback who went at the number 44 spot a year ago. White and Tebow are similar players in the sense that both are clearly not the best quarterback in their respective draft classes, both come from a spread option system, and both are relatively unpolished in a professional quarterback system. I would say that White and Tebow grade out as very similar prospects from an overall talent prospective. While White may have the speed, Tebow has him in the size department. However, Pat White did not receive one-tenth the media attention that Tim Tebow has received over the past few months. People weren’t have water cooler discussions about where the option quarterback from West Virginia would be selected. Consider the fact that the 2010 N.F.L. draft class is superior to the 2009 class, so one would assume that Tebow should be expected to be drafted somewhere in the middle to late second round.
Tebow enters the draft with media covered only rivaled by the likes of Tiger Woods and Donovan McNabb. If nothing else, the media has portrayed Tebow as a leader like no other. However, I ask you, will a 30-year old N.F.L. veteran listen to a single word Tebow has to say for at least the first five years of his career? Even after he plays in the league for a few years, show me a backup quarterback that is unquestionably looked at as the team leader. If Tebow is to be selected higher than the second round, it should be because a team is confident they could develop him into a starting quarterback. If not, all the aforementioned leadership qualities that Tebow possessed in Florida will essentially go to waste.
The case of Tim Tebow is a classic experiment for determining what role the media plays in the draft process. People in the mainstream media have made Tebow out to be a righteous player, whose character and leadership skills alone warrant first round consideration. However, he is not necessarily talented enough to be selected in the first round, especially in a strong draft class. If Tebow sneaks into the first round, I will not be afraid to admit that the mainstream media (and the constant hype surrounding Tebow) had at least something to do with it.
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