What the hell is wrong with this Merril Hoge guy???

Hoge, who is reknowned largely for his hatred of Tim Tebow (and not much else) opened his big fat yapper again this week in the wake of the "Tebow begged out of Jets wildcat packages" scandal.

In case you didn't hear about it, Time Tebow SUPPOSEDLY told Rex Ryan that he didn't want to be a part of the Jets "wildcat" packages last week, after he was upset that Ryan didn't name him the starter after Mark Sanchez benching.

Tebow has since said that Ryan misinterpreted what he was saying, which I believe.  It has never been in Tebow's character to selfishly take a stand like that.  Hoge apparently doesn't believe Tebow, because this week he called him as "phony as a three dollar bill" and once again ripped his ability as a quarterback.

This is the umpteenth time that Hoge has laid waste to Tebow in the media, on ESPN or to anyone who will listen.  Why?  Who pissed in his cornflakes?  What has Tim Tebow ever done to Hoge to such be the object of his "professional" wrath?

If I could have the opportunity to talk to Merril Hoge, not that I want to, I would tell him, "You know Merril, there are are PLENTY of other players you could criticize.  Tim Tebow has never beat up his wife or cheated on her.  He has never driven drunk and killed someone.  He has never been busted in a crack den.  He's never killed any animals.  He hasn't raped a woman in a bar.  He has never fathered 15 children in 13 cities out of wedlock.  He has never been arrested for assaulting someone in a bar, or been kicked out of one for being too drunk or belligerant to other people or the cops.  All he has done is play his very best on every down, led by example with a high moral character, and praised his God.  How can that be worthy of such harsh criticism?".

Everyone has always said that Tebow has serious shortcomings as a quarterback.  They said he will never succeed in the NFL at that position.  They said his skill-set was better suited to another position.  They said he had terrible mechanics. 

Tebow finally got a shot to play quarterback in the NFL last year.  As a starter.  Despite all the negativity that was said about him, he won seven of his first eight starts including three in overtime, went 9-4 overall as a starter and led his team to a playoff win over the ten point favored Steelers.  

Despite all those heroics, he lost his starting job (when the Broncos signed Peyton Manning), was shipped off to the Big Apple, and has toiled in anonymity all year, pigeonholed into a stupid "wildcat" role and other idiotic ways to get him on the field such as on the punt protection team.

Now, if you listen to Hoge and all the other media "experts", it's almost like last year never happened.  Like it didn't exist.  Like his 9-4 record as a starter took place in some kind of parallel NFL universe.

Now everyone is back to saying the same things all over again.  That Tebow can't possibly succeed in the NFL as a starting quarterback.  That his mechanics are awful and can never be improved.  That Tebow will have to learn a different position if he wants to play in the NFL.  

Why?  How can there not be a single talent evaluator, offensive coordinator or head coach not see what I see?  That Tebow is a FOOTBALL PLAYER!  That all he does is find a way to win games.  That few players who have ever laced up the cleats can get 10 other guys to believe in him and the ability to score more points than your opponent, no matter how ugly it may look.

Look, I know the kid is raw, but goshdarnit, look what he did last year in his first opportunity to play QB in the league.  Even with just raw athletic ability.  Imagine what he could do if someone would just believe in him and give him the chance to learn to play the position better.  

Today, one of Tebow's former teammates came out in support of Tebow.  Ravens receiver Deonte Thompson, who played with Tebow at Florida,  said what a leader he is.  He talked about how positive Tebow is, that negative thoughts never came out of his mouth.  Told how Tebow continually kept his fellow players up, and made them believe that anything was possible.  It's about time someone stepped up for Timmy.  

If Chris Mortenson is right, and Tebow ends up in Jacksonville next year as their starting quarterback, I have no doubt he will once again make the experts scratch their heads.  He will prove that it doesn't take great mechanics, or a spectacular 40 time, or a cannon for an arm to succeed and win at the NFL level.

All he needs is a chance.  I'll be rooting for him.  It will be a nice change to cheer for someone who not only wins but does it with class, and has such good moral character.  The NFL could use more role models like Tim Tebow.