Tim Tebow misses another practice, preseason game in doubt

[T.K.O.]

Tim Tebow misses another practice, preseason game in doubt
Posted by Michael David Smith on August 19, 2010 12:30 PM ET
Tim Tebow says his throwing style is just fine, thank you. But maybe he needs to develop a new running style.

Tebow suffered a rib injury when he lowered his shoulder and plowed into the end zone in the Broncos' preseason opener, and as a result he missed his second straight practice today and might not be able to play in the Broncos' home preseason opener.

If Tebow can't play on Saturday at Invesco Field, there are going to be plenty of unhappy Broncos fans. Tebow's presence has fans excited about the Broncos' preseason, and we don't often see the words "excited" and "preseason" in the same sentence.

But the effects of Tebow's rib injury may go beyond one preseason game. Tebow may discover that it's just not realistic for an NFL quarterback to employ the kind of head-on running style that Tebow employed at Florida.

Against bigger, stronger, faster opponents in the NFL, it's hard to see Tebow lasting as a starting quarterback if he doesn't change the way he runs.

[broncobryce]

Naw he just needs to wear rib pads
Mobile Post via Mobile.BroncosForums.com/forums

[Sconnie Bronco]

Tim Tebow misses another practice, preseason game in doubt
Posted by Michael David Smith on August 19, 2010 12:30 PM ET
Tim Tebow says his throwing style is just fine, thank you. But maybe he needs to develop a new running style.

Tebow suffered a rib injury when he lowered his shoulder and plowed into the end zone in the Broncos' preseason opener, and as a result he missed his second straight practice today and might not be able to play in the Broncos' home preseason opener.

If Tebow can't play on Saturday at Invesco Field, there are going to be plenty of unhappy Broncos fans. Tebow's presence has fans excited about the Broncos' preseason, and we don't often see the words "excited" and "preseason" in the same sentence.

But the effects of Tebow's rib injury may go beyond one preseason game. Tebow may discover that it's just not realistic for an NFL quarterback to employ the kind of head-on running style that Tebow employed at Florida.

Against bigger, stronger, faster opponents in the NFL, it's hard to see Tebow lasting as a starting quarterback if he doesn't change the way he runs.

Im not a big fan of all the "may"s and "maybe"s. All he really says is that he hurt his ribs. And then with all the "may"s and "maybe"s its speculation making this piece a lot of nothing.

[BroncoNut]

He's got to learn to slde and that there's no shame in that.

[weazel]

He's got to learn to slde and that there's no shame in that.

I agree with you, but he's trying to prove he belongs. Noone would remember the Elway play if he would have just slid instead of diving into a helicopter spin!

[Italianmobstr7]

Looks like we've got a LOT of players out on saturday:

Tebow
D.Thomas
Stokley
White
Buckhalter
Moreno
McBath
Bailey
Kuper
R.Quinn
Graham
Dumervil
Clady
Reid

[Grover]

I agree with you, but he's trying to prove he belongs. Noone would remember the Elway play if he would have just slid instead of diving into a helicopter spin!


But no one would remember the helicopter move had it happened in a preseason game. I admire Tebow's effort, but I think he learned a BIG lesson in how to be an NFL Quarterback.

[shank]

tim+flak jacket=good to go

[Ravage!!!]

I agree with you, but he's trying to prove he belongs. Noone would remember the Elway play if he would have just slid instead of diving into a helicopter spin!

They would if it didn't make the first down.

[MasterShake]

tim+flak jacket=good to go

Yeah! If Terrell Davis could play with a flak jacket as a true RB, Tim Tebow should be fine behind a third string offensive lin.....:shocked:

FOR GOD'S SAKE SIT TEBOW OUT! :lol:

I want to see him play, but not if he's not ready to go. Maybe his hyperbaric chamber will give him Wolverine style healing.

[GEM]

Oh shit....Gator Nation's heads just exploded. :lol:

[slim]

Monday will be a State holiday in Florida.

You can't expect people to work at a time like this.

[Sconnie Bronco]

Oh shit....Gator Nation's heads just exploded. :lol:

Worst of all, this is going to make Tebow upset. And every time Tebow gets mad, 10,000 Chinamen die.

[shank]

it's ******* bruised ribs. i will be pretty disappointed if tim calls in the wambulance on this one... even if it's not his call.

[Sconnie Bronco]

it's ******* bruised ribs. i will be pretty disappointed if tim calls in the wambulance on this one... even if it's not his call.

Im confused.

[pnbronco]

Oh shit....Gator Nation's heads just exploded. :lol:

:laugh:....yup.....:laugh:

[TimTebow15MVP]

tebows injury came from the sack he took.

[rcsodak]

He's got to learn to slde and that there's no shame in that.
nut, even the PLAYERS say that at the goalline, you DON'T slide. They've all come out and saiid it was the right play. Injuries happen.
Mobile Post via Mobile.BroncosForums.com/forums

[TimTebow15MVP]

this is a two day type of injury when your young, tebow just needs to wear QB jacket from here on out. i dont think he had one on the other night.

[Ravage!!!]

nut, even the PLAYERS say that at the goalline, you DON'T slide. They've all come out and saiid it was the right play. Injuries happen.
Mobile Post via Mobile.BroncosForums.com/forums

yeah. You don't slide on the goalline. This is football. If you are on the goalline, and its just a yard away, you do NOT slide. I don't care what position you play. If it was midfield, thats a different story.

Besides. He wasn't drafted because he's a passing QB. If he's not able to run the ball in from the goalline, then we REALLY made the wrong choice.

[slim]

Besides. He wasn't drafted because he's a passing QB. If he's not able to run the ball in from the goalline, then we REALLY made the wrong choice.

:laugh:

[shank]

nut, even the PLAYERS say that at the goalline, you DON'T slide. They've all come out and saiid it was the right play. Injuries happen.
Mobile Post via Mobile.BroncosForums.com/forums

i remember the verbal abuse players used to take from rod smith when they would run out of bounds rather than fighting for the extra yard, regardless of where they were on the field... LET ALONE on the goal line.

tebow is competitive. he will have to be coached to slide at midfield. i don't think he has it in him, anywhere in him, to not do everything he can at the goalline. and i wouldn't have it any other way, from any of our players.

[BroncoNut]

nut, even the PLAYERS say that at the goalline, you DON'T slide. They've all come out and saiid it was the right play. Injuries happen.
Mobile Post via Mobile.BroncosForums.com/forums

yeah, well he still needs to learn to slide.

[rcsodak]

yeah. You don't slide on the goalline. This is football. If you are on the goalline, and its just a yard away, you do NOT slide. I don't care what position you play. If it was midfield, thats a different story.

Besides. He wasn't drafted because he's a passing QB. If he's not able to run the ball in from the goalline, then we REALLY made the wrong choice.
8-13 105 cunningham/vick/young were 'running qbs' also. But they all passed as well. TT will be fine as a passer
Mobile Post via Mobile.BroncosForums.com/forums

[BroncoNut]

yeah. You don't slide on the goalline. This is football. If you are on the goalline, and its just a yard away, you do NOT slide. I don't care what position you play. If it was midfield, thats a different story.

Besides. He wasn't drafted because he's a passing QB. If he's not able to run the ball in from the goalline, then we REALLY made the wrong choice.

ALRIGHT!!! Point taken, I forgot it was a goaline situation. Jeesh

[slim]

You guys leave nut alone.

He is right. TT needs to slide.

[BroncoNut]

You guys leave nut alone.

He is right. TT needs to slide.

Thanks Slim. He does need to learn to slide. It seems like I read that somewhere on here not too long ago.

[slim]

Thanks Slim. He does need to learn to slide. It seems like I read that somewhere on here not too long ago.

Yeah, it is not the manly thing to do. But it is the right thing to do.

[BroncoNut]

i remember the verbal abuse players used to take from rod smith when they would run out of bounds rather than fighting for the extra yard, regardless of where they were on the field... LET ALONE on the goal line.
tebow is competitive. he will have to be coached to slide at midfield. i don't think he has it in him, anywhere in him, to not do everything he can at the goalline. and i wouldn't have it any other way, from any of our players.

Ain other than goal line situations, QB's step outta bounds before contact all the time when they're being pursued

[Ravage!!!]

8-13 105 cunningham/vick/young were 'running qbs' also. But they all passed as well. TT will be fine as a passer
Mobile Post via Mobile.BroncosForums.com/forums

Vick and Young are/were terrible passers. Horrid. That was the criticism of them coming out of college, and it has stayed with them throughout their NFL career (so far).

Cunningham can throw the deep ball, but was basically 'removed' from the NFL when he couldn't rely on his legs anymore to do the job. His best season was when throwing to Randy Moss in Minnesota. I don't think any of these made your point for you. If TT doesn't become a better "passer" than those that you just mentioned, then in 3-4 years we'll be looking for a replacement.

[BroncoNut]

It's the wise thing to do. Everybody wants a clean shot at the qb. It's like greasing the officers in battle

[Ravage!!!]

You guys leave nut alone.

He is right. TT needs to slide.

except on the goalline :marchmellow:

[Lonestar]

Everyone seems ti think the SEC.is the most like the NFL that so many players from there are in the NFL. So now a freak hit has Tebow rethinking how to play in the bigs.

Yeah right. At most I see happening out of this is he wears a flak jacket.

The rest is to ingrained after 15 years of playing ball to change much, instinct will kick in when the adrenaline is flowing.
Mobile Post via Mobile.BroncosForums.com/forums

[broncofaninfla]

If this were a regular season game and Tebow was the starter, I bet he would play. With the way he plays, it won't be the last time he gets injured but the physical play is what makes Tebow Tebow. Also, he scored on the play, if he slid and fell short of the goal line he would have been flamed by the critics. High profile players will get questioned no matter what they do. He'll be fine.

[Lonestar]

mcdaniels has gone on record saying " i would hope every guy on the team would do the same thing"
sure it was preseason,sure the game was a loss at that point,but i dont ever want to see tim lose that fire .it's the biggest threat to the other team when you have a group of guys with NO quit in them.i hope that's what the broncos are building !
because this fan is sick of watching half-assed effort from wannabe superstars....gimme' some tuff hombres with a will to win ,over stat seeking superstars any day of the week....especially on sundays !:salute:
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MOvEAkcItgY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MOvEAkcItgY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

MOvEAkcItgY?f

[T.K.O.]

MOvEAkcItgY?f

thanks Jr....i dont know why the one i had picked would'nt load ? maybe because it was HD ? i can watch it but it comes up blank when posting....oh well:salute:

[sneakers]

Tim Tebow didn't miss practice, practice missed Tim Tebow.

[Ravage!!!]

Everyone seems ti think the SEC.is the most like the NFL that so many players from there are in the NFL. So now a freak hit has Tebow rethinking how to play in the bigs.

Yeah right. At most I see happening out of this is he wears a flak jacket.

The rest is to ingrained after 15 years of playing ball to change much, instinct will kick in when the adrenaline is flowing.
Mobile Post via Mobile.BroncosForums.com/forums

yeah... so much for that throwing motion changing as well.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post/_/id/15879/tebow-watch-does-he-play-saturday

Denver Broncos rookie Tim Tebow missed his second straight day of practice Thursday with a rib injury he suffered Sunday night in his preseason debut.

The Denver Post reports that Tebow will likely miss his Denver debut, Saturday against Detroit. Denver coach Josh McDaniels wouldn’t commit either way, saying there is still time for injured players to come back and play Saturday. Still, McDaniels also indicated that players who didn’t practice Thursday could be out for the game.

“There’s a chance that a lot of those guys that aren’t out here won’t play,” McDaniels said. “We are just going to see in the next 24 to 36 hours how all of them respond to the treatment they are getting, and we’ll make the best decision hopefully for the team going forward. We are not going to worry about trying to hurry anybody back for this game, but if they’re healthy and we feel like it’s not a risk, then we’ll go ahead and play them.”

There are many, many people in Denver who are holding a ticket for Saturday’s game who are very interested in his decision. I bet Tebow doesn’t play. If he missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, would he really play in an exhibition game Saturday?

If Tebow doesn’t play, it’s not the end of the world. He needs the work, but it’s not worth having him play injured. If Tebow doesn’t play, he will have to catch up in the final two preseason games. However, because the first team plays well into the second half in the third preseason game, Tebow’s playing time in the final two games will be somewhat limited. However, assuming he is back on the practice field soon, Tebow should be ready for special-package play he will receive when the season starts.

Tebow’s rugged style of play has come into question in Denver. Many observers believe the all-out running style he displayed at Florida will not fly in the NFL. Tebow was hurt on the final play of the game in Cincinnati when he collided with a defender at the goal line on a 7-yard touchdown run.

McDaniels doesn’t think it’s much of an issue.

“He wasn’t in a position the other night to do anything other than what he did,” McDaniels said. “Had he not tried to get it in on the last play of the game, I’m sure that would have been a bigger story. No, if it’s the first quarter and you get a first down on a scramble, yeah you try to preserve your body. I think that’s the smartest thing to do. He hasn’t been in that situation yet, so to judge him on what happened the other night in terms of being reckless I would say is very unfair. I think what he did the other night I hope all of our guys would have done – no matter who it was. Yeah, it’s part of his game, but I’m sure he’ll learn either the easy way or the hard way that you want to try to stay in this league as long as you can, and we’ll help him do that.”

[JaxBroncoGirl]

:laugh:....yup.....:laugh:

Yes, we are now stoked, Tim got hit he will get over it and continue on his journey to smash and dash the defense, bring it on baby!!!!:salute:

[TXBRONC]

Yes, we are now stoked, Tim got hit he will get over it and continue on his journey to smash and dash the defense, bring it on baby!!!!:salute:

If doesn't learn to protect himself he wont last very long.

He's not playing in the SEC anymore it's the NFL.

[Nomad]

If doesn't learn to protect himself he wont last very long.

He's not playing in the SEC anymore it's the NFL.

Agreed! While I love SEC football and believe it's the toughest conference, it's not equal to NFL defenses. Tebow's gonna have to take care of himself. I do like his will to win from him and heart he gives to the game and he did a great play!!

[TXBRONC]

Agreed! While I love SEC football and believe it's the toughest conference, it's not equal to NFL defenses. Tebow's gonna have to take care of himself. I do like his will to win from him and heart he gives to the game and he did a great play!!

There is time and place for quarterbacks to take that I kind of chance but that's when something is on the line. Now I'm not trying rag on him because this was his very first game as pro so I can appreciate his enthusiasim. The hints he took in college for the most part wont be anything like the hits he'll experience in the NFL.

I love his competitiveness and his desire to get better that could very go along way to making him a solid quarterback in this League.

[rcsodak]

Vick and Young are/were terrible passers. Horrid. That was the criticism of them coming out of college, and it has stayed with them throughout their NFL career (so far).

Cunningham can throw the deep ball, but was basically 'removed' from the NFL when he couldn't rely on his legs anymore to do the job. His best season was when throwing to Randy Moss in Minnesota. I don't think any of these made your point for you. If TT doesn't become a better "passer" than those that you just mentioned, then in 3-4 years we'll be looking for a replacement.

Cunningham: I don't think he was as bad as you make him out to be. Other than getting sacked to death, he got markedly better than how he started out. That's all you can ask.


Season Team Passing Rushing Fumbles
G GS Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sck SckY Rate Att Yds Avg TD FUM Lost
2001 Baltimore Ravens 6 2 54 89 60.7 573 6.4 3 2 12 66 81.3 14 40 2.9 1 4 0
2000 Dallas Cowboys 6 3 74 125 59.2 849 6.8 6 4 8 45 82.4 23 89 3.9 1 4 1
1999 Minnesota Vikings 6 6 124 200 62.0 1,475 7.4 8 9 15 101 79.1 10 58 5.8 0 2 2
1998 Minnesota Vikings 15 14 259 425 60.9 3,704 8.7 34 10 20 132 106.0 32 132 4.1 1 2 1
1997 Minnesota Vikings 6 3 44 88 50.0 501 5.7 6 4 7 60 71.3 19 127 6.7 0 4 1
1995 Philadelphia Eagles 7 4 69 121 57.0 605 5.0 3 5 13 79 61.5 21 98 4.7 0 3 2
1994 Philadelphia Eagles 14 14 265 490 54.1 3,229 6.6 16 13 43 333 74.4 65 288 4.4 3 10 3
1993 Philadelphia Eagles 4 4 76 110 69.1 850 7.7 5 5 7 33 88.1 18 110 6.1 1 3 2
1992 Philadelphia Eagles 15 15 233 384 60.7 2,775 7.2 19 11 60 437 87.3 87 549 6.3 5 13 8
1991 Philadelphia Eagles 1 1 1 4 25.0 19 4.8 0 0 2 16 46.9 -- -- -- -- -- --
1990 Philadelphia Eagles 16 -- 271 465 58.3 3,466 7.5 30 13 49 431 91.6 118 942 8.0 5 -- --
1989 Philadelphia Eagles 16 -- 290 532 54.5 3,400 6.4 21 15 45 343 75.5 104 621 6.0 4 -- --
1988 Philadelphia Eagles 16 -- 301 560 53.8 3,808 6.8 24 16 57 442 77.6 93 624 6.7 6 -- --
1987 Philadelphia Eagles 12 -- 223 406 54.9 2,786 6.9 23 12 54 380 83.0 76 505 6.6 3 -- --
1986 Philadelphia Eagles 15 -- 111 209 53.1 1,391 6.7 8 7 72 489 72.9 66 540 8.2 5 -- --
1985 Philadelphia Eagles 6 -- 34 81 42.0 548 6.8 1 8 20 150 29.8 29 205 7.1 0 -- --
TOTAL 2,429 4,289 56.6 29,979 7.0 207 134 484 3,537 81.5 775 4,928 6.4 35 45 20


Vick:A lifelong 50% passer, but he was able to make plays downfield just by scaring the D he was going to run (see Denver).


Season Team Passing Rushing Fumbles
G GS Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sck SckY Rate Att Yds Avg TD FUM Lost
2009 Philadelphia Eagles 12 1 6 13 46.2 86 6.6 1 0 0 0 93.8 24 95 4.0 2 -- --
2006 Atlanta Falcons 16 16 204 388 52.6 2,474 6.4 20 13 45 303 75.7 123 1,039 8.4 2 9 3
2005 Atlanta Falcons 15 15 214 387 55.3 2,412 6.2 15 13 33 201 73.1 102 597 5.9 6 11 5
2004 Atlanta Falcons 15 15 181 321 56.4 2,313 7.2 14 12 46 266 78.1 120 902 7.5 3 16 7
2003 Atlanta Falcons 5 4 50 100 50.0 585 5.9 4 3 9 64 69.0 40 255 6.4 1 4 1
2002 Atlanta Falcons 15 15 231 421 54.9 2,936 7.0 16 8 33 206 81.6 113 777 6.9 8 9 6
2001 Atlanta Falcons 8 2 50 113 44.2 785 6.9 2 3 21 113 62.7 31 289 9.3 1 6 5
TOTAL 936 1,743 53.7 11,591 6.7 72 52 187 1,153 75.9 553 3,954 7.2 23 55 27


Young:Was referring to STEVE Young. I disregard TU players. :-)
Young started out stuck in the 50% area, but turned it around big time. Just shows it CAN be done.


Team Passing Rushing Fumbles
G GS Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sck SckY Rate Att Yds Avg TD FUM Lost
1999 San Francisco 49ers 3 3 45 84 53.6 446 5.3 3 4 8 63 60.9 11 57 5.2 0 2 1
1998 San Francisco 49ers 15 15 322 517 62.3 4,170 8.1 36 12 48 234 101.1 70 454 6.5 6 9 6
1997 San Francisco 49ers 15 15 241 356 67.7 3,029 8.5 19 6 35 220 104.7 50 199 4.0 3 4 0
1996 San Francisco 49ers 12 12 214 316 67.7 2,410 7.6 14 6 34 160 97.2 52 310 6.0 4 3 2
1995 San Francisco 49ers 11 11 299 447 66.9 3,200 7.2 20 11 25 115 92.3 50 250 5.0 3 3 3
1994 San Francisco 49ers 16 16 324 461 70.3 3,969 8.6 35 10 31 163 112.8 58 293 5.1 7 4 3
1993 San Francisco 49ers 16 16 314 462 68.0 4,023 8.7 29 16 31 160 101.5 69 407 5.9 2 8 5
1992 San Francisco 49ers 16 16 268 402 66.7 3,465 8.6 25 7 29 152 107.0 76 537 7.1 4 9 3
1991 San Francisco 49ers 11 10 180 279 64.5 2,517 9.0 17 8 13 79 101.8 66 415 6.3 4 3 0
1990 San Francisco 49ers 6 -- 38 62 61.3 427 6.9 2 0 8 41 92.6 15 159 10.6 0 -- --
1989 San Francisco 49ers 10 -- 64 92 69.6 1,001 10.9 8 3 12 84 120.8 38 126 3.3 2 -- --
1988 San Francisco 49ers 11 -- 54 101 53.5 680 6.7 3 3 13 75 72.2 27 184 6.8 1 -- --
1987 San Francisco 49ers 8 -- 37 69 53.6 570 8.3 10 0 3 25 120.8 26 190 7.3 1 -- --
1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14 -- 195 363 53.7 2,282 6.3 8 13 47 326 65.5 74 425 5.7 5 -- --
1985 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5 -- 72 138 52.2 935 6.8 3 8 21 158 56.9 40 233 5.8 1 -- --
TOTAL 2,667 4,149 64.3 33,124 8.0 232 107 358 2,055 96.8 722 4,239 5.9 43 45 23

[gator_fan]

There is time and place for quarterbacks to take that I kind of chance but that's when something is on the line.

Tebow may get smarter about when to take hits, but he will never change his attitude about winning, even if there is risk of injury. Sliding to avoid contact will never be his MO, because that is not who he is.

All of the loyal Tebow fans, and the buzz he generates, did not spontaneously pop into existence. There are reasons.

He may get injured, but that risk is always present. I will just relax and be thankful that he is at Denver, and enjoy watching the Broncos play and win.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15834758?source=rss

Taming Tim Tebow has begun.

For a second consecutive day, while the Broncos were finishing up training camp Thursday, the rambunctious rookie quarterback was locked up inside the trainer's room, the wild stallion equivalent of the barn.

All quarterbacks eventually learn bone-jarring contact is detrimental to present and long-term health. Breaking Tebow of his ferocious physicality may well be the greatest of challenges.

Though no one questioned the wisdom of Tebow's full-body hurdle into a two-tackler sandwich, and touchdown, on the final play of the Broncos' preseason game Sunday at Cincinnati, the play encapsulated the overriding concern of how the 245-pound quarterback is willing to put himself in harm's way.

"You've got to choose between smart decision and toughness," Broncos cornerback Andre Goodman said. "But when it's in you, it's in you. It's hard to run it off. I would imagine it's going to be tougher for him to learn that than most quarterbacks. I was watching him pace the sideline for the first half. You should have seen the look he had. He couldn't wait to get in the game."

Tebow's gallant first professional touchdown left him with bruised left ribs, courtesy of an unintentional but full-force helmet blast from Bengals linebacker Abdul Hodge. As Tebow's ribs absorbed the impact of Hodge's blow, the quarterback- turned-ball carrier was almost simultaneously struck on the right side by safety Kyries Hebert.

The touchdown was signaled, and Tebow slowly got up. Hebert was considerably slower to rise.

"Had he not tried to get it in on the last play of the game, I'm sure that would have been a bigger story," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "Now, if it's the first quarter and you get a first down on a scramble, yeah, you try to preserve your body. I think that's the smartest thing to do. He hasn't been in that situation yet, so to judge him on what happened the other night in terms of being reckless, I would say, is very unfair."

Safety vs. hard-core zeal

McDaniels' policy is to not make any injured player available to the media. No exceptions were made for the NFL's most well-known third-string quarterback.

Not that Tebow hasn't already been confronted with questions about his contact-seeking preferences. In October 2007, a story in the Palm Beach Post was headlined: "Hits on Tebow Worry Players."

A few days earlier, Tebow suffered a right shoulder injury during a 45-37 victory against Kentucky and linebacker Wesley Woodyard.

"We'll be like, 'Coach, you might need to chill out with Tebow,' " Florida receiver Percy Harvin said at the time. "They'll look at us and say, 'Yeah, we're going to start (giving more carries to the running backs), but in the heat of the moment, when we need those three yards, we've got to go to him.' "

Said Tebow then: "You have to be responsible for your teammates by staying healthy and not taking too many hits."

Tebow, thus, understands he needs to slide after crossing the first-down marker, or go out of bounds rather than take on an uncoiling safety.

But these self-preservation tricks are in contradiction to his genuine zeal for sacrificing self for team's sake.

"Of course, you want him to protect himself," Woodyard said. "But, honestly, as a defensive guy, we feed off it when you see your quarterback go out and track down people, show a hard-nosed mentality. We like that spirit from your quarterback."

Going on instinct

Although there is no serious damage to Tebow's ribs, he is questionable to play Saturday night in the Broncos' second preseason game against Detroit.

He might play, because as a raw, talented rookie, he needs every preseason snap possible. He might not, because it appears the Broncos need him healthy for the regular season, starting with the opener Sept. 12 in his hometown of Jacksonville.

"The fella's got a nice game to him," Broncos linebacker Mario Haggan said. "He changes a defense like Vince Young and Michael Vick does. You can't sit back and play a lot of coverage — you've got to have a spy. So that opens up a lot of things when he's in there."

Case in point: Tebow's touchdown run at Cincinnati. He threw low for an incompletion on what should have been a touchdown pass with three seconds remaining. On the next and final play, he dropped back to pass again, only to see nobody between him and the end zone.

"Maybe in your eighth, ninth, 10th year, maybe you don't go headfirst into the end zone in the preseason," Broncos safety Brian Dawkins said. "But then again, when your juices get going, and you see that lane open up, your first instinct is to get going."

Cincinnati's defenders closed too late to stop Tebow from scoring; not too late to deliver a punishing blow. It's a swap Tebow's history suggests was worthwhile.

"I think what he did the other night — I hope all of our guys would have done," McDaniels said. "I'm sure he'll learn either the easy way or the hard way that you want to try to stay in this league as long as you can. And we'll help him do that."