There's nothing in the world as large as a professional athlete's ego. Honestly, have you ever heard anyone other than an athlete refer to himself in the third person? Maybe it's the ego that separates them from the rest of us "weekend warriors," but it sure can make them sound idiotic...which brings me to former Steeler/current ESPN "expert" Merril Hoge. On this morning's Gameday roundtable discussion on Tim Tebow, Hoge refused to take even one small step back from his trashing of the Broncos' quarterback. When former Broncos' linebacker Tom Jackson pointed out that Tebow has won four of his five starts and could have the Broncos in a first place tie by the end of the day, should the Raiders lose in Minnesota, Hoge actually said, "It's not about winning games, or winning the division. It's about winning the Super Bowl." Jackson pointed out that, at some point, Hoge had to give credit to Tebow for what he's done since taking over the starting job for a 1-4 team. Hoge wouldn't budge, pointing out that everyone was running the "Wildcat" a few years ago, asking, "Where is it now?"

Jackson followed up with, "Suppose the Broncos win the division, which is a distinct possibility, and host a playoff game?" Hoge repeated, "It's not about winning the division, or winning a playoff game. It's about winning the Super Bowl."

Winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal? Does Hoge think he's the only one who realizes that? Does even the most delusional Bronco fan believe that can happen this year? Of course not. So, it comes down to figuring out how to make your season as successful as it can be. Tebow is accomplishing that. He has made the Broncos relevant again, pulling them from the abyss that Josh McDaniels and Kyle Orton had steered them into. I have been a Tebow doubter from the day he was drafted, but, unlike Hoge, I'm willing to acknowledge that, regardless of his completion percentage, delivery of the football, or lack of production for three and a half quarters, there is something about Tebow that is working. He's winning football games, which is, by all accounts other than Merril Hoge's, the measuring stick in professional sports.  

Having read a few of the threads about John Elway's comments regarding Andrew Luck, and having no interest in debating who is hanging from somebody else's jockstrap, here's what I saw yesterday:

- Tim Tebow played very well within the confines of a simple game plan that probably could have only succeeded against the woeful Houston Texans' defense. The Broncos ran a season's worth of screen plays that any quality defense would have adjusted to, and the Texans' defensive backs were absolutely abused by Brandon Lloyd. Credit Tebow for putting the ball into spots that allowed his guys to make plays, but don't fool yourself into thinking that yesterday could have happened against ANY playoff team.

- Tim Tebow took three shots yesterday that had me wondering if he was going to get up. He's tough, no question about it, but his willingness to take hits is terminal to having an extended NFL career. Steve Beurlein referenced it several times, and it really has to be a part of the organization's long term planning, that this is not the SEC anymore and Tebow cannot continue to absorb that kind of punishment.

- John Elway's statement about Andrew Luck is a no-brainer and should not be considered disrespectful toward Tebow. Teams' NFL success will continue to be dictated by the play of their quarterback, along with getting a reasonable amount of solid defense. A franchise quarterback is the only "must have" in the formula for winning a championship. Just because Tebow was over-valued by Josh McDaniels does not necessarily mean he is the answer for the long-term.

- Unfortunately, I would put my betting money on Tebow's career being cut short by concussions before I'd bet that he's going to develop into a polished NFL quarterback who can win a Super Bowl.

- Team defense is far more predicated on system and maintaining assignment discipline than it is on raw talent. There are only a handful of individuals who are game changers on the defensive side of the ball, like Troy Polamalu and Clay Matthews. Bypassing talented offensive skill players in the draft to try and build a defense, when there is no defensive structure in place, is a mistake. The Patriots have shown that defensive success is attained by plugging role players into the system. Who would have ever built a defense around Tedy Bruschi? Or, years ago, the 49ers using "Hacksaw" Reynolds or Matt Millen? How about the Dolphins' "No-name" defense? These defenses won championships because they perfected their plan, not because they were bigger, faster, and stronger. The Broncos need a committment to a defensive coordinator and his plan, not just a bunch of high draft picks.

- When was the last time the Broncos and Chargers played a game that had zero bearing on the AFC playoff picture?