Two days after his “um . . . no” response and six after that perfunctory golf clap coupled with an “oh crap, we’re stuck with him” look on his face, Broncos V.P. of football operations John Elway once again has addressed the future of quarterback Tim Tebow.
Appearing on KOA radio in Denver, Elway said he hopes Tebow becomes the team’s long-term franchise quarterback.
“I am very hopeful that Tim Tebow is our guy,” Elway said, via Mike Klis of the Denver Post. “Am I absolutely positive at this point in time? No I’m not. I want to believe that and that’s what I want to happen.”
Fine, but why say anything when everything that represents less than unequivocal support for the second-year quarterback will rile up the Tebowmaniacs?
”It would be absolutely wonderful for the Denver Broncos and Denver Bronco fans if Tim Tebow could become that franchise guy,” Elway said. “And believe me we’re all hopeful he can be that guy. He’s come in and won four of the past five games and he’s played well. You’re not always going to make great strides week-in and week-out because you have ups and downs. But what I want to emphasize is, we’re all hopeful Tim’s the guy. I wish I had that crystal ball to be able to say that he absolutely is or . . . I don’t want to say he’s not because I don’t believe that. But it’s hard to say if Tim Tebow is absolutely that guy. We’re very hopeful that he is.”
The problem is that the Tebowmaniacs already believe he has earned the right to be the “franchise guy,” at least for 2012 if not beyond. And so they don’t want to hear anything other than positive comments from Elway or coach John Fox about the object of their extreme affection.
In other words, Elway’s Twitter feed is about to blow up. Again.