New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, who is also on the list, wrote the blurb on Tebow.

Lin remarks on Tebow’s competitiveness, work ethic and leadership abilities.

Bubba Watson and Tim Tebow, right, share a laugh on the driving range during the Tim Tebow Foundation Charity Golf Classic.

But it’s Tebow’s “qualities in life off the field” that really stand out, Lin said. “He is unashamed of his convictions and faith, and he lives a life that consistently reflects his values, day in and day out. … As athletes, we pour our hearts into winning games. Tim is a reminder that life is about much more than that.”

The Gators (19-4) would reach the 20-win mark this week with a victory at Kentucky on Tuesday or at home against Tennessee on Saturday for the 14th consecutive season, the longest such streak in the SEC and the fifth-longest in the nation (Kansas 22, Duke and Syracuse (including this season) 15 and Gonzaga 14).

Syracuse and coach Jim Boeheim have the NCAA record with 34 20-win (or more) seasons  in his 36 campaigns. North Carolina holds the record for winning 20-or-more-games-in-a-season streak, turning the feat 31 consecutive seasons (1970-71 to 2000-01).

Tim Tebow on the sidelines against New England on Jan. 14. (AP photo)

In their monthly political poll, the news organizations surveyed 1,000 people for their opinions, also, of the former University of the Florida quarterback, now the comeback king for the Denver Broncos. Considering both fans and detractors, Tebow outdid the political parties and politicians — including President Barack Obama — by more than 20 percentage points.
Here’s the breakdown from the January survey:
26% had a very positive opinion of Tebow.
16% had a somewhat positive opinion.
24% were neutral.
5% had a somewhat negative opinion of him.
4% had a very negative opinion.
25% didn’t know his name or weren’t sure.
In summary, 42 percent had a positive opinion of Tebow and just 9 percent had a bad opinion. That’s a difference of 33 points.
His nearest competition in the survey was Obama, with 11 points. The president did have more positive results, with 50 percent, but his negatives, at 39 percent, were much higher.
Check out the full results.

In 2010, Tebow’s popularity took hold in Denver after the Broncos made the Heisman Trophy winner its first-round selection. One six-game winning streak and playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers later, and Tebow’s meteoric rise has taken him to the level of America’s top superstar athlete.

According to the ESPN Sports Poll, Tebow was voted the nation’s most popular athlete for the month of December, receiving 3 percent of the vote and beating out the likes of Kobe Bryant (2 percent), Aaron Rodgers (1.9 percent), Peyton Manning (1.8 percent) and Tom Brady (1.5 percent).

Tebow is only the sixth different athlete to win the poll since 2007, joining Brett Favre, Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Bryant and Manning.

The poll results are drawn from interviews with a sample of 1,502 Americans that are 12 and older.

ESPN can’t go an hour without mentioning the Denver Broncos quarterback this week. And columnists all over the country are writing about him. It’s Tebow Time all the time.

Tebow is again gracing the cover of  Sports Illustrated magazine this week, the 12th time (including while at UF), he as been on it.

If you missed the Broncos’ win over the Bears last Sunday, check this clip out:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/09000d5d8250f44d/Sound-FX-Tim-Tebow

Here are few of the comments worth noting:

Lindsey Vonn a fan – and friend
“I got to see the Broncos’ amazing comeback win Sunday with Tim Tebow’s family, with his brother Robby and his dad and another brother in their private box. It was really fun. … A lot of people are wondering what’s up with me and the Tebows. I’m just friends with the family.”
- Olympic ski champion Lindsey Vonn

In the ‘He should know’ category
“Everyone says he struggles throwing the ball. What I saw last night, he had no problems throwing the ball. … He threw the ball extremely well when I was watching.”

Lindsey Vonn "Tebows" after winning the women's World Cup super-G ski competition in Beaver Creek, Colo., on Dec. 7. (AP)

- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady

Damning with faint praise
“He’s a good running back.”
- Chicago lineback Brian Urlacher

One critic’s acknowledgment
“Love him or hate him, let’s be honest — the NFL is a lot more fun with Tebow out there every week, throwing wobbly passes, running around like a playground QB, Tebowing after touchdowns and making God part of the game-day discussion.”
- Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

(Mile) High on Tebow
“Everyone believes that something good’s going to happen. And, obviously, Tim’s been the guy that’s led that thinking. He’s just such a strong believer. He’s really got everyone else believing if you stay strong, stay positive, something good’s going to happen.”
- John Elway, Broncos VP of football operations

‘Start believing’
“Those last five minutes, if it’s within reach for us to get it, we feel like we’re going to win. For all the Tebow haters: You’d better start believing.”
- Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard, who forced a fumble in overtime

Rewriting the book
Tebow has “competitive greatness. He wants the ball in clutch time. … I think we’re rewriting the book on ‘keep fighting. Our guys never blink. They remain positive. As bad as it looked today — we didn’t play well; we had some drops. But the guy who dropped a couple of passes caught the … touchdown. That’s kind of the M.O. on this bunch.”
Broncos coach John Fox

Amen, brother
“If you believe, then unbelievable things can sometimes be possible.”
- Tebow in his post game remarks

He’s got the job
“Some silly fools still think Tebow can’t play, but the Broncos’ quarterback of next year and the future already is playing the position for them.”
- Woody Paige, The Denver Post

Too many eggs in one basket
“[T]he problem is the Broncos are building an offensive system to take advantage of Tim Tebow’s very specific style and skills — relying on Tebow’s ability to run, and receivers running routes to better accommodate Tebow’s limited passing abilities. With an entire system and game plan built around Tebow, the Broncos are one injury away from disaster. … In short, it’s a concentrated risk.”
- Tony Fratto on CNBC

Update: So much for getting your hopes up, Gator Nation. Marshall decided on Georgia and will enroll next month.

New York papers on Jets loss.

Tebow in crunchtime

“Tebow in crunchtime accelerates this old man’s heartrate. Can’t deny his ability and drive to win – accept it.”
- NFL and UF Hall of Fame defensive end Jack Youngblood on his Twitter account

Revis: He shocked me

“We played them well, through the whole game, until that last play. We played them well. Tim Tebow’s legs took them to victory, ran them to victory.
“He shocked me,” Revis said, “probably shocked a lot of people.”
- Jets star cornerback Darrelle Revis

Tim Tebow runs for a touchdown against the New York Jets Thursday in Denver. (AP)

The coaches

“The kid’s a competitor and makes big plays with the game on the line.”
-  Jets coach Rex Ryan

“He’s a competitive dude. He’s super competitive. He never lays his sword down. He’ll fight you to the death. That’s just his nature. He’s a great young man.”
- Denver coach John Fox

It doesn’t have to be pretty

“He did it to us in college and he’s doing it here. It doesn’t have to be pretty, it doesn’t have to be Aaron Rodgers-like. As long as we get it done, that’s all that matters.”
- Denver teammate Robert Ayers, who went to Tennessee

Get serious

“Can the Broncos win with almost no passing game? Is the option a viable NFL offense? Were we wrong to bury Tebow after his embarrassing effort against the Lions? Has Tebow’s running ability changed the way pro football will be played?

“The answers are no, no, absolutely not, and get serious.”
- NBC Sports analysis by Mike Tanier

Mighty Mouse

“”[E]ven though the first three quarters had set football back to the NFL in the 1940s, few in New York and New Jersey — and from Maine to Montana — were nodding off, and few at the stadium were leaving.
It was as if everybody was waiting to see if Tebow would fall flat on his face or become Mighty Mouse — “Here I come to save the day” — again.
“He didn’t disappoint.”
- Denver Post columnist Woody Paige

‘Giant heart’ and ‘iron will’

“What Tebow could not do, cannot do, with his erratic left arm, he did with his giant heart and his iron will. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and Tebow will find one every time.
“He was the winner, and Ryan and Sanchez and the 5-5 Jets were the sinners.
“Tebow was magic again with the game on the line, and Ryan’s defense was tragic again when it mattered most.
The flawed quarterback overcame the flawed team against all odds.”
- Steve Serby with the New York Post

This Tebow thing

“Eric Decker searched his brain, trying to come up with an explanation for what we all just witnessed.
“Finally, the Denver Broncos receiver gave up, laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
“‘A miracle,’ Decker said. ‘Greatness.’
“What else can you say?
“This Tim Tebow thing is officially out of control.”
- ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson

Impressing the doubters

“At this point, even the most extreme doubters have to be impressed. Or, at the very least, willing to come off their perches for a second to take another look at the Tim Tebow phenomenon as more of a football matter and less a referendum on religion, politics, spirituality, and whether the ‘good guys’ really do win.
“… It’s been said that with the way he plays, Tebow has managed to prove everyone right who has an opinion of him. … However, the true believers — and this is where they seem to have a point — will tell you that the kid will find a way to win, no matter what.”
- Yahoo! Sports blogger Doug Farrar

Instead, Broncos legend John Elway told NFL Total Access that the team’s new starting quarterback, Tim Tebow, “adds a great spark for us. So we’re looking forward to see what he can do.”

That was evident, he said, in the second half against the Chargers on Sunday, when the former Florida star replaced Kyle Orton.

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow talks to the media after being named the starting quarterback on Tuesday. (AP)

“It’s just a matter of him going out and doing the best he can,” said Elway, the Broncos’ executive vice president of football operations. “He adds that spark, he’s got great intangibles, he’s a great competitor, and I think this is going be a growing process for him.”

Elway is counting on Tebow’s work ethic and looking forward to working with him during the offseason next year.

The take from here is that Tebow can stand some seasoning. His skill set was great for the college game and Urban Meyer’s spread offense at Florida. It takes a different set of skills to be a productive NFL quarterback. So what if Tebow doesn’t start or play much this year? He could use the time to learn the game at that level. There are a good number of QBs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who didn’t start or play well early in their careers.

And there is no shame in sitting behind and learning from a veteran for a year or two. It worked for Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers among others.

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow at training camp on July 30 in Englewood, Colo. (AP)

What the so-called experts on television, radio or newspapers say won’t change anything. It’s just an opinion. What ESPN’s Merril Hoge said of Tebow on Wednesday is just that, an opinion. He is paid to stir the pot, to get people talking.

That’s just one side. Another comes from NBA great LeBron James, who went on Twitter with this:

“Tim Tebow will succeed in the NFL. He’s a hard worker, a student of the game, a natural born leader and most of all a WINNER! It takes time and he’ll be nice.

“Listened to Merril Hoge today on SC and he was just blasting Tebow. The man hasn’t even play a full season and its only his 2nd year in,” James wrote. “Guys get on that TV and act like they was all WORLD when they played. How bout encouraging him and wishing him the best instead of hating!!”

The Broncos camp has been saying the same thing about their quarterback situation since last season ended. A starter has not been named.

“My story’s been the same regardless of what you hear,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “And I’m in those meetings every day and know what’s said to everybody. Nothing’s changed. We’ve been singing the same song as seven months ago.”

So, don’t get all worked up about the opinions on Tebow’s NFL future, one way or the other. It’s still early. Let it play out on the field.