Tim Tebow ran 22 times during the Broncos' 16-13 overtime victory over the Chargers last week, the most rushing attempts by a quarterback since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. And coach John Fox already has said Denver's read-option attack isn't going anywhere as long as Tebow is the starter and the team keeps winning.
Which begs the question: Can Tebow continue to handle the punishment that comes with running the ball so many times?
'Playbook' special on Tebow
A special edition of the
NFL Network program, "Playbook", will focus exclusively on Tim Tebow, and how the QB continues to pull out thrilling wins for the Broncos. It will air Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10:30 p.m. ET.
John Elway, the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations and a Hall of Fame QB, doesn't see a problem.
"The good thing about Tim is he has an innate ability when he's out running around, as to really understand when to get down, when to take a hit, and when not to," Elway said during his weekly "Elway Live" podcast on the team's official website. "So I think if you really watch of his 22 carries -- and I'm not trying to slight the hits -- but he does a good job of sliding away so it's not a direct hit. ...
"He's just a big, physical guy and loves doing what he's doing."
Tebow currently has more rush attempts (78) than pass completions (65), and that doesn't figure to change. The Broncos definitely are flirting with danger, but at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, Tebow is bigger than most NFL running backs and has shown his toughness.
Tebow lasted in college. You just have to wonder how long he can while playing this way in the NFL.
