The Silver Lining: Broncos hoping to rid Denver of both Tim Tebow and Tebowmania

March 19 will forever be known as Victory Monday in the Denver Broncos’ front office as executive vice president of football operations John Elway and head coach John Fox got one step closer to reaching their offseason goal – ridding Mile High of quarterback Tim Tebow and perhaps more importantly “Tebowmania.”

Despite comments to the contrary in the offseason, it is a badly kept secret that Elway and Fox do not believe Tebow could become a viable long-term starting quarterback in the NFL. As if Elway’s stone-faced expressions every time Tebow threw or ran for a game-winning touchdown during the 2011 season were not proof enough.

But with a fan base in love with their star signal caller and the team finding unexpected levels of success behind the former Heisman Trophy winner, Denver only had one move to make if they wanted to get Tebow out of dodge.

The Broncos had to sign the one man, the one quarterback that would make Denver fans cast Tebow aside and unite behind an organizational decision to get rid of the guy who led their team to their first playoff victory since 2005-06.

That man is Peyton Manning and Elway did everything he could to get him to supplant Tebow including offering him what is expected to be a five-year contract worth approximately $95 million if all incentives are reached.

(No one can or should blame Elway for making a play for Manning – any good front office executive would have. At this point in his career, Manning is the far better quarterback and can bring the team to a higher level of success sooner than Tebow could.)

Even if Elway did not secure Manning this offseason, the plan was already in place to spend a high draft pick on a quarterback. Reports out of Colorado had Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden extremely high on Elway’s radar.

It was not just that Elway and Fox do not believe in Tebow and his future in the league. The Broncos as an organization have already bled every dollar they could out of the Tebowmania phenomenon.

Tebow sold hundreds of thousands of No. 15 jerseys (as well as other clothing and memorabilia), brought in amazing ratings for Denver games and provided the franchise with an unprecedented amount of media attention.

He set records on Twitter, was the No. 1 topic on every sports program across the country and even had two one-hour editions of ESPN’s SportsCenter dedicated to debating things he had already accomplished and his future in the league.

But all of that media coverage – all of that attention – made getting rid of Tebow even more difficult (and therefore more important) for the Broncos. And the “-mania” affixed to his last name all season long is undoubtedly the primary reason his trade value is so low (speculated to be a fourth-round pick at best).

Tebow’s popularity, which he did not ask for but undoubtedly embraces, may be his biggest flaw. He has already proven that he can succeed (to what level remains to be determined) with his unorthodox throwing motion. His accuracy is steadily improving. His ability to win NFL games is now well-documented.

To paraphrase a comment NFL.com reporter Jeff Darlington made on Twitter, it is an oversimplified yet still mind-boggling statement to note that a quarterback that dominated Pittsburgh’s defense in a 2012 playoff game could be acquired for a fifth-round pick (or perhaps even less) just a few months later.

Tebow may not be everyone’s ideal quarterback but denying his accomplishments as a young player in this league is foolish. He has made all of these strides without ever having a full offseason as an incumbent starter. Tebow brought a team that had not only given up on their season but also traded away their best wide receiver prior to his first start all the way to the playoffs – and won a game, too.

That being said, teams interested in adding him have to not only want to take a chance on Tebow but simultaneously deal with “Tebowmania” and perhaps even give up some compensation for that opportunity.

Otherwise trading a late-round pick for a player with his record and extremely high ceiling is a no-brainer move for a competent front office.

What team wants to put their incumbent quarterback in a situation where fans may very well call for his ousting unless he performs at the highest level possible? What head coach wants to tie his future to Tebow, a player who has been thoroughly disrespected behind closed doors with anonymous assistants, coaches and executives repeatedly doubting his ability to any of the number of reporters that would listen?

It is going to take a strong football mind or someone with an unabashedly concrete belief in Tebow to take that leap. That is why New England and Bill Belichick, the team and coach that were probably the most snug fit for Tebow coming out of college, are still probably his best opportunity to succeed long-term in this league.

Belichick, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels (who drafted Tebow when he was head coach in Denver) and owner Robert Kraft understand what “winners” look like. The front office often has success at finding talented athletes in the draft and developing them into successful NFL players.

Should Tebow not wind up in New England, one has to wonder what will become of his career. What team will give him a legitimate opportunity to not only win the starting job but also compete at a high level by surrounding him with a talented supporting cast?

There are plenty of fans that believe in Tebow’s ability but unless he finds a team that shares their optimism, a situation could arise where he may not even have the opportunity to prove himself on the field.

The feather in Tebow’s cap in this regard is agent Jimmy Sexton, someone who carries a lot of weight in league circles and is known to work hard for his clients.

Even if the Broncos somehow reverse course and decide to keep Tebow in the fold (whether they want to see if he can develop or simply do not receive any offers of worthwhile compensation for the player), it would make sense that Sexton does what he can to get him out of a toxic situation in Denver.

Tebow undoubtedly believes he is capable of being a starting NFL signal caller. Though he might be convinced to be patient and content while learn the ropes from a player of Manning’s caliber in the short-term, his contract (set to expire after the 2014 season) makes that situation unlikely. He will not want to languish on the bench behind Manning only to see his contract run out and the Broncos fail to re-sign him.

Additionally, Manning decided to go to Mile High to win now, not to tutor Tebow. Would Manning as a teacher be everything – and more – that Tebow needs to be as successful as possible in this league? Probably. Unfortunately, that is neither the mindset of the organization nor the player who would have to help him learn the ropes.

That is why – 71 days removed from his record-setting overtime touchdown pass against Pittsburgh – Tebow’s NFL future is murky at best.

What is clear, however, is that Elway and Fox ultimately got their wish.

And Tebow has two more names to add to the long list of detractors he can address while filming his next FRS Energy commercial.