I really think the Tim Tebow thing is really on it's way to becoming a focal point of this phenomena that has been gradually building over the past decade where "love" and "hate" for a player has less to do with how he acts on the field, less to do with how he acts off of it, and more to do with the fact that people want to be considered "right."
We live in a world with nonstop sports talk tv and radio, death by over-analysis, and the most in-depth prospect rankings and debates that we have ever seen within the casual fan base. I think the biggest thing driving the love/hate relationship between Tebow fans/detractors isn't the religion, throwing motion, wins, media coverage, etc... but mainly because few players split the nation so decisively between people who believed he would succeed vs. people who believed he would fail. Those people want their buddy at the water cooler to pat them on the back and say "good call, Pete."
As far as it all "spiraling downward," that has nothing to do with one game. At this point, Tebow has a future as a QB in this league. If not in Denver, somewhere else. I REALLY think you are looking at an Eli Manning type. Eli is just finally gaining respect from the majority, and looking at his career, that's pretty crazy. The difference is, will Tim turn that corner statistically that Eli did a couple years back, and then have that 2011-type campaign that somehow validates everything that he did in the past?
