Draft team needs: Denver Broncos - CBSSports.com

Broncos brass -- GM Brian Xanders, coach John Fox, owner Pat Bowlen, VP John Elway -- has work to do. (AP)

There's a reason Peyton Manning is in Denver, and it's not only team exec John Elway or head coach John Fox. It's Tim Tebow, the quarterback he displaced.

Let me explain. Tebow made the Broncos an attractive choice because he turned what should have been a 4-12 doormat into a division winner that upset defending AFC champion Pittsburgh in the playoffs.

That told Manning the Broncos aren't that far away ... except they might be. Eliminate those miracle finishes and last-gasp victories, and you're looking at the AFC West's worst ballclub.

Still, Manning will make this team better, with most confident that Denver wins the AFC West. Maybe, but that's only if he is recovered from a significant injury and plays as he did two seasons ago. That's a big if, with nothing certain until play resumes.

QB: The only question here is how healthy Manning is or will be. One coach I trust told me he doesn't have the arm strength yet, comparing it to, oh, say, that of Chad Pennington. Then again, we're over five months from the start of the season. There seems little doubt Manning will improve, that his arm will return and that he will be effective. But he hasn't played in over a year and just turned 36, so you have to wonder: At what level does he play and where, exactly, will he come up short? We're about to find out, and heaven help Denver if Manning is sidelined. Caleb Hanie is the backup.

RB: Willis McGahee wasn't just good last season; he was marvelous, rushing for 1,199 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and shouldering the bulk of the Broncos' top-rated rushing attack. But McGahee turns 31 this season and was winding down at the end of last year, failing to rush for more than 76 yards in five of his final six starts, including the playoffs. Also, he's not a big playmaker. The Broncos still have Knowshon Moreno as a backup, but the guy has missed 12 games over the past two seasons -- including nine last year. As a holdover from the Josh McDaniels era, he wouldn't appear to have much of a future here. Lance Ball and Jeremiah Johnson comprise the rest of the running-back brigade, and we're missing someone significant from last year's rushing attack. Oh, yeah, it's Tim Tebow. Look for the Broncos' running game to suffer without him.

WR: DeMaryius Thomas is a star waiting to happen ... if he can stay healthy. So far he hasn't, having missed parts of his first two seasons. When he's on the field, he's a load. But he could use help, and while Eric Decker is a solid possession receiver with sure hands, he's not much more than a No. 3. Andre Caldwell and Jason Hill are next in line, and connect the dots, people. This is not Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Manning doesn't have the receivers he had in Indianapolis.

TE: Once, there was the expectation that Denver would hire Dallas Clark to join his favorite quarterback. But so far, that hasn't happened, which may tell you how much Clark has declined. He turns 33 this summer and missed 15 games the past two seasons. Instead of reaching for him, Denver chose another Indianapolis tight end, Jacob Tamme, who is younger and healthier. Look for him and fellow newcomer Joel Dreesen to be Manning's favorite short-to-intermediate targets.

OL: Former Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday was expected to follow Manning to Denver too, but he didn't. Instead, he took a deal with Green Bay. So Manning operates behind an offensive line that is strong at left and right tackle, where Ryan Clady and Orlando Franklin operate. The Broncos aren't quite as strong inside, but having Chris Kuper back at guard is critical. He broke his leg and dislocated his ankle late last season, breaking a string of 15 games where the Broncos' offensive line was intact. Protecting Manning is not just important, it's critical -- and his quick release and smarts will help his bodyguards. He knows how to avoid repeated hits, which always makes an offensive line look good.

DL: There is talent on the outside, where Robert Ayers and Elvis Dumervil man the end positions, with Ayers more comfortable as a 4-3 down lineman than a 3-4 outside linebacker. Still, he doesn't have the push you would like to see from an outside pass rusher -- one reason the club re-signed backup Jason Hunter. Brodrick Bunkley, who was a pleasant surprise, will be missed, with the Broncos plugging in Kevin Vickerson and Ty Warren as prospective starters inside. Vickerson is good for rotations but doesn't look like star material, while Ryan McBean and Mitch Unrein provide inside depth. Denver needs help at defensive tackle, and don't be surprised if it makes one an early draft pick.

LB: Despite a thumb injury that forced him to miss a start and handicapped him down the stretch, Von Miller was the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year. And he should have been. The guy was an impact player, explosive in his pass rush and solid in his play -- with former defensive coordinator Dennis Allen moving him around to confuse and confound opponents. But neither Miller nor the Broncos' defense was the same after he was hurt in late November, with turnovers one area where they were deficient. The Broncos wound up finishing tied for 28th in that department, with none in their final three regular-season games. D.J. Williams' limitations in pass coverage were exposed, with special-teams whiz Wesley Woodyard sitting behind him. Joe Mays was re-signed to plug the middle. Mays is solid vs. the run, but look for Nate Irving to push him.

DB: There's an overhaul here, and there should be. The Broncos got torched down the stretch, especially in the playoff loss to New England. In three of their final five games, opponents scored 40 or more points, with quarterbacks picking apart a secondary that had played well until then. Look for three new starters, with Champ Bailey the only returnee. Tracy Porter and Mike Adams joined the Broncos via free agency, while Quinton Carter is being promoted from within. Carter was inconsistent when he played last season, but coaches are high on him and believe he will improve with experience. Chris Harris played well in his role as a nickel back, while safety Rahim Moore must look better than he played as a rookie.

Are Junior and Tebow alike? - ESPN (blog)

CONCORD, N.C. -- A reader recently suggested that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the Tim Tebow of NASCAR. The reader suggested that Earnhardt is just as overrated in a stock car as the new New York Jets quarterback is on a football field.

So I asked Earnhardt what he thought about the comparison.

"I haven't really thought about that one," NASCAR's most popular driver said Wednesday after a two-hour drifting session for a Degree Men video shoot at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "Do I need to work on my throwing motion? Is my throwing motion OK with everyone?

"No, I'm right-handed. I don't know."

Some would be offended, but not Earnhardt. He's been compared to too many people during his career to get sensitive. So he played along with the line of questioning that many would have avoided, another reason fans like him so much.

"That guy is under too much damn pressure," Earnhardt continued on Tebow. "I like him and think he's a good guy, but Jesus, man. I think he lives under twice the microscope I ever did.

"He's incredible. He doesn't really … fan the flames on that stuff. He just does his own thing. But [I] don't know. I guess that ain't a bad guy to get compared to."

He's right, although a comparison to Peyton Manning by the reader would have been more flattering. But since the comparison was with Tebow, let's have fun with it.

• Earnhardt doesn't get down on his knees and pray after a great pass. Not that he could even if he wanted to since his passes take place at high speeds in a race car.

• Tebow has Tebowing, but there are no nicknames for any of Earnhardt's mannerisms. He likes to TiVo, not Tebow.

• Earnhardt curses frequently and once was fined $10,000 for saying "s---" on live television; Tebow occasionally says darn.

• Earnhardt owns several bars named Whisky River. Tebow owned Denver last season, but no bars.

• Earnhardt lives in the country on a ranch called "Dirty Mo Acres." Tebow is looking for an apartment in New York City and his idea of dirty, according to an ESPN New York story, is not returning a cereal bowl to the sink.

• Tebow doesn't smoke or drink alcohol; Earnhardt has been known to do both, and once drove for a beer sponsor.

• Tebow won eight times in 2011; Earnhardt hasn't won since 2008.

• Each leads his sport in merchandise sales, popularity and criticism.

• Earnhardt won two Nationwide Series titles in NASCAR's second-tier series; Tebow was part of two national championship teams in college, second tier to the NFL.

• One of Earnhardt's bars is in Jacksonville, Fla. Tebow is from Jacksonville, and rumor has it his brother occasionally goes to Junior's place.

• Both have rules named after them: "The Tebow Rule" banning messages on eye paint in college football and "The Junior Rule" that NASCAR calls a caution whenever Earnhardt is in danger of going a lap down. OK, the latter is more myth than rule.

• Both are single and apparently like blondes; Earnhardt dates one and Tebow is a big fan of Jennifer Aniston.

• Earnhardt has a life-size Forrest Gump manikin sitting on a bench at his ranch. Tebow has the too-good-to-be-true personality of Forrest Gump.

• Earnhardt was happy with second in the 2012 Daytona 500; Tebow appears happy to be second string with the Jets.

OK, they're really not that much alike.

Sports names and faces: Diego Maradona, Tim Tebow - San Francisco Chronicle

Tebow-Sanchez concoction promises intrigue - NFL News

Whether Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow can coexist at quarterback for the Jets looms as one of the burning questions heading into next season.

"I think my role depends on how well I practice and how well I perform in practices," Tebow recently told the team's official website. "I think first and foremost, my goal is to go in there and work hard and to earn guys' respect a little bit at a time and one day at a time."

Both quarterbacks appear to welcome the competition, but how will this play out?

Scenario one: Coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Tony Sparano strike gold. A quietly motivated Sanchez regains focus, cuts down on mistakes and develops chemistry with Santonio Holmes. He is spelled periodically by Tebow in Wildcat situations, morphing New York's offense into an unpredictable stew that leaves opponents guessing. Both quarterbacks are hailed for executing their assignments, keeping drama to a minimum and leading the Jets to an AFC East title. The media mob predicting chaos for Gang Green comes off as foolish gossips and hobby horses. Mike Tannenbaum never pays for a steak again in the Tri-state area.

Scenario two: Fifty-two seconds into the season opener, Sanchez throws an incomplete pass. Tebow enters the game and runs for a 77-yard touchdown in which he sheds nine tacklers and somersaults into the end zone. Holmes is the first to greet Tebow in the end zone. The MetLife crowd sways in ecstasy. Mark Sanchez explodes into pieces on the spot.

Realistically, this pans out somewhere in between. Tebow appears to accept his role and remains openly excited to work with Sparano, who last coached him at the 2010 Senior Bowl.

"It was fun playing for him then and it will be a lot of fun playing for him now," Tebow said. "He's someone that is (an) extremely outside-the box thinker, and figures out ways to put his athletes in positions where they can succeed."

If Sparano can find a way to turn the Sanchez-Tebow puzzle into wins, he's more than earned his paycheck.

Donovan McNabb is Wrong About Tim Tebow: Fan's Perspective - Yahoo! Sports

Donovan McNabb appeared on ESPN's "First Take" on March, 30, 2012 and his target for the day was New York Jets QB Tim Tebow. McNabb criticized Tebow for taking to Twitter and thanking his fans. However, what McNabb doesn't realize is that just because his fans aren't interested, Tebow's fans are.

McNabb was referring to the recent tweets by Tebow thanking his Denver Broncos fans for their support during the trade and saying that he was looking forward to giving everything he has to the Jets. McNabb stated, "Let it go. At some point let's focus on getting into camp and learning a new offense. There's no need to keep trying to have the fans behind you."

McNabb went on to say, "As an NFL player, and as a veteran in this game, no one cares what you're doing during the offseason. They only care about what you do on the football field." Now, while this may apply to McNabb, it is one of the things that make Tebow different. His fans do care what he does off the field. It is something that has made him a media icon even outside of the NFL world.

To Tebow's fan, he is different. While he may be a great football player, he is far more than that. He realizes that, for him, football is a job. It is a job that gives him the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. This is what his fans are interested in.

In all honesty, I don't believe the media spotlight on Tebow has anything to do with how he plays the game of football. It has to do with his character. It has to do with his leadership. It has to do with who he is off the field. This is what has made him the role model that he is.

Fans hear the constant criticism of Tebow's mechanics and don't care. All they see is a strong young man determined to get better and prove the critics wrong. All they see is a man who isn't focused on meeting the press but is focused on spending time with children facing medical issues. He would rather share his time with them than get caught up in the media circus that follows him everywhere.

So, while McNabb's fans may not care what he does off the field and during the offseason, Tebow's fan see that as just as important as what he does on the field.

We are used to football players making the news for DUIs or other colorful behavior but Tebow is redefining media attention when it comes to a football player. He is showing that once again football players can be great role models both on and off the field.

Deborah Braconnier is a former athlete and avid football fan. She is a freelance writer and Featured Contributor for the NFL and Olympics. She has followed the Denver Broncos since she was a child became a fan of Tim Tebow during his run as a QB for the Broncos. She looks forward to following his career with the New York Jets. Follow her on Twitter at @fwcdeborah.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Tim Tebow is a 'motivator' in the locker room, Florida teammate Will Hill recalls - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

Robert Sciarrino/The Star-LedgerTim Tebow delivered passionate pre-game speeches as a college quarterback.

Tim Tebow sat in front of his locker on game day, reading a passage in the Bible. All of a sudden, University of Florida teammate Will Hill heard Tebow slam the book shut excitedly and roar, “Let’s go!”

“I was like, ‘I need to read that verse he read,’ ” Hill recalled Friday at TEST Sports Clubs in Martinsville, where he was participating in a Pro Day event also sponsored by Parisi.

The two were Gators teammates for two seasons, 2008-09, during which Florida won 26 of its 28 games and a national championship with Tebow as the starting quarterback. Hill, a safety on those teams, called Tebow a “motivator,” driven by his faith, his belief in his teammates and his fierce competitiveness.

“Knowing him, being with the Jets, I know he wants to be that starting guy,” Hill said with a smile. “I know that he’s going to pull others to him. It’s going to be a big change for the Jets.”

The Jets’ trade for Tebow less than two weeks ago has raised many questions. The former Broncos starter has been announced as the back-up to Mark Sanchez, and he will also be given a package of direct-snap plays that take advantage of his unique skill set.

But the public, and some of his new Jets teammates, are wondering: How will Tebow fit into the offense of new coordinator Tony Sparano? How will he fit into the locker room? How will a successful starter handle entering the team as second on the depth chart?

“That’s going to push him,” Hill predicted. “He’ll definitely push the starter, because if the starter’s not pushed, Timmy’s going to be there.”

Hill -- the former St. Peter’s Prep star who is still trying to find a landing spot in professional football after declaring for the draft early in 2011 -- recalls a teammate so competitive that he would pop over to do defensive back drills at Florida practice.

“He was trying to be better than us,” Hill said. “He’s a great competitor, that’s what drives him on and off the field. He wants to be the best at anything.”

In Gainesville, Fla., Tebow was the leader who organized team dinners and paintball or bowling outings. He was goofy, too: Hill recounts going over to Tebow’s apartment to find him and roommate Riley Cooper, now a receiver for the Eagles, having a noisy and clumsy pillow fight.

Tebow sought personal inspiration from his Christian faith, Hill recalled, but his passionate pre-game speeches at Florida drew more on his belief in each of his teammates.

“Even though he’s not how a typical athlete is with all the loud rap music and everything, he has other things that motivate him,” Hill said. “He reads his verses and then he goes and gets in each player’s face. Not just one (player), he goes in everybody’s (face) to motivate everybody, because if one person is not motivated, there’s the potential we will lose. He makes it known.”

His message was always positive. Hill said Tebow would often remind his teammates to keep going, keep pushing and never give up, even if they made a mistake. You never know when momentum will change, he would say.

“I had arguments with people, tons of arguments, about how well Timmy was supposed to do in the league,” said Hill, who went undrafted and is hoping for a chance in the NFL or CFL. “They criticized his throwing. Alright, what do you want? A winner, or do you want just a pretty quarterback? You’ve got pretty quarterbacks that can throw the ball and never win, like the guy that was there before Tim (in Denver). But Tim know how to win, and that’s what the league needs: A person that knows how to win, and he knows how to win.”

Hill believes the kind of leader Tebow was at Florida can translate to any locker room at any level.

“In the locker room, you just get that vibe,” Hill said. “Timmy’s your leader, and you know how crazy he is. He’s crazy when it comes to the field.”

The Tim Tebow tug o' war - ESPN

Hmmm, only one shopping day left 'til Bunsen Burner Day. (Hey, it's real. It's celebrated March 31. Read all about it right here..) What to get the football fan who has everything? Oh, oh, oh! Courtside Seat knows! A New York Jets/Tim Tebow jersey -- perfect! Only question is, will you be able to buy your favorite football fan and Bunsen Burner Day gift recipient that brand-spanking-new Tebow/Jets jersey in time? Apparently not. We'll get to Scottie Pippen and Notre Dame a little later, but today, we start with …

Here's what they might have been saying earlier this week at Nike headquarters in Oregon: Reebok is making thousands of dollars off Tim Tebow shirts and all we got is this lousy lawsuit.

There is a reason the Nike folks were unhappy enough about Reebok's Tebow paraphernalia to file a lawsuit demanding an end to the sale of it. They paid a reported $1.1 billion to the NFL for what they thought would be the exclusive right to manufacture and sell NFL gear like Jets jerseys carrying Tebow's name and number (15). But instead of enjoying the profits from the latest retail manifestation of Tebowmania, Nike was watching Reebok enjoy a bonanza in the nation's largest market.

The problem for Nike is that its deal with the league doesn't officially kick in until April 1. On Sunday. Reebok's decade-long exclusive on NFL paraphernalia with player names and numbers expired a few weeks ago. The timing gap left a good chunk of the month of March in a kind of limbo, what Deadspin called "no-brands land."

Reebok was ready to compete in March's open market, and flooded it with Tebow-Jets jerseys moments after the quarterback was traded from Denver to New York last week while Nike was waiting to launch a marketing campaign around its new deal with the NFL next week, after April 1. Instead of selling shirts over the last week and a half, Nike produced a lawsuit in a federal court in New York and demanded a court order to stop Reebok from selling Tebow jerseys and to require Reebok to destroy its inventory.

[+] Enlarge AP Photo/Mary AltafferDepending on who manufactured them, these jerseys might not be for sale at the moment.

Moving quickly in the lawsuit if not in the sale of shirts, Nike managed to persuade a federal judge on Wednesday night to grant a temporary restraining order (TRO) that halted Reebok's sales of Tebow/Jets shirts. But it is a triumph that might not last. A hearing on a preliminary injunction is set for next Wednesday (April 4), when Nike will face more difficult legal requirements.

Nike and its lawyers are relying on legal doctrines known as "tortious interference" and "unjust enrichment." The theories suggest that Reebok cheated when it began selling the Tebow shirts and that the cheating will interfere with Nike's efforts to profit from the Tebow phenomenon, and that it's somehow unjust that Reebok is making money that Nike wanted to make.

These two legal theories are always signs of desperation. If a lawyer tells you that you are the victim of tortious interference and that your competitor is enjoying unjust enrichment, you should know that you are in a bad position. The theories rarely result in courtroom triumphs and are usually evidence that a company was caught in a losing situation and wanted to try something to correct it.

If the judge issues the preliminary injunction on Wednesday, then Nike has everything it needs. But there is a serious possibility that the judge could dissolve the TRO and refuse the injunction. The TRO was issued solely on Nike's statements, without considering what Reebok will offer in response. When Reebok responds, it likely will contend that it should have been permitted to sell shirts until the Nike contract became effective, and the judge might buy that argument. In that case, Reebok would not face the possibility of paying punitive damages to Nike, would not face the possibility of having to destroy inventory and would be able to keep its profits on the shirts it has sold since the Tebow trade.

Neither Nike nor Reebok will talk about the court case, but it is possible they are working together to find a solution to the dispute. Tebow jerseys are second only to Aaron Rodgers jerseys in sales of NFL gear, and there ought to be sufficient profits to satisfy both Nike and Reebok. This is the kind of dispute that should settle as the lawyers gather in court next week for the hearing on Nike's demand for an injunction that would stop Reebok from selling Tebow/Jets shirts and require Reebok to destroy its inventory. Rather than risk a drastic setback, they'll find a way to share the market.

Responding to Scottie Pippen's charge that they falsely accused him of being "bankrupt" (Courtside Seat chronicled the case here; several months ago), five news and financial reporting organizations, through their lawyers, are making all sorts of statements about Pippen.

In court papers, the lawyers label him a "serial litigator." They accuse him of "pleading poverty both in the judicial system and in the press." And they blame him for a "steady drumbeat of press coverage of his ongoing and increasingly dire financial circumstances."

Working in unison, lawyers from seven law firms in Chicago, Washington and Silicon Valley go so far as to suggest that Pippen -- in the face of problems with his financial advisers, his own lawyers and his accountant -- should have "notified them that, despite his self-described financial losses, he had not sought protection in bankruptcy."

NBC, CBS and three investment services broadcast or published reports during the last two years that Pippen was bankrupt. Those inaccurate media reports that Pippen was bankrupt are the basis of a libel lawsuit Pippen filed in December, the suit now spawning the countercharges catalogued above.

[+] Enlarge Manny Hernandez/AP PhotoThe charges and counter-charges aren't pretty in Scottie Pippen's ongoing libel lawsuit.

Neither the organizations nor their lawyers now suggest that even one of them called Pippen to ask him anything, much less whether he was in bankruptcy. None of them suggest that they invested the four minutes it would take to determine in the official federal bankruptcy reporting system whether Pippen had filed for bankruptcy. And now, their lawyers suggest that it was Pippen's duty to tell them that he was not bankrupt.

How was Pippen to know that any of these supposed reporters were planning to describe his financial difficulties? Even if he somehow knew they were preparing a story on him (and his lawyers say he didn't know), when did it become his obligation to find them and tell them anything?

If anyone from the media had called Pippen to ask him anything, he could have told them that yes, he had suffered some financial setbacks. But he would have also told them what he is now saying in his lawsuit: His net worth never sank below $40 million, he was paying his bills and he was nowhere near bankruptcy.

And if any of these media organizations had looked one step further, they would have learned that Pippen's only trip to bankruptcy court was to make a claim against an investment adviser who worked himself into bankruptcy with some bizarre real estate deals.

These accounts of Pippen's supposed bankruptcy are apparently the result of attempts by news site aggregators to repackage a story and, without any additional reporting, to make it fresh and dramatic, something that will draw readers. They see reports that Pippen has lost millions of dollars on investments and $5 million in a lawsuit over an airplane, and they jump to the conclusion that he must be bankrupt, which is a word that is handy in a headline and brings drama to their presentation. A man who made $120 million playing basketball is now bankrupt!

But it is one thing to suffer some financial reverses and quite another to be in bankruptcy. If you haven't suffered some reverses, you are either the most fortunate of investors or you aren't investing at all. But bankruptcy carries with it a stigma that cannot be erased. The bankrupt person has nothing left, is unable to pay his or her bills and has gone to court to stiff the creditors.

The reports of his bankruptcy put Pippen in a bad spot as he seeks marketing and endorsement deals. It puts him in a group that includes Mike Tyson, Antoine Walker, Derrick Coleman, Kenny Anderson, Dan Issel (all of whom have declared bankruptcy) and many others who have squandered millions. It leaves him in a position of minimal leverage and it forces him to explain that he is not the bankrupt deadbeat described in these reports.

It's difficult for journalists to support anyone who claims to have been defamed in a news report. We instinctively gravitate to the side of the reporter and want the reporter to stand by his story. But in the view from Courtside Seat of this case, these reporters were wrong in what they said about Pippen. And their lawyers compound the mistake when they try to gloss over the difference between financial difficulty and bankruptcy.

The reporters, the media organizations and their lawyers want U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman to dismiss the case, but it isn't likely that she will. In another year or so, a jury in Chicago should decide whether payment must be made for the damage they did when they charged that Pippen was bankrupt.

Writer Melinda Henneberger returned a few months ago to Notre Dame, her alma mater, wanting to know what the university had learned from the death of Lizzy Seeberg, who took her own life in September 2010, a week and a half after she reported that a football player had raped her.

Henneberger was stunned by what she uncovered. She described her findings in a remarkable feature story published this week in the National Catholic Reporter, a feisty and independent Catholic publication that for years has led the coverage of sexual abuse in the church.

"If someone had told me what Notre Dame did to Lizzy, I am not sure I would have believed it," Henneberger, a Washington Post reporter, told ESPN.com.

"The university feels that it has done absolutely nothing wrong and handled everything perfectly," she added. "How do you learn anything when you think that all went well?"

[+] Enlarge Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesThe Notre Dame campus culture over which 'Touchdown Jesus' watches has come under criticism in a National Catholic Reporter story.

After an investigation by Notre Dame's police force that included a detailed report from Seeberg before she died, disciplinary officials conducted a hearing in February 2011 and concluded that the player she accused of assaulting her was "not responsible."

With prodigious reporting and using waivers from the Seeberg family that allowed her to view investigative and medical records, Henneberger reached some startling conclusions:

• Notre Dame deliberately painted a "false and despicable" portrait of Lizzy Seeberg and relied on the brilliant Chicago trial lawyer and Notre Dame alumnus Joe Power to "rough up a 19-year-old dead girl." Henneberger quotes Power as describing Lizzy as an "aggressor" in the encounter; he also suggested that Henneberger was out "to destroy a black man falsely accused by a white woman."

• Athletes and children of big donors do not receive special treatment in investigations of sexual abuse. The university does "a poor job in general," a former Notre Dame administrator told Henneberger.

• After studying what she called the "bleak social universe" on campus, Henneberger wondered "whether sexual assault on this very Catholic campus has somehow become more morally acceptable under cover of drunkenness, than sober consensual sex."

• On the campus, there was a total "lack of [any] sisterhood mentality," despite numerous women telling Henneberger about sexual attacks by Notre Dame men. There was little support for Seeberg among students, Henneberger wrote, and they "tended to be very protective of the institution and its image." Henneberger concluded that Notre Dame women are "not eager to look too closely at anything that might raise questions."

• One alumna told Henneberger that she feels she "needs to warn women who are considering Notre Dame because so many daughters of Notre Dame friends have been raped on campus." The tipping point, Henneberger wrote, came when the alum realized that "two friends who'd been roommates both had daughters who had reported being raped at Notre Dame -- and one of the accused was the son of yet another friend and alumna."

Disturbed and disappointed with her findings, Henneberger arranged an encounter with the Rev. John Jenkins, the university's president, a kind of ambush after Jenkins spoke at a pro-life rally at a church in Washington. It was, Henneberger told ESPN.com, "something I have never done as a reporter."

In his homily, Henneberger wrote, Jenkins had discussed the "moral courage required to protect the most vulnerable among us in an indifferent world."

Henneberger waited on the church steps to be the last person to greet Jenkins, then asked him why he had refused even to meet with the Seeberg family after Lizzy's death.

"His answer was off the record," she wrote, "but anyone walking by could have seen a man in a collar shaking with anger, and the tears in his eyes were most certainly not for Lizzy."

For Henneberger, whose father and two uncles are also Notre Dame alums, it was "the hardest story I ever wrote." She had expected the best from Notre Dame, and she learned the worst. She wanted know what her alma mater had learned, and instead she learned things about her alma mater that she did not want to know.

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Rex Ryan talks up Tim Tebow, Wildcat - ESPN (blog)

Despite mixed reviews, New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is very excited about the acquisition of former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. The Jets plan to give Tebow a steady diet of snaps in their Wildcat offense under new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano.

Here is a sample of comments Ryan made about Tebow and the Wildcat at this week’s owners meetings: "Trust me, I don't think DBs want to tackle [Tebow]. It's really a unique skill set ... That system, the Wildcat, he's the perfect guy, not to mention I think he's a guy that's ascending as a passer.""Tim is a better inside runner than Brad [Smith]. His inside run game is like a fullback. He can run option, can run on perimeter and can throw.""He"s not just a backup player. He’s a backup quarterback, but there’s things he’s going to do. Is he going to be our starting quarterback in the Wildcat? Absolutely.""I think the Wildcat is alive and well."
From the sound of it, the Jets believe they have a full-proof plan to mix Tebow with starting quarterback Mark Sanchez. There is potential for this to work. But it's up to both quarterbacks to perform and make this transition smooth in New York.

Holmes to start 'Tebow' chant if Sanchez doesn't deliver - New York Daily News

ORLANDO — At the edge of a sprawling maze of sports fields in the heart of his home state, Santonio Holmes turned to the man a few feet away with this request: “Don’t tweet where I am right now.”

The mercurial wide receiver has disappeared since the moment he slipped out of the Jets’ locker room three months ago without saying a word, escorted by a public-relations official, in the aftermath of an epic meltdown in the season-ending loss to the Dolphins.

Holmes grew increasingly disgruntled last season. His discontent bubbled to the surface in the season finale when television cameras caught him jawing with teammates in the huddle before then-offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer benched him for the final few minutes of the game.

Holmes had already grown frustrated with Mark Sanchez during a meeting the Wednesday before the game. He failed to show up to a meeting organized by the quarterback the next day.

He has come to life from time to time on social media through a random series of tweets about everything from personal hygiene (“Don’t forget to change your tooth brush every 3 months”) to a congratulatory note to Sanchez after the quarterback signed a three-year extension a few weeks ago.

Very happy for Mark & the entire team with his extension. Looking forward to getting back to work when I get back this amazing trip @nyjets

— Santonio Holmes (@santonio10) March 12, 2012

After a nearly four-hour workout on Thursday, Holmes declined to discuss specifics about the past, present or future of the Jets. He’s been to Africa and back, undaunted by the perception that he’s the villain who created the Jets’ locker-room mess that derailed their season.

“The media don’t make me and the media don’t break me,” Holmes told the Daily News, tapping his chest and extending his arms. “I’m Santonio Holmes . . . and that’s it.”

Although the enigmatic Holmes didn’t want to discuss the circus atmosphere surrounding the team, friends who train with him told The News that he has purposely steered clear of making any public comments about the Jets’ recent trade for Tim Tebow.

“He didn’t really care (about the trade),” said one player who trains with Holmes in Orlando. “ ‘Tone’ just wants the ball.”

Although Sanchez said a few weeks ago that he had recently spent a couple days with Holmes in Orlando and patched up any differences, the player who trains with Holmes told The News that Holmes simply wants to win regardless of whether Sanchez or Tebow is under center.

Hollywood agencies fight over Tim Tebow - Yahoo! Sports

Michael Levine stood out in the room full of media at Tim Tebow’s Jets news conference on Monday. The co-head of CAA Sports, dressed in a dapper suit, schmoozed TV media types and looked on like a proud businessman.

After all, Tim Tebow was his business.

Well, sort of.

CAA’s Hollywood rival, William Morris Endeavor, actually also counts Tebow as a client.

How is this possible?

Well, CAA represents Tebow for his football contract. WME represents Tebow for his marketing.

This is not the first time something like this has happened. Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Matthew Stafford are all repped by CAA’s Tom Condon for their contracts, but IMG’s Alan Zucker represents the three quarterbacks for marketing.

Given the size of the players’ contracts, it has worked out well for both firms. But William Morris Endeavor figures to get the best of its rival CAA on Tebow for the next couple years.

Here’s why

Tebow is scheduled to make a base salary of $1.1 million this season. If CAA takes its three percent cut, they make a commission of a measly $33,000.

Let’s say William Morris Endeavor conservatively cuts two deals for Tebow this year for a total of $2.5 million in new deals. The commission on that would be about $500,000, considering the standard 20 percent marketing fee.

And WME would get the commissions on the renegotiations of Tebow’s first deals with Nike, FRS and Jockey, which were already negotiated by XV Enterprises, a management firm set up by Tebow’s brother Robby with his longtime family friend Angel Gonzalez.

XV Enterprises was always set up to manage Tebow’s endorsement offers – the company negotiated a Tebow special with ESPN and his best-selling book as well – but when Tebow started getting more playing time with the Broncos, the number of endorsement offers skyrocketed to a point (sources say in the hundreds) that the small company needed more help.

Tim Tebow holds his first news conference with the New York Jets, in Florham Park, N.J., on Monday, March 26, 2012.
(AP)

How WME even got the Tebow business should be a case study taught to business schools. Tebow and XV Enterprises went to meetings with both CAA and WME. Sources who were at the meetings said told CNBC that CAA spent much of its time talking about the attributes of the firm and marketing deals it had done in the past.

WME was much more strategic. Their interest in Tebow skyrocketed after research showed that Tebow was as powerful as any celebrity on college campuses across the country. WME wowed Tebow and his team with data they’ve never seen on what groups he is strongest with and the best deals to do.

Although Tebow’s team knew it would ultimately create tension, they knew it was in his best interest to award his marketing to William Morris Endeavor, giving his business to the fiercest competitor of the company that does his contract.

Questions? Comments? Email SportsBiz@cnbc.com. Or check out more Sports Biz with Darren Rovell.

Brandon Jacobs, Mario Manningham departures don't concern Tom Coughlin. Nor ... - Washington Post (blog)

Brandon Jacobs takes his wide body west, to the San Francisco 49ers. (Nick Laham / Getty Images) Brandon Jacobs is gone, joining Mario Manningham on the West Coast with the San Francisco 49ers. So is Devin Thomas, who signed with the Chicago Bears, and Aaron Ross, who landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The New York Giants aren’t concerned because they believe General Manager Jerry Reese has a free-agency plan and he’s sticking to it. Nor are the Giants fretting about their status in New York, despite the arrival of Tim Tebow with the Jets. They did, ahem, win that big game in February.

What? Him worry? (Luis M. Alvarez / AP) “You know who won the Super Bowl. You know who the world champions are,” Coach Tom Coughlin told the New York Daily News’ Gary Myers on Wednesday. “Whether we are on the front page every day or not, it’s not that important to me. New Yorkers know.”

Not that Coughlin had anything bad to say about the Jets or Tebow. “Tim Tebow was 7-4. People talk about how he does things, but he has won,” Coughlin said. “He’s physically tough. He has ability as a runner. He continues to work in the throwing game, and there are things he does in that aspect better than others. You got a guy who is going to be a force in the locker room, a very positive guy.”

About the only burning issue left with the Giants concerns Coughlin himself. He has one year left on his contract and is discussing an extension with the team. “Quite frankly, it will get done. It’s not like it’s not going to happen.”

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More from Washington Post Sports:

Brandon Jacobs joins Mario Manningham

Mario Manningham departs

Free From Tebow, Stanton Ready for Colts - HispanicBusiness.com

Shoved aside in New York by Tebowmania, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Drew Stanton is already embracing his new home.

Stanton, acquired by the Colts from the Jets in a trade after Tim Tebow arrived in New York, met with Colts quarterback coach Clyde Christensen this week. Stanton is ready to compete with, and mentor, the Colts' top pick in the draft, whether it's Stanford's Andrew Luck or Baylor's Robert Griffin III.

Most expect the Colts to take Luck, but Colts owner Jim Irsay told USA Today the pick is "still up in the air."

Stanton, 27, has four years in the league and some experience in this situation. He helped Detroit Lions rookie Matthew Stafford when Stafford broke into the league.

"Obviously, that first overall pick is going to be a quarterback," Stanton said in a conference call Tuesday. "So, it's just a matter of getting in there, getting a good foundation laid down and trying to help that kid out whomever it is."

Stafford said the fact the Colts are starting with a fresh coaching staff could be a help, since everyone -- draft picks to 11-year veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne -- will be starting on the same page.

"I think that allows us to all grow together as a core unit," Stanton said. "I was part of that with (Lions coach) Jim Schwartz when he got to Detroit. Our offense was able to progress over three years. You look at the numbers Matthew was able to put up last year, throwing for over 5,000 yards. Our offense in Detroit, because of that communication factor, was so well-oiled, for lack of a better term."

Stanton, who played for Michigan State in college, signed as a free agent with the Jets this offseason, but requested a trade after they acquired Tebow. He had turned down some other offers for a possible No.2 role to take the Jets position which was obviously going to Tebow.

He has no qualms about joining a Colts team that will be picking its franchise quarterback in the draft.

"Whoever the No.1 pick is, people want them to be out there playing," Stanton said. "But if it's not possible because of injury or maybe they're not ready, there are multiple factors, than I have to be able to be ready to go. That's the way I approach it."

Stanton doesn't seem to mind the round-about way he arrived in Indianapolis. The trigger was former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning signing with the Denver Broncos, leading to Tebow's trade to the Jets, leading to Stanton's trade to the Colts.

"The circumstances change every single day with the dynamics involved in this league," Stanton said. "It was a domino effect or almost circular in the fact that everybody was flipping places and moving one over."

Avery plans to study Wayne

The Colts' newest wide receiver, free-agent signee Donnie Avery, also spoke with the media on Tuesday. He said he is looking forward to playing with either Luck or Griffin.

He is also excited about working with Wayne, one of the best receivers of the last 10 years.

"It is exciting," Avery said. "I experienced that my first year in St. Louis with Torry Holt. It was awesome. I am really not a vocalist. I really don't like to bother guys, especially guys of their nature. I just like to sit back and observe and pick up everything they do -- how they carry themselves on the football field and how they recover from a drop or how they block or come out of their breaks and stuff. It's going to be awesome getting a first-hand look at that."

Avery played two full seasons with the Rams, sat out with an injury and was a backup receiver for the Titans last season. He said he ran a 4.25 in the 40-yard dash coming into the league and feels he can show that type of speed again.

Avery considered the Jets, Vikings, Bears and Dolphins before choosing the Colts.

"They expressed the most interest out of five teams," Avery said. "Coach Chuck (Pagano) called me four or five times and told me how he could get me back to my early years in the NFL, how I can look up to Reggie Wayne and the rest of the guys and how I can fit in this offense."

Tom Coughlin Explains the Tim Tebow Trade - NBC New York

Getty Images

Oracles come in strange places sometimes.

The Jets have stumbled all over themselves for more than a week now in attempt to explain why they traded for Tim Tebow.

They've talked about his ability to run the Wildcat, the need for a backup quarterback and a million other things that don't do much to explain why they'd open the door to the kind of constant controversy that Tebow's presence would bring when they are simultaneously praising Mark Sanchez to the heavens.

All of those words fall empty when they keep talking and make it clear that they are totally open to having Tebow take over as the quarterback as soon as possible.

It would be much easier if they just said they wanted to up the competition at quarterback while also potentially giving their offense another playmaker. You might not agree with it, but at least you could accept the thought process and not be left thinking that the real reason for the deal was Tebow's outsized celebrity.

Leave it to Tom Coughlin to cut through all the doublespeak and make everything crystal clear. The Giants coach has no particular dog in this hunt, but he was still asked about the move at the owners meetings in Florida.

His answers left little doubt about what he thinks was behind the deal on both the public relations and the football fronts.

On the Jets dominating the headlines: "You know who won the Super Bowl even if we're not on front page. New Yorkers know."

On handing a third of the team's offensive snaps to a different quarterback: "I don't have a lot of experience with that. Once you start to develop your guy, you like him to have the ball in his hand. ... With our guy? I don't do hypotheticals"

And there you have it. This isn't a trade you make if you really believe that your quarterback is the man who is going to lead your team to the Super Bowl in the future.

The Giants were once faced with a similar choice concerning Eli Manning, who was a mediocre quarterback coming off of his third season. The team didn't waver, though, and Manning paid them back big time.

Does he get there if the Giants stuck another quarterback to take away snaps in his fourth season? It seems unlikely.

Sanchez isn't Manning, obviously, but he does have a pretty similar resume to this point in his career. Sticking with him could pay similar dividends or it could blow up in the team's face.

The Jets will never know, even though they had a pretty good example of the patient route staring them right in the face.

Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City. You can follow him on Twitter and he is also a contributor to Pro Football Talk.

Tim Tebow a New York Jet: What's Next? - Huffington Post (blog)

Now that Tim Tebow is a New York Jet, it is time to declare this the smartest move the Jets have made in a decade. So how do the Jets maximize their new acquisition? By making the second smartest move. There is an ex-quarterback -- a multiple Super Bowl winner -- who is cut from the same cloth as Tim Tebow. He came out of Brigham Young University as a questionable NFL prototype. He was efficient in running and passing. The question was asked -- how can he be an NFL star? So what happened is that this quarterback ended up in the United States Football League with the Los Angeles Express. Within a few short years the league collapsed. He then went briefly to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was traded after several big-time losing seasons for a second and fourth round draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers. Coach Bill Walsh recognized the potential of an eventual superstar and grabbed him. His name is Steve Young. The rest is history.

Steve Young did not win national titles in college. He did not win the Heisman Trophy. Young never did at BYU what Tebow did at the University of Florida, especially during Tebow's 2007 season, in which he set the SEC rushing touchdown record and the SEC record for total touchdowns in a season. Young has three Super Bowl rings, two as a backup to the legendary Joe Montana and one as a starting quarterback. Walsh, who took the 49s to three Super Bowl wins in 10 head coaching seasons, is considered to be historically one of the three greatest football coaches of all-time. He popularized the West Coast offense, which utilizes short horizontal pass to stretch out defenses. He re-molded Young's career, turning a questionable player into a Hall of Fame quarterback. The UFL and the stint with Tampa Bay gave Young several years of experience so that when he finally was coached properly he blossomed into one of the greats. Remember Tim Tebow has only been a starting quarterback in time equivalent to about one year of professional experience. The similarities are striking on their face.

To the Jet management -- if you want to look like you are as astute as the New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, be an innovator. It time for Jets owner Woody Johnson to be smarter than his coaching staff. The Jets have won on innate talent the last few years. Time to step it up again to maximize Tebow's proven potential. Entice Steve Young to get back onto an active football field. Make a deal to have Steve Young come to the Jets and step-by-step bring Tim Tebow to a level of efficiency that matched his. Pay him -- do not beg him. But hire him now to work diligently with a totally committed young man instead of his chit-chatting with the present coaching staff. Don't quibble about what it would cost. Pay the two dollars! Just get Steve Young to do it.

The obvious question that surrounds Tim Tebow is not related to his leadership, his character, his work ethic or his commitment. It is how to hone his skills that some question and take him the to the next level. Make your asset much more valuable by spending the additional money on a super quarterback mentor. It is a small price to pay for an eventual superstar. Do not worry about the quarterback controversy of media hype -- worry about Super Bowl appearances and win/loss records -- not the nonsensical gibberish coming out of TV analysts and news reports. Act today. Summer camp starts in less than four months. Make this a priority. Let's get ourselves another Steve Young with those Super Bowl rings through creative fresh quarterback coaching and offensive design -- not create useless controversy which does not win football games. Commit to Tim Tebow. Turn him into a platinum asset. He already runs like an unstoppable truck on the field. So now brandish his passing skills and improve his identification of passing defenses on the run. Make the winning play for Jet fans and season ticket holders (me). The rest will be NFL history.

Follow Linda Kenney Baden on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kenneybaden

Tim Tebow is slightly less marketable than Oprah, but is a slightly better ... - Yahoo! Sports (blog)

APTo NFL teams, he's worth about a fourth-round draft pick. To the marketing world, he's worth more than all but three people on the planet.

That's according to something called the Davie-Brown Index, which I can only assume is run by Bob Davie and Troy Brown. It measures celebrities in eight categories, including trust, sincerity, appeal, influence and other things that I have no idea how they measure. By their calculations, Tim Tebow ranks fourth in the world.

Here are some more details from the NY Daily News:

Thanks in part to the blanket media coverage since getting tapped by the Jets — including three days on the front page of the Daily News — Tebow trails only Oprah Winfrey, Adele and Kate Middleton as the personality who would most effectively shill your product.

[...]

Under their formula, Tebow scored a 180. Mark Sanchez, who's rumored to have a fragile ego, garnered just 12 points. Ouch.

Tebow moved up from the 40th spot he got last December and now ranks higher than Will Smith, Bill Gates, Hank Aaron, Tom Hanks and Jack Nicklaus.

This is the guy who will back up Mark Sanchez. This is the guy for whom the Jets wouldn't give much more than a fourth-round draft pick. This is a guy with a completion percentage eight points lower than Curtis Painter. Curtis Painter.

[ Related: Mark Sanchez says Tim Tebow is 'still the same guy' he hosted at USC ]

And yet, he's almost as marketable as the unofficial queen of The United States, a nearly universally beloved artist with a world class voice, and smokin' hot actual royalty. We have truly done something special here, America.

Say what you want about Tebow (we do mention him from time to time here on Shutdown Corner), but that's an accomplishment. To be that magnetic and believable, despite not being anywhere near the class of quarterback as Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Drew Brees, is incredible. I don't know if it's an actual skill, but it's something. I don't see David Carr on this list, John Mara.

I'll be curious to see if Tebow's still there after the 2012 season.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he can relate to Tiger, Tebow - SportingNews.com

Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t have to watch replays of Tiger Woods’ victory Sunday at Bay Hill to understand what Woods has gone through the last 28 months.

Like Woods, Earnhardt Jr. has the focus of a whole sport on his every move.

Like Woods, Earnhardt Jr. is riding a long winless streak and knows that fans wonder if he’ll ever win again.

And like Woods, Earnhardt Jr. wonders if he’ll get back to the level that he once performed at.

“I’m a big Tiger fan and I’ve been pulling for him to succeed because I’ve related to the pressure he was under the last couple of years and all the doubts about his abilities and whether he would get back to where he wanted to be,” Earnhardt Jr. said. Wednesday.

“I felt like I knew where he was mentally.”

While quick to point out that he hasn’t enjoyed the record-setting success of Woods, Earnhardt Jr. knows what it’s like to be in a prolonged slump. He has 18 NASCAR Cup victories, but is currently riding a 134-race winless streak, with his last victory coming in June 2008 at Michigan International Speedway.

Before that win, Earnhardt Jr. had not won a Cup points race in his previous 76 events.

“For him to come back and win gives me confidence in my ability to do the same thing,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I am not in any way trying to compare myself to him, but I just see there’s similarities and things I can draw from his experience in what he is going through that I see and can relate to his deal.

“So hopefully I can win a race and know what that feels like. I’m sure it would be a huge relief. I think we’re really close.”

Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, enjoyed his best season in 2004, when he won six races and finished fifth in the final standings. He began to struggle the next season, however, and left Dale Earnhardt Inc., the team his father founded, to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2008.

He won a race and made the Chase in his first season with Hendrick, but then struggled through two miserable seasons before returning to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup last year.

As the son of a legendary driver and NASCAR icon, he has grown accustomed to the glaring spotlight and seems comfortable with his rock-star status.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. feels like he's very close to breaking his winless streak. (NASCAR Photo)

But he says his life doesn’t compare to many other sports celebrities, such as new New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow.

“That guy is under too much damn pressure, I’ll tell you that,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I kind of like him and I think he’s a good guy. He’s under twice the microscope I’ve ever been. It’s incredible.

“(And) he doesn’t really fan the flames on that stuff. He’s kind of doing his own thing.”

Earnhardt Jr., 37, is comfortable enough with this stage of his career that he can handle the immense pressure he is under.

Off the track, he’s willing to make appearances like he did on Wednesday, filming a YouTube video for sponsor Degree that required him to attempt drifting around a road course set up at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

He rated his drifting performance as a 2 on a 10-point scale—a bit worse than fellow NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who also participated in the video.

“I knew that before I came today that it could possibly look pretty bad,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I wanted to come out here and I was open-minded, wanted to try it and wanted to see what it was about.

“I knew I knew nothing about it, but it gives us a chance to cross over and shows people that we are making an effort to learn about their sport.”

While he’s not confident in his drifting ability, he is confident in his ability to win again in a Sprint Cup car—despite the long winless streak.

He is third in the Cup standings after five races and feels as confident as he did in 2004, when he won six races.

“I feel good,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I feel the best I’ve felt personally, confidence-wise as I can remember in a long time.

“I just want the good fortune to keep going. In the big span of things, you’re not here for a very long time and I feel like I have got a lot of career left, but I know how precious it is and how difficult it is to right the ship and how difficult it is to be competitive and compete in this series.”

He understands the struggles he’s been through the past few years. That’s why he can relate to the resurgence of Tiger Woods.

“I don’t take it for granted,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I appreciate what’s happening right now and I just hope it continues and we have a solid year and we win some races and get back to victory lane.”

Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin as Teaching Tools for Parents - Huffington Post

By now the stories of Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin are legend.

There's the time Lin parted the Red Sea. And the time Tebow turned water into wine. And who can forget that awesome book they co-authored -- the one with an old version, a new version, and yet another version that King James, the great Miami Heat player, had a hand in as well.

Or maybe I'm confusing Tebow and Lin with someone else.

No matter.

Because it's what Tebow and Lin are doing now -- and what they aren't doing, in some cases -- that makes them a great teaching resource for parents. By now the stories of Tebow, the new New York Jets quarterback, and Lin, a point guard for the New York Knicks, are part of our social fabric. The public, the media and Tebow himself have turned him into today's "It" face for religious conviction and a clean lifestyle. Lin's social dialogue revolves around believing in yourself and never giving up.

While it's true both are role models for kids, we as parents should be asking ourselves, "Role models for what?" Neither Tebow's nor Lin's stories have been fully written. In fact, we're still somewhere in the first few chapters, and so far not all is sunny for our favorite social role models.

Which is what makes them truly valuable, relevant role models, because -- let's face it -- perfection is not only unattainable, it's boring.

Four things Tebow and Lin can teach our children:

1. A good start does not mean a good finish

Remember Tebowmania? Remember the sensation Tebow created by being horrible for three quarters of a football game while his team's defense kept the game competitive? Then Tebow would find himself in the fourth quarter or overtime and Denver would creep out a win? Sure you do.

Remember Denver's playoff game against New England, when Tebow completed barely one out of every three passes, got sacked five times (including once when he ran backward into a Patriots player he didn't even know was there) and Denver lost, 45-10? Sure you do. That's the lasting impression of Tebow.

And remember Linsanity? Remember when the third-string point guard, who had been cut twice during the preseason, came off the bench to eventually become a starter and lead the New York Knicks back into playoff contention? Sure you do.

Remember what happened when the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and the New Jersey Nets' Deron Williams grew tired of the Lin hype and decided to shut him down, and then did? Do you know how Lin has played the last four weeks? Sure you do.

So what's the message here? The message is that it's not enough to do well for short stretches of time. Longterm, sustained success is more important than short-term excitement. Tebow and/or Lin might have long successful careers. As of now, they have not. An important question to ask your child might be, If Tebow's football career ended right now, is that the kind of career you'd like to duplicate?

2. Nobody likes a showoff

Yes, we're looking at you, Mr. Tebow. There are public shows of faith, and then there's sprinting past your teammates to an empty spot in the endzone where you can pray alone, just you and the TV cameras.

That's what prompted Tebow's former teammate and backup quarterback Brady Quinn to say the way Tebow shows his faith doesn't "seem very humble," and, "When I get that opportunity, I'll continue to lead not necessarily by trying to get in front of the camera and praying but by praying with my teammates, you know?"

And so the question we ask our kids is, What's more important? Is it giving thanks to God? Or is it making sure the TV cameras see us giving thanks to God?

3. Stick up for yourself

OK, let's give Lin and Tebow some credit.

Subtle and not-so-subtle racial insensitivity flared when Lin's star began to rise. The New York Post's headline -- "Amasian" -- prompted Philly.com's Will Bunch to satirically recollect, "It brings to mind some classic Post sports headlines from years past, like Sandy Koufax's perfect game in 1965. 'Jew Da Man!,' and Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point explosion against the Knicks ('Blacktacular!') and this more recent one when Jose Reyes left the Mets for Florida ('Press the Hispanic Button!')."

But the person who most needed to stick up, did. Lin. He could have played it safe. Shrugged it off. Done the marketable thing. Instead, he did the right thing at NBA All-Star Weekend when he said, "I know a lot of people say I'm 'deceptively athletic' and 'deceptively quick,' and I'm not sure what's deceptive. But it could be the fact that I'm Asian-American. But I think that's fine. It's something that I embrace, and it gives me a chip on my shoulder. But I'm very proud to be Asian-American and I love it."

Tebow, meanwhile, took some heat over talk radio for taking part in a press conference earlier this week when he joined the Jets. It was a little strange -- the idea of a press conference for a backup quarterback. Or as Chris Greenberg of The Huffington Post put it, "the most elaborate press conference in the history of backup quarterbacks."

Recognizing the potential backlash, Tebow did what he had to do. He protected his reputation, even if he did toss the hot potato back to his employer. "The reason we are here is because I have bosses, too," Tebow said, "and they made me do it."

Sometimes -- most times -- it's best to speak up.

4. Individual vs. Team

Tebow has Tebowmania. The second-best-selling NFL jersey in the league. His Tebowing (see the previously mentioned "solo" prayer) has become a bit of a meme. And he's got endorsements.

Lin has Linsanity. The top-selling NBA jersey. And now here come the endorsements.

Individually, they have it all.

What about their teams?

The Knicks are struggling to hold onto a playoff spot. And the Broncos believe they're ready to make a Super Bowl push... because they signed QB Peyton Manning and traded Tebow to the Jets, a franchise that talks bigger than it plays.

Which means what to our kids? For those who look up to Lin and Tebow, it gives us a chance to talk about goals and priorities, hype vs. accomplishment, the individual vs. the team.

What Tebow and Lin have earned are opportunities for professional success and social awareness. What they've given parents is an opportunity to talk to kids about what's real and what matters vs. what's perceived and what's created.

This post originally appeared on Iowa City Patch.
Follow Dave Schwartz on Twitter @daveschwartz.

Tim Tebow apparel sales halted in Nike-Reebok feud - Chicago Tribune

(Reuters) - Nike Inc has won a court order blocking rival Reebok International Ltd from selling New York Jets apparel bearing the name of the popular quarterback Tim Tebow, in a battle over licensing rights.

The order issued late on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel prevents Reebok from manufacturing, selling and shipping the alleged unauthorized apparel for the National Football League team and bearing Tebow's name.

It also requires Reebok to offer to buy back such apparel from retailers and recall the products from shipping channels. The Denver Broncos traded Tebow to the Jets on March 21.

Castel, however, rejected Nike's demand that Reebok destroy any unauthorized Tebow products. The judge set an April 4 hearing to discuss whether the ban should be extended. Nike filed the lawsuit on Tuesday.

Reebok is a unit of Germany's Adidas AG.

Daniel Sarro, a Reebok spokesman, said the company plans to refute Nike's contentions at the hearing, "which should enable the court to change its view."

Paul Sarkozi, a lawyer for Nike, declined to comment. Nike spokeswoman Kellie Leonard did not immediately return a telephone call seeking a comment.

According to the complaint, on April 1, Nike will begin an exclusive five-year contract with the NFL to sell uniforms and related apparel for all 32 teams.

Nike also said Reebok has no current agreement to sell Tebow-related Jets products and that a Reebok merchandising license with the NFL players union expired prior to this month.

It accused Reebok of trying to capitalize on "short-lived intense consumer appetite for such products," and selling products bearing Tebow's name without the player's consent.

Tebow's No. 15 Broncos uniform had been among the NFL's top-selling jerseys before his trade to the Jets.

Apparel sales for a popular player who changes teams customarily soar in the first few days after the change.

Nike's lawsuit does not concern Broncos products bearing Tebow's name and those made before March 1.

A January poll by Walt Disney Co's ESPN rated Tebow the No. 1 favorite active professional athlete in the United States.

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, who played for the University of Florida, is also an evangelical Christian who prays on the football field in a pose known as "Tebowing."

He left the Broncos after they signed star quarterback Peyton Manning, who had played for the Indianapolis Colts.

The case is Nike Inc et al v Reebok International Ltd, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 12-02275.

(Reporting By Jonathan Stempel; editing by Gunna Dickson and Andre Grenon)

Revis: Tim Tebow adds to Jets' circus - FOXSports.com

Updated Mar 29, 2012 1:16 PM ET

Darrelle Revis shattered any ideas that the Jets' locker room issues were a thing of the past.

The star cornerback made a series of promotional appearances on a variety of television and radio shows Wednesday and talked about quarterbacks Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez. But his most revealing comments were about the dysfunctional Jets locker room.

On "SportsCenter," Revis was asked to play a game of word association. When the interviewer said, "Locker room," Revis gave a stunning reply.

"Disarray right now," he said.

The Jets had major chemistry issues last year on their way to an 8-8 season. Those issues boiled over at the end of the season. But Jets coach Rex Ryan has emphasized those problems are a thing of the past.

Now Tebow adds a whole new element to the Jets' chaotic existence.

"It was a circus, and it's going to be even more of a circus with him in the locker room," Revis said. "I'm not questioning his ability to play the game. He can flat out play the game, but it's just going to bring more to the locker room of every day: 'Does Mark need to start? Does Tim need to start?' It's going to just be an ongoing thing throughout the whole season."

Revis said he initially was stunned when he heard about the Tebow trade. He said he believes the Jets did it for football reasons and not as a publicity stunt. But the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback said he has some concerns about the way the two-quarterback system will work.

"You don't want to take a guy out for 10, 15 plays to me, personally," he said. "That can lose his momentum in the game. I look at that a little bit maybe as a concern. You're telling Mark to come in and say, 'Hey, now throw a touchdown pass.' It's like, 'I've been sitting out for so long.'"

As for comparing the two quarterbacks, Revis said Sanchez is "more of a complete quarterback" and that he is more difficult to prepare for than Tebow.

When pressed on just how bad the locker room was at the end of last season, Revis gave a glimpse of what led to the three-game losing streak to end the year.

"It was bad," he said. "Toward the end of the season, there was some arguing and things going on in the locker room. Looking back at it, I think when you're losing and you're in that slump, we're trying to find a way to get out of the slump, and guys want to just win. When you don't, guys start pointing fingers."

The situation became apparent to all in the final game at Miami, when wide receiver Santonio Holmes was benched late in the fourth quarter after reportedly arguing with teammates in the huddle.

NY judge blocks sales of Jets-Tebow apparel - NorthJersey.com

NEW YORK  — New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow has already been introduced to fans, but they'll have to wait until Tuesday to meet his official NFL jersey.

In this March 26, 2012, file photo, Reebok brand New York Jets football jerseys with the name and number of their new quarterback Tim Tebow hang on display at a Modell's store in New York. Nike Inc. claims in a lawsuit on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in U.S. District Court that Reebok International Ltd. has used Tebow's name on Jets-related apparel without permission since it was announced last week that Tebow was traded from the Denver Broncos to New York.

U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel granted Nike Inc. a temporary restraining order late Wednesday, finding "sufficient reason" for him to block sales of Tebow merchandise created by Reebok International Ltd. after March 1.

Nike has a five-year contract to be the NFL's exclusive provider of on-field apparel, including game uniforms and sideline apparel. It maintained in a lawsuit that Reebok rushed to market with Tebow apparel to take advantage of a "unique and short-lived opportunity."

Nike said Reebok was required to get Tebow's permission if it intended to hurry out shipments of Jets-Tebow apparel after he was traded last week from the Denver Broncos to the Jets. Reebok's 10-year NFL licensing deal ends this month.

Castel banned Reebok from selling any apparel with the name "Tebow" on it unless it was made by March 1, while he was still with the Broncos. He set a hearing in the case for Wednesday.

Reebok spokesman Daniel Sarro said Reebok was preparing evidence to "argue our position necessary to refute Nike's contentions."

He added: "We intend to present that evidence at a hearing next week, which should enable the court to change its view once all the evidence is presented."

Nike spokeswoman Mary Remuzzi said the company's Tebow products would be sold after the company launches its new jerseys for all 32 NFL teams on Tuesday.

Charlie Denson, president of the Nike brand, said during the company's earnings call last week that the company was "incredibly excited about the potential of our partnership with the NFL."

Lindsey Vonn addresses Tim Tebow rumors - USA TODAY

By Roxanna Scott, USA TODAY

Lindsey Vonn, who recently wrapped up her fourth overall World Cup title, says she's surprised that the rumors linking her romantically to Tim Tebow circulated so

In an interview with Access Hollywood that airs Thursday, the American skier says she's friends with Tebow's brother, Robby Tebow.

PHOTOS:  Images of Lindsey Vonn

She's talked to Robby Tebow about the romance rumors surrounding his brother.
"I talk to Robby all the time and we're like, 'This is really weird. Just tell Timmy I'm sorry and I don't know what's going on,'" Vonn said in the interview.

The talk of Vonn and Tebow began after the skier Tebowed after winning a race in December. Vonn has said she had permission from the family to use the celebratory move.

PHOTO GALLERY:  Images of Tim Tebow

Meanwhile, Austrian newspaper Österreich has tied Vonn, who is going through divorce proceedings with Thomas Vonn, to U.S. pole vaulter Brad Walker.

NBA players band together on Christian apparel - Wall Street Journal

MINNEAPOLIS — As Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin have risen to prominence in the NFL and NBA, the touchstones of professional sports and religion have converged perhaps as never before.

Tebow, the New York Jets quarterback known for doing missionary work in the offseason, and Lin, the point guard who came out of nowhere to galvanize the New York Knicks, have been outspoken about the role faith has played in their athletic careers.

The conversation couldn't have come at a better time for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Tolliver and former NBA D-Leaguer Lanny Smith, who have started a company that makes sports apparel with Christian messages.

Lin is a big supporter, wearing Active Faith wristbands emblazoned with "IJNIP" — In Jesus' Name I Play — during games. And the two friends have already recruited Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry and San Diego Padres pitcher Micah Owings as investors in a company that is owned exclusively by athletes.

"It kind of blew up on us overnight and it turned from something that me an Anthony were working on growing step by step to something that turned global," Smith said.

They have Linsanity to thank for that.

Smith and Tolliver were teammates on the Idaho Stampede D-League team in 2009-10, routinely attending church together and becoming friends.

Smith suffered a career-ending knee injury that season. While he was lying in bed recuperating from microfracture surgery, he started to think about what he was going to do with a life that had been consumed by basketball since he was a kid.

He wanted to meld his faith and love of sports through an apparel line and went to Tolliver when he was looking for investors.

"He said when you're ready to move forward with this if you need any help with it, I'm there," Smith said. "A lot of guys will give you that lip service, and when it comes to the moment of truth they'll disappear. Anthony stood by that word."

A finance major at Creighton, Tolliver has taken pride in becoming a savvy real estate investor and businessman off the court. He never planned on becoming a cliché by being a pro athlete with a clothing line. But then again, he still doesn't see himself that way with Active Faith.

"I never, ever, in a million years thought I would be involved in a clothing company," Tolliver said. "I was like nah, I would never do that. This is something that's way more meaningful than just making money."

After the company got off the ground, using the wristbands largely as promotional items and finding a factory in China to make the apparel, Smith was watching the D-League Showcase All-Star game. Lin thanked Jesus during a postgame interview, and Smith immediately thought the two had something in common.

Smith got linked with Lin through friend Patrick Ewing Jr., who was Lin's teammate in Reno, and the Asian-American point guard started wearing the wristbands in games. The two first met face to face in Houston, when the Rockets claimed Lin off waivers. Shortly after, Lin was waived again and picked up by the Knicks, who returned for a game against the Rockets less than two weeks later.

"I remember waiting at the Knicks bus and there were all these fans waiting to see Amare (Stoudemire) and Carmelo (Anthony)," Smith said with a chuckle. "Lin just walked off the bus and nobody asked him for an autograph or anything. We just stood there chatting. That will NEVER happen again."

Smith hooked Lin up with some orange wristbands to match the Knicks colors, and Linsanity was born not long after. Lin burst onto the scene with a series of huge games to help the Knicks get back into contention in the Eastern Conference, and his status as the first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent coupled with his electric skills and outspoken faith to make him an overnight sensation.

Lin's picture was plastered everywhere — on consecutive Sports Illustrated covers, Time magazine, ESPN.com — and so were the wristbands.

"All these pictures across the world with him rocking our bands," Tolliver said. "Basically at that time, our website launched. It just was crazy after that."

The website — MyActiveFaith.com — crashed three times before they were able to get a dedicated server to handle the traffic and they sold 10,000 wristbands in the first two weeks.

"Nike, Adidas, Reebok, UnderArmour, they'll never make a faith-based product. They'll never really crossover and touch that," Smith said. "We felt that this was a niche and a market that we could create. That's what we plan on doing, almost being the Nike of the Christian sports apparel."

Smith's aim is to make the company much more than just another catchy wristband maker. Active Faith also has t-shirts and workout tops, shorts, hoodies and polo shirts, all geared to athletes, workout freaks and weekend warriors.

They also have a women's line — Fearfully and Wonderfully Made — and have high-profile athletes like Lin, Bulls star Derrick Rose and Timberwolves rookie Derrick Williams sporting the bands.

The line is sold at Houston's Lakewood Church, which has the largest congregation in the United States with more than 40,000 attendees every Sunday, and at nationwide retailer Family Christian Stores, in addition to the website.

"It's definitely been amazing and scary at the same time how fast it was blowing up," Smith said. "We had to reorder inventory two or three times pretty quickly. There's some stuff selling out in a day."

The Lin-like rise for Active Faith has led to some significant financial investment offers with one caveat — the company had to tone down the religious messages and take 'Jesus' off of the apparel to appeal to a wider demographic, Smith said.

"We're not willing to compromise the message," Smith said. "We're staying true to it and that's going to separate us."

The next frontier? Tebow.

Now that the quarterback has been traded to the Big Apple, Smith is hoping his buddy Lin can knock on his neighbor's door and make a pitch.

"We're looking at becoming one of the first companies owned solely by athletes," Tolliver said. "It's a very, very unique thing. We feel like we have a niche that nobody has even touched before and it has unlimited potential."

___

Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APkrawczynski

—Copyright 2012 Associated Press

Tim Tebow apparel sales halted in Nike-Reebok feud - Sun-Sentinel

(Reuters) - Nike Inc has won a court order blocking rival Reebok International Ltd from selling New York Jets apparel bearing the name of the popular quarterback Tim Tebow, in a battle over licensing rights.

The order issued late on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel prevents Reebok from manufacturing, selling and shipping the alleged unauthorized apparel for the National Football League team and bearing Tebow's name.

It also requires Reebok to offer to buy back such apparel from retailers and recall the products from shipping channels. TheDenver Broncos traded Tebow to the Jets on March 21.
Castel, however, rejected Nike's demand that Reebok destroy any unauthorized Tebow products. The judge set an April 4 hearing to discuss whether the ban should be extended. Nike filed the lawsuit on Tuesday.

Reebok is a unit of Germany'sAdidas AG.

Daniel Sarro, a Reebok spokesman, said the company plans to refute Nike's contentions at the hearing, "which should enable the court to change its view."

Paul Sarkozi, a lawyer for Nike, declined to comment. Nike spokeswoman Kellie Leonard did not immediately return a telephone call seeking a comment.

According to the complaint, on April 1, Nike will begin an exclusive five-year contract with the NFL to sell uniforms and related apparel for all 32 teams.

Nike also said Reebok has no current agreement to sell Tebow-related Jets products and that a Reebok merchandising license with theNFL players union expired prior to this month.

It accused Reebok of trying to capitalize on "short-lived intense consumer appetite for such products," and selling products bearing Tebow's name without the player's consent.

Tebow's No. 15 Broncos uniform had been among the NFL's top-selling jerseys before his trade to the Jets.

Apparel sales for a popular player who changes teams customarily soar in the first few days after the change.

Nike's lawsuit does not concern Broncos products bearing Tebow's name and those made before March 1.

A January poll byWalt Disney Co's ESPN rated Tebow the No. 1 favorite active professional athlete in the United States.

The 2007Heisman Trophy winner, who played for the University of Florida, is also an evangelical Christian who prays on the football field in a pose known as "Tebowing."

He left the Broncos after they signed star quarterbackPeyton Manning, who had played for the Indianapolis Colts.

The case is Nike Inc et al v Reebok International Ltd, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 12-02275.

(Reporting By Jonathan Stempel; editing by Gunna Dickson and Andre Grenon)