Filed Under » Tim Tebow

For the first time in his football career, Tim Tebow is facing adversity. He has lost his starting job in Denver and has faced growing criticism from the media for his play. But ever the optimist, and always full of faith, Tebow is using the words of critics to fuel his fire.

"I heard some guy say on TV that I don't belong on an NFL team as a quarterback," said Tebow. "'ppreciate that. I will cling to a third-string role until my contract runs out or until I am given a chance to start for a CFL or UFL team, I guarantee it."

Entering training camp, it was presumed that Tebow would be Denver's starter and that the Broncos would trade Kyle Orton to Miami, but Tebow's poor play has elevated Orton to starter and pushed Tebow down the depth chart.

"On the first day of practice, Tim threw an interception into triple coverage and I reminded him not to throw into triple coverage again," said head coach John Fox. "He said: ''ppreciate that,' and then tried even harder to complete passes into triple coverage. They all got intercepted."

If both Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow continue running towards each other on their current pace, the former Florida duo will likely run into each other's arms somewhere in northwestern Arkansas or eastern Oklahoma.

"I don't care where we intersect," said Tebow, in a near-sprint heading east of Denver after hearing his college coach had resigned at Florida. "I just want to see him. Hold him. And then bring him back here with me."

In a recent trip to Kohl's with his mother, Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow bought a new pair of swim trunks to wear in the locker room shower during his first NFL season.

The trunks, green with white stripes on the side, had been marked down to $16.99 from the original price of $28.70.

They were a real good deal, said Tebow after Tuesday's practice. There's a zipper pocket, too, so I won't lose track of my knickknacks.

Training camp is less than two weeks old and Tim Tebow's Broncos teammates have already grown tired of his miracles.

"Look, it's cool he can make all that food," said wide receiver Jabar Gaffney. "But how about some diversity? I'd rather starve than eat another goddam fish, I'll tell you that. And the carbs from the loaves are not helping any of us get in shape."

The Broncos selected Tebow in the first round as much for his leadership and intangibles as for his football ability, and those intangibles included feeding and ministering to his teammates. It was hoped he would save the team money on dining costs at training camp, as well as for post-game spreads. And he has, but Broncos players don't care about cost savings.

"I asked Tim for a pizza. Deep dish. The works," said running back LenDale White. "He got me a fish on a loaf and tried to tell me it was a French bread sardine pizza. That's not what I asked for and Tim Tebow isn't supposed to lie."

Head coach Josh McDaniels is working with Tebow to improve his food-making.

"The problem is that Tim is a biblical literalist," said McDaniels. "So in the Bible it says Jesus made loaves and fishes. Fine. But what I want to stress to Tim is that if he wanted, being that he's supposed to be all-powerful, Jesus could have also made a nice stir-fry. Or, you know, even steak with a loaf. I'm sure the guys could go for a London broil sandwich."

But not all the Broncos are tired of Tebow's loaves and fishes. Starting quarterback Kyle Orton says he is happy with his new teammate.

"Hey, I'm very happy with sticking to exactly what's in the Bible," said Orton. "Because I know that means soon he'll start changing water into wine. Score!"