Pat Robertson Defends Tim Tebow, Warns Broncos on Peyton Manning
Pat Robertson, host of "The 700 Club" on his Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), has come out in defense of NFL quarterback Tim Tebow and warned that the Denver Broncos may pay a price for replacing the outspoken Christian athlete with newly-signed quarterback Peyton Manning.
"And you just ask yourself, OK, so Peyton Manning was a tremendous MVP quarterback, but he's been injured. If that injury comes back, Denver will find itself without a quarterback. And in my opinion, it would serve them right," Robertson said on the Thursday airing of his show, commenting on Manning's long history of injuries.
Tebow was traded to the New York Jets earlier this week, where he will compete with the team's current quarterback Mark Sanchez, although the latter is expected to be the starter, at least for the beginning of the NFL season.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Robertson believes, however, that the Broncos treated their former star player "shabbily," and that Tebow was the reason behind them reaching the playoffs last season.
"He won seven games, he brought them into the playoffs, for heaven sakes. I mean, they were a nothing team. He rallied them together with spectacular last-minute passes and, you know, when they beat Pittsburgh, it was a tremendous victory," the broadcaster said.
Meanwhile, Tebow has revealed his excitement about the new challenge ahead of him and maintains a positive outlook.
"It's my dream and passion to help them out and I'm very thankful that they believed in me and stuck with me through this whole crazy process today," he said of finalizing his contract with the Jets.
Robertson has been an outspoken supporter of Tebow, whose dedication to his Christian faith, often shown by praying on the sidelines, has made him a popular figure in both religious and secular circles.
In Dec. 2011, Robertson slammed NBC's "Saturday Night Live" for mocking the Christian athlete's show of faith on the football field by presenting a skit in which the actor playing Tebow got on everyone's nerves by constantly praying and appealing to God.
"Tebow is an example, and I think he is a wonderful human being," Robertson said at the time. "He prays and seeks God. I think we have to applaud it. We need more religious faith in our society. We're losing our moral compass in our nation and this man has been placed in a unique position and I applaud him. God bless him."
