For the last four years, Tim Tebow has only known life as a spectacle.
Even at the Senior Bowl in late January, the scene was surreal – a documentary film crew following his every move and hundreds of fans batting at his shoulders and screeching his name. His entourage of family members, agent Jimmy Sexton and trainers from D-1 Sports were on his hip.
This is the famed Tebow college football fans know all too well.
Today's appearance this week at the NFL Combine marks Tebow's career at an intersection of success and vulnerability.
There are no guarantees life will ever be the same if Tebow has to clutch a clipboard for an NFL franchise in Seattle, Buffalo or Jacksonville. Media interest will probably never leave him, but can it be duplicated or even amplified?
Will his outspoken Christianity and cult following translate to the pros?
Tebow might be more concerned with not dropping his throwing motion below his waist than whether he reaches Tom Brady's pro popularity, at least for now.
With so many already interested in Tebow's every move, however, his descending into the NFL will be crucial at every angle, from fitting in with the right team to the right marketing plans to even managing his own media oversaturation.
Kathleen Hessert, head media consultant for Sports Media Challenge, which has worked with Peyton Manning and Albert Haynesworth, said Tebow's brand can flourish in the pros.
Even if the NFL isn't always as accepting as the college game because of the business-first mentality and intense pressure to produce.
"His brand has been wrapped around his message since the very start," Hessert said. "To walk away from that now doesn't make any sense. The key is going to the right team that will accept that. Some players probably will be turned off by his attention, so it does set him up for everyone to say, ‘See, I told you so.' But I don't believe Tim Tebow would shy away from that one iota."
Despite Tebow's decorated college career including a Heisman Trophy and national title, his whereabouts might be followed more intensely now that he's out of college.
A short ESPN video clip of Tebow tweaking his hotly debated throwing mechanics became one of this week's biggest news stories. The video sparked reports about whether Florida should have done more for Tebow's NFL preparation during his four-year stint with the Gators.
The suspense will mount every week leading up to the April 22 draft in New York City, where ESPN analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay expect Tebow to be a third-round selection. Tebow, of course, would like to prove them wrong.
Tebow's life in the public eye has changed since leaving college, where Tebow appeared every Monday for interviews on the podium during the season. At Tebow's last public appearance two weeks ago, at Daytona International Speedway for the Gatorade Duels races, Tebow declined comment about football-related topics because he was appearing for Gatorade.
The corporate world is upon him.
Those who know Tebow say the Heisman winner will tweak his throwing motion before his vibrant personality.
"The thing about Tim is he's been the same way all his life, and he's not going to change now," said Craig Howard, Tebow's high school coach at Jacksonville Nease. "He knows one way, and that's to be a Godly man. He's not going to get caught up in the NFL lifestyle."
Most NFL teams would welcome a high-character player with locker-room leadership, which Tebow undeniably has.
But viable first-round selections are all about risk aversion, and Tebow's risk at the quarterback position will be dissected every day until April and beyond because of his mechanics.
Before Tebow contributes on the field, he must re-introduce himself to a franchise or a city.He'll have a new group of media covering him. He won't have the small-town comfort of Gainesville.
The options to get out his platforms might change.
"He's going to have to work for his status," Hessert said. "He can't just walk in and say I'm Tim Tebow and live off that."
Even at the Senior Bowl in late January, the scene was surreal – a documentary film crew following his every move and hundreds of fans batting at his shoulders and screeching his name. His entourage of family members, agent Jimmy Sexton and trainers from D-1 Sports were on his hip.
Today's appearance this week at the NFL Combine marks Tebow's career at an intersection of success and vulnerability.
There are no guarantees life will ever be the same if Tebow has to clutch a clipboard for an NFL franchise in Seattle, Buffalo or Jacksonville. Media interest will probably never leave him, but can it be duplicated or even amplified?
Will his outspoken Christianity and cult following translate to the pros?
Tebow might be more concerned with not dropping his throwing motion below his waist than whether he reaches Tom Brady's pro popularity, at least for now.
With so many already interested in Tebow's every move, however, his descending into the NFL will be crucial at every angle, from fitting in with the right team to the right marketing plans to even managing his own media oversaturation.
Kathleen Hessert, head media consultant for Sports Media Challenge, which has worked with Peyton Manning and Albert Haynesworth, said Tebow's brand can flourish in the pros.
Even if the NFL isn't always as accepting as the college game because of the business-first mentality and intense pressure to produce.
"His brand has been wrapped around his message since the very start," Hessert said. "To walk away from that now doesn't make any sense. The key is going to the right team that will accept that. Some players probably will be turned off by his attention, so it does set him up for everyone to say, ‘See, I told you so.' But I don't believe Tim Tebow would shy away from that one iota."
Despite Tebow's decorated college career including a Heisman Trophy and national title, his whereabouts might be followed more intensely now that he's out of college.
A short ESPN video clip of Tebow tweaking his hotly debated throwing mechanics became one of this week's biggest news stories. The video sparked reports about whether Florida should have done more for Tebow's NFL preparation during his four-year stint with the Gators.
The suspense will mount every week leading up to the April 22 draft in New York City, where ESPN analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay expect Tebow to be a third-round selection. Tebow, of course, would like to prove them wrong.
Tebow's life in the public eye has changed since leaving college, where Tebow appeared every Monday for interviews on the podium during the season. At Tebow's last public appearance two weeks ago, at Daytona International Speedway for the Gatorade Duels races, Tebow declined comment about football-related topics because he was appearing for Gatorade.
The corporate world is upon him.
Those who know Tebow say the Heisman winner will tweak his throwing motion before his vibrant personality.
"The thing about Tim is he's been the same way all his life, and he's not going to change now," said Craig Howard, Tebow's high school coach at Jacksonville Nease. "He knows one way, and that's to be a Godly man. He's not going to get caught up in the NFL lifestyle."
Most NFL teams would welcome a high-character player with locker-room leadership, which Tebow undeniably has.
But viable first-round selections are all about risk aversion, and Tebow's risk at the quarterback position will be dissected every day until April and beyond because of his mechanics.
Before Tebow contributes on the field, he must re-introduce himself to a franchise or a city.He'll have a new group of media covering him. He won't have the small-town comfort of Gainesville.
The options to get out his platforms might change.
"He's going to have to work for his status," Hessert said. "He can't just walk in and say I'm Tim Tebow and live off that."
