Tebow makes rounds on Denver radio Tuesday

Now that he has survived his first minicamp with the Denver Broncos, former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow is, according to a radio show producer, back in Tennessee working out until the team reconvenes in a few weeks. To keep Tebowmania going throughout Colorado, he called in to two radio talk shows Tuesday morning, each interview having to be pushed back because of a personal workout.

With Gary and Vic of ESPN 1600 waiting for him to call in at 7:40 a.m. (MDT), his publicist moved him back to 8:30 a.m., eliciting the following joking banter from the hosts during the commercial break: “Jesus has him at 8:00, Mary Magdalene has him at 8:15, and he’s building an orphanage at 8:20.” Upon his call-in about an hour later, they told a producer off the air to “start a conversation with him…talk about rosary beads or something.” However, before he went back-and-forth with Gary and Vic, Tebow spoke to the guys with The Score on AM 1510 at 8:20 a.m.

After the break are some notable quotes from his two radio appearances:

The Score on AM 1510:
» On if he feels any pressure following the legendary John Elway: “I don’t think so. I don’t think about it like that. I think when you are a quarterback in the NFL, there is going to be pressure on you – period.”

» Tebow said that, contrary to popular belief, he is working more on his footwork and body position in the pocket as opposed to his throwing motion.

» On spread quarterbacks adjusting to the NFL: “It’ll be an adjustment. But we do a lot out of the [shot]gun in Denver, too. It’s not just spread quarterbacks, you don’t know [how the adjustment will be] with any quarterbacks.”

» On if he has a chip on his shoulder from doubters: “I just use it all as motivation, I really do. […] It’s just going to push me that much more to try and accomplish my goals and be the best player that I can be.”

» On the reception he received from the other quarterbacks on the Broncos: “I have met two out of the three before. I think it’ll be a friendly atmosphere – we’ll go out there and compete every day and push each other to get better. At the end of the day, you’re on the same team competing for the same goal.”

» On if he feels any trepidation in expressing his religious views: “I don’t think it will ever be something that I am shy about saying or shy about telling people what I believe. I just think there is a best way to go about it – don’t be too forward with it to sound like you’re pushing. […] When I’m asked about it, I’m never shy about it, never shamed about it.”

» On if he was sure the Broncos would pick him: “To be honest, I wish I was convinced, because that would have taken more of the nerves away. I was hoping.”

Gary and Vic on ESPN 1600:
» On his normal morning workout: “I try to do a lot of different things. A lot of conditioning – getting used to the atmosphere there. […] I just enjoy training; I enjoy being able to go in there, work hard and get better.”

» On if it is true he benched 225 lbs. 32 times: “To be honest, I don’t know. I haven’t done it since my freshman year. I did it 28 times my freshman year. […] That’s the last time I’ve even come close to attempting 225.”

» On what parts of the combine matter besides throwing: “The two best things for a quarterback to be able to do are probably the pro shuttle and the three-cone. […] I think that shows agility and quickness that you need to have as a quarterback.”

» On when he expected to be picked before the combine: “You have no idea. Those people have no idea – they’re just paid to talk.”

» On head coach Josh McDaniels believing he can be a pocket passer: “That’s what I want to be. I want to be a pocket passer. I want to be someone that – if you took away my athletic ability – I could stay in the pocket and still be a successful quarterback.”

» On if he expected the Jacksonville Jaguars to draft him: “Through the process, after my Pro Day and after workouts, I didn’t ever workout for them or have too many conversations with them.”

» On if his new throwing motion is now second nature: “It’s become a habit. It’s something that has become natural. When I pick up the ball, that’s just where it goes – it doesn’t drop. […] Now it feels extremely comfortable.”

» On if ESPN analyst Jon Gruden was trying to nudge him: “I think he definitely throws some jabs out there and definitely gets intense, but he was awesome. That was a fun day – being able to go and talk football with him.”

» On if it is uncomfortable competing with Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn: “I think it is going to be a healthy, competitive relationship.”

» On if McDaniels plans to use him like the Gators coach Urban Meyer did in 2006: “I don’t know if Coach McDaniels has plans to do anything like that. I know whatever he asks me, I will do with all my heart.”

OGGOA will post links for the full audio interviews when they are made available.