It's been fed to us constantly by our media since he got the nod as starting QB for the Denver Broncos. Tim Tebow, arguably the most polarizing athlete in my lifetime, has been playing under a magnifying glass since being drafted out of the University of Florida. When on the field, he is enthralling yet head-scratching. Football critics have spent hours trashing his mechanics and sports networks have dedicated shows to Tebow-mania.

It has been quite amazing to follow the progression of Tebow over his career. As a College Football fan, I followed him as he built a legacy in Gainesville. Love him or hate him, you had to respect him. The guy knew how to win and he lifted the spirits (and play) of those on the field around him. He's deservedly a former Heisman winner and arguably one of the greatest college football players to ever suit up.

Anyone who followed the NFL season has seen how magical a season it has been in Denver. Tebow, after being largely written-off by his own organization as a viable signal-caller, resurrected the team to a Division title and an upset over 11-point favorite Pittsburgh. The series of games leading to the Division title were arguably the most unlikely sequence of games that we'll ever witness. From Marion Barber's brainfart run out of bounds to the heroic drive down the field against the Jets, Tebow, in many ways, has defied the odds and reshaped the mold of a successful NFL QB.

Sadly, despite all his hard work and 'no-quit' attitude, the guy has plenty of haters. In this day and age where society still adores the abusive (rapper Chris Brown), the dishonest (Alex Rodriguez), the unfaithful (Tiger Woods), and the criminal (Michael Vick), people find reason to hope for bad things to happen to the guy.

Here is a guy who has earned the respect of his teammates through sheer determination and hard work. He has righted the ship of an organization that seemed destined for failure in the first month of the NFL season, despite having a GM and team owner who refused to acknowledge him as their QB. He radiated with positivity in situations where all of us would be deflated, and here he is, as one of the remaining eight with a chance at Super Bowl glory. Even off the field, the guy is just awesome:

Whether you agree or disagree with Tebow's openness regarding his religion, it's hard not to respect and admire Tim Tebow the man. His strong will and leadership are admirable qualities that are truly worth looking up to, unlike some of the other thugs and cry-babies in professional sports. He holds himself accountable for his shortfalls and failures, and is first to share the spotlight with his teammates in triumph. WTF is wrong with society now, that a genuinely good guy can't play hero?

I don't expect Tebow to make it to the Super Bowl this year, but I assure you that I will not be rooting against him this Sunday, or ever.