Good guys unwanted?

Anyone who follows sports knows there are a number of players who come off as being "bad" guys. It often seems there are more guys like Terrell "I can't feed my family on $45 million" Owens, Ray "The Criminal" Lewis and Barry "just a jerk" Bonds than there are good guys.

But every once in a while a guy who seems to be a truly good guy comes around. And right now that guy is Tim Tebow. And unfortunately he seems to get more hate and disrespect than any athlete that I can ever think of; yes even more so than Mr Bonds.  And I just don't get it.

In fact, it really irritates me. In all the years I have been watching college football Mr. Tebow might just be the best quarterback I have ever seen (either him or Joe Montana) and just might be the best player in college football I have ever seen  (maybe Bo Jackson).

But he has been strongly criticized and disrespected by the so called experts. I will say that I was really surprised that he was drafted in the first round but to already say he will never be a good NFL quarterback is just not right.

I am writing this today because I saw and heard Colin Cowherd on ESPN's Sportsnation suggest that Mr Tebow should just go back to writing books and forget about football. And that, to me, is very disrespectful and a load of crap.

I have never liked speculation about what a kid will do in the NFL after leaving college. There are way too many variables to consider when evaluating a player. Unfortunately, for Mr Tebow the criticism had gone way beyond on field abilities. I have heard him being berated for his religious beliefs and for being too nice and too good.

I can not think of one other pro athlete who genuinely seems like a really good guy receive so much negativity. I just don't get it. Where does it all come from?  It can't just be jealousy can it?

After all the scandals and illegal activity the past few years the NFL and the networks that promote the NFL should be going out of their way to support Tim Tebow and do  all that it can too ensure his success. If Roger Goodall really wants to change the image of the league he should be doing all he can to put a spotlight on Mr Tebow and the other genuine good guys who are in the league.

And the haters just need to get over themselves. And that should probably start in Bristol Connecticut at ESPN.