Tim Tebow Drops In 2011 Forbes Most Influential Athlete List

Tim Tebow may be losing some of his all-star sheen, at least according to Forbes’ recent 2011 Most Influential Athletes list.

When Tebow emerged from University of Florida’s Gator team, he was arguably the highest-profile player between 2008-2010. He led Florida to a 35-6 record and a national championship in 2008 and then was drafted for big dollars by the Broncos in 2010 making him a huge national celebrity in the process.

In 2010, Forbes recognized Tebow’s metoric rise and talent and ranked him as the third most influential athlete in the nation, with basketball’s LeBron James at second and snowboarder Shaun White at fourth.

But, now only a year later in 2011, Forbes has dropped Tebow to tenth. But Forbes’ reasoning is sound, from the Forbes List:

Tebow drops from last year, after moving on from college superstar to pro benchwarmer. But he's still well-liked for his clean-cut ways, and the curiosity over whether he'll make it big in the NFL doesn't disappear after one season.

Comments

[Jesterband]

11:30 PM on 05/16/2011

I will take all bets from people thinking Tebow will ever begin a season as a starting quarterback in the NFL. In the case of an injury where he is forced into action, I'll take any bet from anyone thinking he will remain as a starter once the real one is again available.

[fightandorflight]

11:09 PM on 05/16/2011

"Falling Star"....
more HP drama
This is your version of sports? Seriously?

[gernger]

08:35 PM on 05/16/2011

I have always thought of Tebow as having a bully's attitude. In a game at FLA. 2 yrs ago a lineman apparently missed a block Tebow got hit hard. On the sidelines he mercilessly screamed at the player in full view of fans and T.V. cameras. He kept it up for a while humiliating him. He was the big star. If the other player would have retaliated, he possibly would have been kicked off the team.

[baxtron]

04:06 PM on 05/16/2011

why does Denver get a HuffPo section? MSP has more people and more awesomeness!

[AllowMeToObserve]

02:52 AM on 05/17/2011

What's MSP?

[baxtron]

09:04 AM on 05/17/2011

Minneapolis/St. Paul

[baxtron]

04:04 PM on 05/16/2011

and he can quote the bible. he's morally superior to you and me.

[OneTop]

01:23 PM on 05/16/2011

He can always sell T shirts for Gawd

[icarus85]

11:14 AM on 05/16/2011

solution: Kyle Orton and the Neckbeard of Destiny

[10million]

08:59 AM on 05/16/2011

I'm sure he is just sick about being dropped down the countdown by a magazine....he has much bigger fish to fry. What a pathetic story.

[whizkid]

03:51 AM on 05/16/2011

Where's Brady Quinn?
Tebow will be one of the better QB's.

[CubfanBudman]

02:44 AM on 05/16/2011

He was drafted high because the Bronco's evangelical coach thought it was his religious duty.

The coach paid for this with his job.

[jerryhattrick]

02:24 PM on 05/15/2011

i have little tolerance for evangelicals, and nothing but disdain for religions, but Tebow is the real deal -- a good guy, who practices what he preaches, a decent, humble, hard working guy, who has succeeded on every level, and will do so if he's given a chance. Face it, even super genius Belichek had Brady lanquishing on the bench for yrs, Parcels only played Romo after Bledsoe blatantly disobeyed him....As much as we'd like to believe we're so damn sure about who will & wont succeed, along w quite a few talent evaluators, we just dont know. But Tebow is still a handful to tackle and continues to complete passes at a high %.

[HowdyDoody]

11:30 AM on 05/18/2011

Why do people think he's such a nice guy? I for one would like to see him get traded somewhere else, so all the evangelicals will move there from here.

[ArchieBunker II]

10:18 AM on 05/15/2011

I hate Denver,he'll be alright though.

[Artamentous]

01:08 PM on 05/15/2011

How can you hate Denver?

[BeamMeUpScottie]

01:37 PM on 05/15/2011

If you live in SD, Oakland or KC,,its really pretty easy.

[R2D2-51]

08:39 AM on 05/16/2011

I have been a Raider fan since Daryl La Monica,Warren Welles & Otis Sistrunk. Denver is what makes everyone else better. Thats something to like, not hate.

[Keyop]

08:55 AM on 05/15/2011

Guess all that jesus stuff doesnt work in the NFL?

[Artamentous]

01:14 PM on 05/15/2011

No, he will be just as popular as he was in College if his success translate to the NFL. He'll get his chance this year.

[ValuedCustomer]

07:48 AM on 05/16/2011

I guess you didn't watch any games last season? TT held his own and then some. and more importantly at least at this early stage, the fans went nuts every time he touched the ball.

"Falling Star"? only at the huffpo

[Andy Blutfaust]

09:13 AM on 05/16/2011

exactly, to suggest Tebow has been a failure at this point is rediculous. He barely plaid and when he did, he produced very well for a rookie. He'll sit under orton for maybe another year, but will eventually get the keys to the car. Throwing a guy in the deep end 1st year is a bad idea, and the broncos are handleing him well.

His hype is also rediculous, like you say he gets the biggest cheers of the game, and he's 1st in terms of jersey sales, for a bench warmer thats pretty good going

[Kzinga]

02:19 AM on 05/15/2011

He still sells alot more Tshirts than orton ( or maybe im just guessing ) maybe he will play again for that reason then actually prove himself

The offensive line needs to make a cross shape for him to run through - its a rough draft play im gona send to Elway

[CubfanBudman]

02:46 AM on 05/16/2011

Evangelicals thought it was their duty to buy his jersey. Like they all voted for Bush.

[Dzairi09]

11:57 PM on 05/14/2011

huffpost sports section is bad...please make it better.

[R2D2-51]

08:59 AM on 05/16/2011

My first time here & for someone who has been reading the Sports sections of print media since the days of Willie Mays,Orlando Cepda,Joe Dimmaggio, Elgin Baylor & Y.A. Tittle playing in Kezar stadium.

I will grant you, I would certainly prefer to know what reflects on the field of play than the same old socio-political wedge driving gossip that illicit's strife & discontent among people..

But hey, for some I guess that's what drives the inner sanctum these days of America. A sign of the times I guess.