Is Tebow the biggest star in the NFL?

[EKnight]

Or it means many people watched the Packers game to see Vick and Rodgers. I think we have to agree to disagree. I didn't see anything in the earlier game ratings that indicated that a game that should have been a blowout according to the oddsmakers, and the one most analysts picked as the least exciting and least competitive should have crushed them in the viewership. If ratings were up all across the board, the Saint-Lions game (the one many people said should have been the most entertaining) should have been closer in the ratings. -EK

[Spider-Dan]

In considering who is a bigger star...Brady vs. Tebow.

Assume it was announced today that Brady would not be playing...what impact would it have on TV ratings?

Assume it was announced today that Tebow would not be playing...what impact would it have on TV ratings?

That's an extremely unfair comparison.

If Brady were not playing, the ratings would shoot up because the game suddenly became much more competitive (DEN might be favored outright).
If Tebow were not playing, the ratings would plummet because no one would expect DEN to compete without St. Timothy.

[Brian Fein]

The only ratings comparison is to compare it to this week's Sunday 4PM game.

Time slots matter enormously for television ratings.  You think more people are sitting on their couch Sunday at 4 PM or Saturday at 8 PM?

[EKnight]

I think that's a fair comparison. Couldn't you compare this week's Den-Pats game to last week's Sat. PM game too though? -EK

[bsmooth]

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/01/12/poll-finds-43-percent-of-people-believe-god-helps-tebow-win/

This goes a long way to explain the mass hysteria behind Tebow.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

A bit off topic.  But also on topic as more proof that people (both who like and don't like him) are interested in him.  Thus = star. 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rgauldin/did-jesus-intervene-a-guide-to-tebow-15ze

[Dave Gray]

There are 3 mentions of Tebow on the home page of ESPN.com today.

[EKnight]

Wife said he was all over the Robin Meade show yesterday as well. -EK

[Sunstroke]

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/01/12/poll-finds-43-percent-of-people-believe-god-helps-tebow-win/

This goes a long way to explain the mass hysteria behind Tebow.

From my perspective, the only way that survey would have any validity at all is if they asked a follow up question every time someone answered that "God helps Tebow win." The follow up question would be some variation of:

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

That's an extremely unfair comparison.

If Brady were not playing, the ratings would shoot up because the game suddenly became much more competitive (DEN might be favored outright).
If Tebow were not playing, the ratings would plummet because no one would expect DEN to compete without St. Timothy.

You might be right about the change of the competive nature would drive a lot of the change in ratings....so let me rephase it....

Is anybody going to be watching the game because they are a fan of Tom Brady, not a fan of NEP of Brady as in if Brady got traded or left via FA they would root for his new team instead of the Pats?  I don't know a single Tom Brady fan.  Pats fans like him but if he played for another team they woudl still root for NE not his new team.  I do know some Peyton Manning fans (as opposed to being Colts fans).  Tim Tebow has tons of fans.  Not just Bronco fans who root for whoever lines up behind the center, but fans of Tebow.  Peyton Manning has some but nearly as many as Tebow.

[Dave Gray]

He's on the CNN homepage.  The more I look around, the more I think he's not just the biggest star, but the biggest by a lot.

[fyo]

He's on the CNN homepage.  The more I look around, the more I think he's not just the biggest star, but the biggest by a lot.

I don't think anyone doubts that Tebow gets the most media attention right now. However, I don't think it would take much for him to completely disappear. That just wouldn't happen to the other guys who get a lot of coverage.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I don't think anyone doubts that Tebow gets the most media attention right now.

Kinda the definition of star.

However, I don't think it would take much for him to completely disappear. That just wouldn't happen to the other guys who get a lot of coverage.

Disagree. 

Last year and for many years Peyton was the biggest star in the NFL (although not by nearly by the margin the Tebow is) how much do you hear about him this year.  Some, but not much and only in the context of  “will he return?”

Brady was the biggest star of 2007.  In 2008, not so much. And pretty much in the same context as Peyton this year. 

At one time Favre got round the clock coverage by ESPN.  Don’t hear much about him nowadays. 

The same thing that would reduce Tebow’s stardom would also kill Brees or Rodgers stardom.  Cease being the starting QB on a winning NFL team.  Well, with Brees and Rogers if the teams tanked and they kept their jobs their stardom would drop hugely.  If Tebow remains the QB of a losing Denver team, he will still be a star. 

Only thing that would “make Tebow completely disappear” would be no longer playing in the NFL.  And even that might not.  He could might still have a large following if decided to become a TV minister (e.g. Oral Roberts). 

He is clearly the biggest star in the NFL right now.  He arguably was the biggest star in the NFL when he was the backup QB for Denver. 

If you are saying it is more likely Tebow might cease to be starting NFL QB than Brees, Brady or Rodgers…that belongs in the discussion on his quality as a QB than his stardom. 

[fyo]

Kinda the definition of star.

Disagree.

If you are saying it is more likely Tebow might cease to be starting NFL QB than Brees, Brady or Rodgers…that belongs in the discussion on his quality as a QB than his stardom. 

No, because the risk of him ceasing to be a starting NFL quarterback directly affects the risk of him ceasing to be a star.