The Raiders' game Sunday against the visiting Broncos just might have gotten the jolt of electricity that it needed.
(Because let's face it: There was nothing sexy about 6-7 Oakland playing in a steady downpour against a 3-10 Denver team that it beat by 45 points two months ago).
The Tim Tebow era looks as though it will begin in the Coliseum, as the Broncos' rookie quarterback took most of the first-team snaps for a third straight practice Friday. And no, "era" is not overselling it when you consider that Tebow has thrown one pass this season and has the top-selling jersey in all of the NFL.
The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner would replace Kyle Orton, the object of fan unrest since that 59-14 loss to the Raiders in Denver on Oct. 24. Orton has bruised ribs, and he's 28-for-69 for 283 yards and no touchdowns the past two weeks and might be getting elbowed by coaches in the hallway.
Raiders coach Tom Cable is ready for Tebow, and not merely from using running backs in practice to imitate Tebow in goal-line situations.
"If he's going to play as much as I think he is, he's going to have to play like a regular quarterback in a regular offense," Cable said.
Two days ago, Cable said Orton "gives them the best chance to win," but Orton has been limited all week, and Denver coach Eric Studesville is backing off from earlier claims that Orton would be ready Sunday.
Tebow has been waiting all season to justify being selected in the first round of the draft despite scouts questioning his throwing mechanics and ability to read defenses. He was an athlete first and foremost in college at Florida, and for the Broncos, he has completed his only pass for 3 yards and a touchdown. He has 12 rushes for 28 yards and three touchdowns.
"He's a good athlete, he's got a ton of leadership ability, he's a winner," Cable said. "It's whether or not he could develop into a guy who could be in a pro-style system and play in this league."
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels thought he could and picked Tebow 21st overall when his team had more glaring needs. Alas, McDaniels was fired last week before he gave Tebow a shot to play over the up-and-down Orton.
"I definitely wanted to make him look good in drafting me," Tebow told reporters. "That was definitely a goal that I didn't get to meet, which is unfortunate. I'm still blessed to be in this organization, and hopefully I can do some things to help this organization and thank them for drafting me."
Former Gators teammate Louis Murphy will be on the other sideline for the Raiders, and though the receiver doesn't know how Tebow will do, he is certain of one thing:
"I know that he's a fighter. I know that he has a passion for the game," Murphy said. "I haven't seen him practice or anything. I know that he's going to come out and fight until the last minute."
And the crowd - especially because it will be a non-sellout soggy crowd - will not be a factor, as Tebow said he is not intimidated by Raiders fans in "The Black Hole."
"In college, times like that, I always enjoyed playing on the road just as much in hostile environments, so that wouldn't be a distraction for me," Tebow said.
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