The Comparisons Between Tim Tebow and the NFL Kneelers Is Faulty

I’ve seen people making the absolutely insane comparison between the kneeling of the National Football League players during the national anthem, protesting police violence, Black Lives Matter, not enough aloe-based lotion in the locker rooms… whatever it is… and the sideline kneeling of Tim Tebow.

No one who has paid attention and has a grasp on what was actually going on, in both cases, is making that comparison.

Seriously, just the act of kneeling does not hold the same meaning, across the board, so if you’re one of those smug, would-be activists drawing the comparison, fix your life. You are in error.

To be clear, I support both sets of kneelers. My issue with the latest news in the NFL over kneeling (as in, no more kneeling during the anthem) is that the NFL is still a business, and as such, have the right to say, “Not on the clock.”

It’s a fine line, and not everybody is going to agree, but it is what it is. The players have the option not to play and enter some other line of work. They all have some sort of college degree, right? Surely they didn’t just go to college to play football. They have a backup plan. They could be accountants or something.

As for Tebow, he took his fame and started a foundation that helps children with special needs and challenges. He also went into minor league baseball, and from all accounts, is doing relatively well.

But back to kneeling. Tebow got wind of the comparison, and he feels there needs to be some clarity injected for those who are still struggling.

Tebow — a devout Christian who often knelt in prayer before and after games — told reporters Friday he thinks it’s “a little bit sad when the media tries “to create something that had zero truth.”

“I never did anything during a national anthem but stand and support my country,” he continued. “And then, stories can get written, and they can get put out of proportion so that you believe one thing when you’re asking me a question that was nothing that was part of the truth.”

Never during the national anthem. Let’s hang on to that part.

“A lot of people even think it was a touchdown celebration. I never did it to celebrate a touchdown. I did it from my sophomore year in high school all the way through the NFL, that before and after games I would get on a knee to thank my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and also put things into perspective.”

Let me point out here that some of those I’ve seen shrieking and caterwauling over what they see as hypocrisy in those who have a problem with kneeling during the anthem and not with Tebow’s kneeling fancy themselves Christian.

That’s pretty disgusting, actually. They would see Tebow condemned because the world condemned him, and they really don’t want to be seen as outsiders.

For many of them, it’s a political issue. Trump condemned the anthem kneelers. They don’t like Trump, therefore, anyone speaking out against the anthem kneelers is the enemy.

Also, many who are bad mouthing the anthem kneelers didn’t mind Tebow’s kneeling, so of course, they must be hypocrites. I get it, but, again – perspective.

How hard is it to say Trump was wrong, but… They have a right to protest. However, the NFL has the right to run a business and to say they don’t want any more protesting on the clock, since it is hurting their business model. And also, Tebow wasn’t protesting anything. He was only giving thanks and honoring his God. The NFL has the right, as a business to decide what is too controversial, and they found Tebow’s kneeling fit that bill.

Ok. It’s really complicated. I could barely work my way through that. If we’re being honest, however, we have to recognize every side and see that there were some big differences in how these issues were handled.

The NFL simply told the players not to kneel on company time. Tebow was doing something that should have been much less controversial, and something he has a right to do, per the First Amendment. The NFL didn’t just tell him to stop. They shuffled him around like a hot potato, then decided not to let him play, anymore.

The reasons for that could be debated, but football fans and analysts will say that Tebow just wasn’t playing up to expectations. A Heisman Trophy in college doesn’t always translate to pro success.

It’s not a failure. It’s just a transition.

Colin Kaepernick was released for not living up the expectations on the field and we’ve seen the pro-kneeling crowd insist he should be given a job, simply because his politics fit their worldview.

For the other players left on the field, however, they have a huge platform to get their message to the world, and it doesn’t have to be on the field, during the national anthem, when exercising that right can alienate half the country, causing the message to be lost.

And Tim Tebow supports their right to express themselves.

“I appreciate it when people have convictions and they stand for that,” he stated. “I think it’s important how we do that as well.”

“So, I think there’s a lot of players that I’m friends with that have been on both sides, and I understand it, and I think what’s more important is to know their heart and where they’re coming from and where the conviction stands in their heart and what they really want to share.’’

Tebow has laid this out with his usual grace.

I don’t expect many minds to change in this debate. Everybody wants something to hold against the other side, and we’ve got a man in the Oval Office who thrives on chaos, so expect him to say something to exacerbate the situation afresh, soon.

Just don’t keep dragging Tim Tebow into it.