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Published on 05/29/2012 at Tue May 29 10:38.
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Eric Decker happy to “focus on football” with Tim Tebow gone

Posted Tue May 29th by

Quarterback Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a touchdown pass to Eric Decker during the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos signed one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time as a free agent this offseason. For most teams, this would mean a spike in media coverage and fan interest like never before.

That’s not the case in Denver; the media circus at Dove Valley, while significant, is a shadow of what it was last year. The reason is simple: Tebowmania has left the building.

Sports Radio Interviews caputured wide receiver Eric Decker‘s recent appearance on  CJ and Kreckman on 102.3 The Ticket, where Decker, careful to show respect to his former teammate, admitted there is relief without Tim Tebow out there.

“Tebowmania — yeah, obviously he’s earned the right to have conversations about him. I guess at the same time, to be honest with you it is nice just to kind of focus back on football, and we talk football and there’s not — there’s still a lot of excitement here with the football,” Decker said. “I mean, he is a great teammate. I respect him greatly. But again, like you were saying, a lot of the focus right now is on football, is really talking about how we’re gonna form this team to win some ball games next year.”

In the same interview, Decker praised Peyton Manning, both as a player and in a coach’s role, saying the intensity has made OTA’s feel like training camp practices this year.

“He brings that experience that has been unlike any that we’ve had at that position,” Decker said. “A guy that’s been to 10-plus Pro Bowls, a championship MVP, a guy that’s been there, done that, and really understands. He’s a coach at his position, which is awesome. Because being a younger, I think, core offensively, we need that guy to step in and take demand of everybody. And the way that we work, the way that I think Coach [John] Fox has kind of put this team together, we’ve got a lot of hungry guys but we need that leader and that’s Peyton Manning. And I think if he stays healthy and we keep grinding it out, we’re gonna give ourselves an opportunity to play against the best.”

Decker didn’t disrespect Tebow, he just admitted candidly what we all know and what the New York Jets are quickly finding out — an unparallelled fan and media circus comes with having Tim Tebow as a player on your team. Peyton Manning isn’t only an upgrade at the position, he’s a downgrade in distractions.

  • http://twitter.com/TimLynch1978 Tim Lynch

    I sincerely believe Tim Tebow would still be a Bronco if it weren’t for Tebowmania.   He’d likely be understudying Manning right now and we’d have drafted a true position of need at #57, rather than another developmental QB.

  • TD30isMVP

    Totally agree Tim, it is the fans that made the situation (both for/against) what it is.  The media latched on because the fans were ravenous for a debate on everything Tebow.  Tebow himself did nothing but come in and practice and play hard, he was very humble and always pointed the spotlight at God and his Teammates.  Anybody that looked at Tebow with a balanced eye could see he needed work but given time would certainly put it in.  Now I am afraid he will simply be a gadget QB and maybe out of the league in a few years.

  • http://Twitter.com/JonHeath_BT Jon

    Right on.

  • http://Twitter.com/JonHeath_BT Jon

    Decker fell right into their trap to create more controversy and get mentioned for mentioning Tebow (speaking of CJ and Kreckman/102.3).  

    Decker (and all of the receivers) should take notes from Von Miller and Ryan Clady on how to deflect such questions — those two are pros.

  • http://broncotalk.net Monty

    I disagree. It’s every sports interviewer’s job to try and get the truth, not just for causing headlines, but for what it is.  Decker didn’t stir the pot, he just spoke candidly, while still remaining respectful of his former teammate.

  • Paradisimo

    I agree, I think Decker did a pretty good job of answering the question but not totally throwing Tebow under the bus.  Demaryius on the other hand… eh, not so much.  

  • TD30isMVP

    His answer was fine, the focus is now on football instead of Tebow and the ridiculous questions associated with Tebow.  The fact that Manning is a side story instead of the focus of every story is wonderful.

  • DougEngland

    First of all, i would just like to preface my remarks by saying that I believe that Tebow is genuine and sincere. He is everything he appears to be and his total believe in his convictions is unassailable.

    But make no mistake, there is an agenda behind Tebow.  And regardless of how honorable it may be, it has been carefully constructed and executed.  And Tebow has accepted it as his true calling.  Sacrificing his personal life and taking advantage of his natural charisma to perpetuate it.  Amen to him.

    Peyton Manning is a Christan man as well.  But to the public he will be known as a football player.  (And perhaps an actor in goofy commercials.) And for the fame and fortune that comes with that, he understands that he has certain public obligations.  But his private life is his own and it always will be. His charity work while vast and generous, is often behind the scenes and without fanfare.  (And his personal life… the Colts media didn’t even know his wife was pregnant until she had delivered twins.) 

    Two very fine, but very different men.

  • Big_Pete

     I agree with Tim and with you.
    Tebowmania will destroy his career; not only the “lovers” but the “haters” as well.
    Because of those 2 factions pretty much speaking in absolutes, the circus surrounding him will never die down. Not for many years after he’s gone out of the league. The “lovers” won’t let him ride the pine, and the “haters” won’t let him play. As you can see, there is nothing “easy” surrounding Tebow.

    Because of that, as the two guys above me stated, he will never be given a fair shot because of the circus. He’ll be a gadget QB/Player who when his contract runs out, will either be forced to sign a minimum contract, or just get out of the league and seek whatever it is that his agenda has him seek.

    I honestly think Tebow would be backing up Manning on our team right now if Tebowmania didn’t exist. The same can be said for 31 other teams in the NFL. Only the crazy Jets are taking him on, and that’s only because Rex Ryan wants as much media as is possible. That’s Rex’s Achilles Heel, and that’s why he will eventually be run out of New York, regardless of how many times he makes the playoffs.

    If the media circus would just go away, he’d actually have a chance to fulfill his childhood dream at being a starting QB in the NFL… too bad.

  • lily77

    Doug, I totally agree with your statement about there being an agenda behind Tim Tebow.   It seems like so far his whole life has been orchestrated by the “handlers” around him.   You have to wonder if the time will ever come when he might just give it all up,and drop out of sight to live his OWN life.  I am a fan of Tim’s but not of all the people around him.

  • Pingback: Tim Tebow’s absence means Eric Decker can enjoy Denver a little more – Yahoo! Sports (blog) | Tim Tebow Mania()

  • Adam Drake

    Who is Eric Decker?  Did he even play last year?  I’m being facetious.  And how many passes did DT trop last year?  These guys are average WRs at best.  Tebow’s popularity came from his deep desire to compete and win.  NOT point fingers, NOT go public and talk crap about other players.  He just did his job to the best of his ability.  If Decker and DT could just take that message and carry it out in their performance they might become better than average.  Honestly, I hope they trade them both!  Until then, stay out of the tabloids and practice to be great since they’ve been handed one of the greatest QBs of all time.Â