Tim Tebow Makes ESPN Magazine Cover: Controversy Over Faith to Continue?

ESPN Magazine has taken a bold step, according to USA Today, putting Tim Tebow on the cover of their Oct. 21 magazine issue and highlighting his spiritual attributes. But will the popular sports show and print mag pay the price for it with their fans who prefer to keep faith separated from football, or will Tim Tebow fever outgrow his younger counterpart -- and fellow believer -- Justin Bieber?

According to ESPN, the Denver Broncos will officially become "Tim Tebow's team" on Oct. 23 and they say a "cultural earthquake is certain to follow." And if Tebow manages to do on the football field what Justin Bieber is doing on the concert stage, it's anyone's guess what kind of impact will follow.

So far Tim's football performance has allegedly given everyone pause about him starting as a quarterback for the NFL, including John Fox, who only recently decided to give the Florida Heisman Trophy winner a serious shot.

Oddly enough, it is as if there was one set of rules for Tim Tebow and another set for the other NFL quarterbacks. Teams losing in the NFL have continued on with the quarterback leading them in their losses and no one seems to blink an eye.

But mention putting in Tim Tebow as a replacement for a lackluster performance by the Bronco's quarterback Kyle Orton before last week, and you would see eyebrows raise and hear a litany of why Tebow wasn't ready.

Some speculate it is the religion factor, which prompts some, according to the Wall Street Journal, to say Tebow is the "most loved, hated Q.B." The WSJ also said that "Tebow's ascent happened because the guy ahead of him failed." Ouch. That's like saying the only reason Joe Namath took the NY Jets to their Super Bowl win is because the opposing team lost.

Will Tim Tebow continue to be the "most loved, hated Q.B." in the NFL if he helps his team start winning some games? or will Tim Tebow continue to draw detractors just because he is a Christian and continues to say so?

Regardless of what others say, Tim Tebow has already spoken on the issue, saying in his book Through My Eyes that when it came to someone opining about him and his talents, this was how he felt about it. "Some comments by someone I didn't know weren't going to change my approach or how I saw myself."

What does impact Tim Tebow is this, according to the man himself: "I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future." And whether that includes wins for the Denver Broncos or not, Tim Tebow will be just fine.