Steve Smith: Cam a better QB than Tebow
Panthers receiver says rookie teammate is a ‘more complete player’ than Denver standout.
Count Panthers receiver Steve Smith among those who aren’t fawning over Denver quarterback Tim Tebow.
While acknowledging Tebow’s run of fourth-quarter comebacks, Smith said Thursday he would still take Panthers rookie Cam Newton over Tebow any day.
“You can’t compare Cam to Tebow. I think Cam’s a more complete player,” Smith said. “Tebow has the wins. But everybody wants to crown Tebow. Yes, he has the will to win. I think Tebow is no different than any other professional. But Tebow has a great opportunity to play behind a great defense.”
Smith also took exception with characterizations of Tebow as a versatile quarterback.
“Versatile would mean you can throw the ball very accurately, run the ball, create things. And the only thing he’s creating is running,” Smith said. “He isn’t very accurate. You watch him, I don’t think 3-for-10 (after) three quarters is a versatile quarterback.”
Actually, Tebow was 3-for-16 passing headed into the fourth quarter last week before rallying the Broncos to a 13-10 overtime win against Chicago.
It was Tebow’s fifth game-winning drive in the fourth quarter this year, and his sixth in 11 career starts. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no one has more game-winning drives in his first 11 starts than Tebow, the 25th overall pick in the 2010 draft. Newton, who was Tebow’s backup for a season at Florida, was the No. 1 overall pick this year.
Tebow has won seven of eight games this season since John Fox made him the starter. Meanwhile, Newton has engineered one fourth-quarter comeback – in a 16-10 win over Jacksonville in Week 3.
But Newton needs just 167 yards Sunday at Houston to break Peyton Manning’s rookie passing record of 3,739 yards, set in 1998. Two weeks ago Newton broke Steve Grogan’s 35-year-old record for rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks with 13.
For anyone asking him to compare Newton and Tebow, Smith had this response: “Come check me out in five years, jack, and you’ll know who’s the better quarterback. Three-for-10 ain’t gonna get it.”
