Sports and religion have a long history together.

Football players regularly are led in prayer before games in their locker room by a coach or team chaplain. After the contest is over, both teams congregate at midfield.

After winning championships in all sports, players regularly praise God. Some Jewish baseball players, most notably the great Sandy Koufax, would not play on the High Holy Day of Yom Kippur. In fact, Koufax skipped his start in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because of his beliefs. Others, including Hank Greenberg, Shawn Green and Kevin Youkilis, have similarly sat out games in the heat of a pennant race to observe the day of atonement.

Shortly after winning Super Bowl XXXIV, St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner answered Mike Tirico's question about the game-winning touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce by responding, "Well, first things first, I've got to thank my Lord and Savior up above — thank you, Jesus!"

Similarly, after he led the Arizona Cardinals to their only NFC Championship, Warner told FOX's Terry Bradshaw (and everyone else watching at home), "There's one reason that I'm standing up on this stage today. That's because of my Lord up above. I've got to say thanks to Jesus."

Closer to home, the late Reggie White was steadfast in his beliefs, even saying famously that "God told me" to come to Green Bay.

Certainly, other athletes have been outspoken about their religion, as well; whether it is former Brewers pitcher Jeff Suppan or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who changed his name from Lew Alcindor the day after the Bucks won the NBA Championship in 1971 following his conversion to Islam.

Perhaps no athlete, however, has been as outspoken, controversial, hailed and derided because of his faith than Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

There seems to be two factions in the Tebow debate. There are those that believe he will be the savior of the NFL; and the others who think he just will not ever have what it takes to make it as an NFL quarterback.

I am of the latter group.

It certainly isn't anything personal. The way that Tebow lives his life is to be admired. He goes on missionary trips to Third World countries, he donates money to charitable causes, and he speaks to prisoners on their turf to try to get them rehabilitated for a return to society by turning to God.

But for as good of a human being he is, that does not translate to the NFL, because as a quarterback at this level, he's terrible.

Among the criticisms of Tebow as an NFL quarterback: Horrendous footwork; doesn't throw a smooth ball, has bad touch,  is inaccurate on intermediate routes, has an extremely long release, possesses very bad passing mechanics, and he locks onto primary receiver. Those are just some of the critiques from NFL scouts.

His critics also point to last week's debacle against the upstart Detroit Lions in where Tebow was sacked seven times, had one interception and one fumble each returned for touchdowns, and was openly mocked by linebacker Stephen Tulloch who, after another sack, struck Tebow's genuflecting one-knee pose.

Throughout history, anyone in a prominent position had to endure ridicule for professing a strong religious belief. Most wars have been fought in the name of God. Families have had intense bitter disputes over the role of how to worship. Otherwise perfectly compatible couples break up every day over religious differences.

As for those that are deluding themselves into believing that Tebow will become an NFL star, there are many who earnestly believe that it is part of "His Plan" to have Tebow endure the failures of the NFL this early in his career so he can eventually make believers out of all.

First of all, I'm pretty sure God has other worries than who wins and loses in the NFL. I'd like to think so, anyway. Furthermore, if Tebow were really the "Chosen One" wouldn't he be at least a little better by now?

Tebow's supporters refuse to see what everyone else is trying to tell them. Tim Tebow, while one of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history, simply does not have the skill set of what the NFL requires of its quarterbacks. You cannot just want him to succeed so badly because it will prove God's plan. The NFL doesn't work that way.

The bottom line is that no matter how spectacular of a human being you are, the NFL is a results-oriented business. And Tim Tebow's results as an NFL quarterback have been mixed, at best.

Veteran Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey put it best after the shellacking by the Lions, "at the end of the day, you've got to win."

"People are probably going to be more patient with him than any other quarterback," Bailey continued, "but everybody in this locker room knows you've got to win games."

The melding of religion and sports obviously has a long history. But faith alone will not and should not keep you in the NFL for long if you do not produce.

The question with Tebow now becomes whether or not his beliefs have become a detriment to the game. Have his legions of fans become so deafening that they drown out all logic that screams from the heavens that he isn't the right quarterback to lead this team? How in God's name could the Broncos have even selected him in the first round, anyway?

Exactly.

There are those that desperately want to see him succeed solely because of his faith. There are others that desperately want to see him fall flat on his face for the same reason.

Maybe because we as a society love to build people up only to tear them right back down again. The thought process of 'you can enjoy some things – just not too much' or we're coming after you. Tiger Woods is a prime example of that. Brett Favre is another. We build some athletes up so high to the point that when they act human again, they are shredded in the court of public opinion for just being mere mortals as opposed to the God-like figures we all made them out to be.

With Tebow, his atrocious play last week against the Lions should have immediately sent him to clipboard duty for the rest of the season. Instead, Tebow is preparing for Oakland while Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn sit.

If you are a deeply religious Broncos fan, if you are intellectually honest with yourself you have to be conflicted. You can see what the rest of us see. Tim Tebow, while a shining star of a human being is a lousy NFL quarterback and most scouts don't believe he has any hope of ever getting better.

You love his respect for others and his need to try to make the world a better place. We should all strive to do the same. But you still want to win.

Kurt Warner had the platform he did because of his success. Tim Tebow had that platform in college, but fame is fleeting. However, in this case, he won't go out on top, but rather as someone whose best days are now two seasons in the rearview mirror.

The legacy of Tebow will be that of a great college football player who's skills did not translate to the next level. It is unfortunate for those that want him to succeed in football so more kids will want to be like him. Certainly the world could use a few million more Tim Tebow's. The NFL, however, is a different story. One might be too many.

Maybe football isn't a big enough platform for him. If you are a true believer, you have to think it all part of the plan, and Tebow certainly will have a long time to do his life's work of making the world a better place. This is something that should be held up as a triumph of humanity. But it still doesn't make you a good football player.

Sports and religion can peacefully coexist. But not at the expense of what is ultimately good for the organization. Sure, a few more No. 15 jerseys will sell, and you will have Tebow's disciples from all over the country become temporary Broncos fans because of him. But in football, like Champ Bailey said, you still have to win – on the field.

In this case, it seems religion has gotten in the way of doing what is right. Remember, there are 52 other men on the Denver Broncos roster that are counting on their coach to put them in the best possible position to win as a team and to succeed individually.

In God you can trust with your life if you so choose. You just cannot let him coach the team.