Paul Finebaum labels Tim Tebow an NFL bust, trolls Skip Bayless over viral take

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum made waves on Tuesday when he compared Texas quarterback Arch Manning to former Florida superstar Tim Tebow. He believes Manning can be a Heisman Trophy finalist this year.

But the comment instantly drew swift reactions from different corners of the globe. Tebow was an absolute mega star.

And while you can certainly understand where the comparison comes from in terms of the sheer hype both players received, Tim Tebow had accomplished far more by this point in his college career. But others argued that because Tebow was a bust in the NFL, it was an unfair comparison to Manning.

On First Take on ESPN on Wednesday morning, show host Evan Cohen noted it’s important to separate college from the NFL, or even one stop from the next (think Cam Newton at Auburn, vs. at Florida). Finebaum agreed, while taking somewhat of a dig at Tebow.

“That is correct and that’s the mistake a lot of people in the peanut gallery make, including the panel you have laid out here,” Finebaum said. “They get hung up on the pros and mix it with college.

“Tim Tebow was a bust in the NFL, I think we can all agree on that. I have never seen a more meaningful college — I’m sorry, Skip Bayless somewhere is losing his breakfast — but the point being that Tebow was such a great college player, and I think Arch is made of the same material, and I think that’s why he will be all that. No, of course he hasn’t been it yet.”

Finebaum did not back away from his Tim Tebow take and comparison for Arch Manning. If anything, he doubled down.

“Yeah, did I say what I did yesterday?” Finebaum said. “Of course I did. I meant it in the total context of his career.”

Finally, former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum chimed in on the topic. He attempted to clarify what he thought Finebaum was getting at.

“I think the word we should look at here, guys, is potential,” Tannenbaum said. “We just go back over the last couple years, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Cam Ward last year. I think Arch Manning certainly has the ability to be in that conversation if he continues to progress, which I think he will on what should be another loaded Texas team coached by Steve Sarkisian.

“And again, I think what’s really important here, we talked about this off-air, is how many other quarterbacks would have left by now? And I just can’t tell you how much credit Arch Manning and his entire family deserve, because I think they’re taking the right view, which is the long view.”

The long view is one that Tim Tebow took, too, albeit in a different era. The superstar quarterback returned for his senior season after winning a Heisman Trophy and two national championships.

Your move, Arch. We’ll soon begin to learn if Finebaum is right.