The Denver Broncos received some static from an unexpected source as a result of their decision to trade quarterback Tim Tebow to the New York Jets: Reverend Pat Robertson.
In an appearance yesterday on his “700 Club” program, Robertson expressed his anger at the trade, indicating that the Broncos had treated Tebow “shabbily” by trading him in the wake of acquiring free agent quarterback Peyton Manning. He also said that the Broncos were a “nothing team” before Tebow took over at quarterback. Robertson went on to say that if Manning suffered an injury this season, “it would serve them [the Broncos] right.”
The clip of Robertson’s rant has gone viral in no small part due to the active assistance of Media Matters for America, which posted a clip of it to their website yesterday. Earlier today, a spokesman for Robertson said that he “had the highest regard” for Manning and was in no way advocating that anyone hurt the quarterback.
Eric McErlain blogs at Off Wing Opinion, a Forbes “Best of the Web” winner. In 2006 he wrote a “bloggers bill of rights” to help integrate bloggers into the Washington Capitals’ press box. Eric has also written for Deadspin, NBC Sports and the Sporting News, and covers sports television for The TV News. Follow Eric on Twitter.