National Football League

Tebow applauds Meyer's decision to step away

Published Dec. 8, 2010 10:01 p.m. ET

foxsports

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow is applauding Urban Meyer's decision to step down from his job at the University of Florida to focus on his family.

Tebow, who wasn't in the locker room Wednesday during the 45-minute media access period, later released a statement through the team praising his college coach, whom he called a father figure.

Tebow, who won a Heisman Trophy and two national titles with the Gators, said he respects Meyer's announcement that he's putting his family ahead of football, adding ''We will both be Gators for the rest of our lives.''

Josh McDaniels, the man who stunningly selected Tebow in the first round of the NFL draft, was fired by the Broncos on Monday. Meyer's resignation certainly leads to speculation about Meyer surfacing in Denver to coach Tebow, but neither Meyer nor the Broncos addressed that notion Wednesday.