Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas compare Tim Tebow, Peyton Manning

By Gary Gurecki | Feb 9, 2015

Former teammates of both Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow recently spoke of the difference in their playing styles.

When drawing quarterback comparisons former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and his replacement Peyton Manning are polar opposites. There might not be a bigger gap between two quarterbacks as far as style and mechanics.

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Two receivers who have had the opportunity to play with both of these passers are New York Jets receiver Eric Decker and Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas. Leading up to the Super Bowl during the promotion of their Courtyard Camera series with Marriott, FanSided spoke with both receivers about comparing the two quarterbacks, among other things.

The two good friends and former Tebow and Manning teammates, immediately stated the difference.

“Definitely a change the style’s are very different,” Decker said.

“It was a big difference,” Thomas said.

When asked to expound on his time with Tebow, Decker added: “Tim was unique in that way through out the league that year as he won football games in a completely different way and it was a really good team that ran the ball well. At times we would struggle through the first three quarters and in the fourth quarter we would find a way to win.

“It was kind of that magical feel I would say in the way we won games, it was like I can’t believe it you know, it was absolutely amazing.”

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From a game plan stand point Thomas pointed out the change in defensive looks.

“We ran the ball a lot with Tebow, and then when Peyton came in it was all pass… We went from having eight in the box all the time to three,” Thomas said.

Decker also noted that change when Peyton came to town.

“Then we go to Peyton Manning who is gonna go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks to play this game. We went from running the ball 50 times to throwing the ball 50 times a game and it was just different, the system, the uniqueness of the quarterbacks, their styles, and how we won football games,” Decker said.

One of the greater highlights in Tebow’s career happened against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 NFL season’s Wild Card weekend, where Thomas caught an overtime touchdown pass from the former Florida Gator quarterback and took it 80 yards for an overtime win.

“To tell the truth once I scored I didn’t even know the game was over. So I look back and see all my team mates running down, it felt like a commercial,” Thomas said of the play. “I was just excited because it was my second year in the league, I was going through the playoffs and there are people who have been in the league longer and don’t even get to do that.”

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