The following cartoon shows an image that would make humorous Tim Tebow Christmas cards for 2012. This picture made the rounds in print and on the internet following Tebow’s Denver Broncos noncompetitive 45-10 playoff drubbing at the hands of Tom Brady’s New England Patriots. It depicts Tebow in his signature post-touchdown or post-victory pose of genuflection, praying to his “new” messiah Brady. While the dismantling of the Denverites made for lackluster NFL theater, it at least served to quiet down the legions of misguided Tebow devotees, who have taken their worship of this glorified college quarterback to previously unseen levels.

Tim Tebow may not actually worship Tom Brady, but he certainly could learn a thing or two from him.

Timothy Richard Tebow was born on August 14, 1987 in the Philippines, the youngest of five children born to Baptist missionaries. During his mother’s pregnancy, she suffered a life-threatening infection. A stillbirth was expected and she was advised to have an abortion, as to not put her own life in danger. She refused, and Tim was born healthy, bucking the odds and surprising the doctors. After the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, Tim, like his brothers and sisters, was homeschooled by his mother, who worked to instill the family’s Christian beliefs.

Tebow came into national prominence as a junior at Florida’s 4A Nease High School. He was known not only for his running and throwing, but for his intense competitiveness and physical courage, once playing the entire second half of a game with a broken fibula. Tebow was considered one of the nation’s top recruits and was the subject of an ESPN “Faces in Sports” documentary. The segment was titled “Tim Tebow: The Chosen One”, and focused on Tim’s deep religious faith, his homeschooling and the three summers he spent doing missionary work in the Philippines, as well as his exploits on the field of play and the college recruiting process.

Tebow received an athletic scholarship to play for the Florida Gators football team from 2006 to 2009. While he spent his freshman year as a backup, he eventually became a star, capturing the Heisman Trophy, college football’s most coveted individual award, in 2007, leading the team to a BCS championship in 2008, and a 13–1 in 2009.

In 2010, the son of missionaries was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the 25th pick of the first round. Tebow played sparingly during his rookie season, appearing in six games as a backup, and starting the last three. His rise to prominence began in 2011 when, after a 1-4 start, Tebow was named the starting quarterback. He led the team to a playoff berth and a win over the favored Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild card round. Tebow soon became a nationally-renowned and controversial figure due to his outspoken and unabashed religiosity.

It’s probably safe to say that former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will not be sending Christmas cards out this year. Vick was a first round draft pick in 2001 and had a decorated career with the Falcons. In 2006, he was reportedly one of the most highly paid athletes in the United States and it appeared that Vick was on the fast track to the NFL Hall of Fame. In early 2007, though, Vick found himself in hot water and all of his aspirations and dreams for his future in NFL football came crashing down. He was investigated, charged and sentenced to prison on federal dog fighting charges, and this year, he will spend Christmas reading his Christmas cards in an orange jumpsuit behind bars.

PETA Christmas card featuring Michael Vick...in jail!

Outspoken animal rights group, PETA, released an online Christmas card last year satirizing Vick’s brush with the law. Vick is depicted inside a snow globe behind the walls of a highly guarded prison. He is clad in recognizable prison garb and has a ball and chain around his ankle. Visitors to the PETA site can shake up the snow globe and watch Vick tumble around inside of it. Ironically, two ferocious dogs lie on either side of him and show their sharp teeth whenever the globe is jostled. You can also watch as the former football star kicks a pigskin in the air, which inevitably falls back to earth to hit him on the head.

Vick is scheduled to be released from prison in November 2009. Although this is his last Christmas in jail, his friends and family shouldn’t expect to receive Christmas cards from him anytime in the near future. Because of his suspension from the NFL, extraordinary legal fees, and lost wages, Vick filed for bankruptcy. He has a lot of work to do to rebuild his reputation upon his release…maybe Christmas cards should be at the top of his list. He just better make sure that he doesn’t send one to PETA!

Word just came through that the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation placed an order of holiday cards. The card is on striking black matte stock, and the design is of an embossed Christmas tree composed of gleaming silver and blue foil starbursts.  A gold foiled “Season’s Greetings” type finishes off this vivid and dazzling holiday card.

2008 Holiday card from the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation

The Walter and Connie Payton Foundation, named for and founded by the late legendary Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton and his family, helps abused, neglected, and underprivileged children in Illinois through a variety of activities. Around the holidays, the foundation runs an annual toy and fundraising drive to provide financial assistance and gifts to over 20,000 children. It also hosts an annual “Sweetness Run” (“Sweetness” was Payton’s nickname as a player, both for his on-field ability and off-field demeanor) to raise funds for the cause. In the Fall, the foundation gathers and donates school supplies; this year they provided over 500 filled backpacks to needy students.

Payton retired from the NFL in 1987 as the all-time leading rusher and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. He had only missed one game during his 13-year career with the Bears, and he helped lead the Bears to their only Super Bowl victory in 1985. Payton succumbed to cancer in 1999.  During his life, he exhibited a generous and altruistic spirit, and it is in his name and spirit that his family continues his charity work through the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation.