Detroit ? Nobody should get this passionate over whether a quarterback succeeds in the NFL, but Tim Tebow has become football’s embodiment of the Red State-Blue State political divide.

He’s a paragon of moral rectitude to one side — a positive example for a culture devoid of values and should be afforded every opportunity to succeed. Denver should play him right now. He will win, because that’s all he has done throughout his life. Who cares if everybody already knows he couldn’t accurately throw a ball into the water even if standing in a boat?

He’s a product of wishful hype to the other side — built into something much bigger than he realistically could achieve given his obvious technical flaws. The worship builds to a point where the detractors fervently hope for his failure if for no other reason than to gleefully rub the opposition’s faces in the mud.

By no fault of his own, Tebow has become a polarizing figure. His jersey ranks among the NFL’s top sellers, but it’s apparent that allegiance has little to do with how tall he stands on the field, but rather what he stands for off the field. All the second-year pro has done is to be honest with himself and his faith. He’s an unconventional quarterback and perhaps an even more unconventional person within today’s more loosely interpreted mores. He unapologetically lives a devoutly religious life. More power to him.

But those who have de-emphasized Tebow as an actual person and turned him into a symbol have diminished themselves. And if you don’t agree with that particular point of view, no matter how rational and objective the argument, you’re branded a “hater.”

That has become the ultimate buzzword in this anonymously written, Internet-driven communication structure. If you can’t logically argue against someone, just call him a hater. Somehow, that justifies a contrary opinion. I’m not wrong. THEY are.

They’re why politics in this country reeks.

The problem isn’t the politician. The fault lies in a process hijacked by the opposing sides of left-right extremism, both equally fluid in spewing incendiary rhetoric that effectively has killed the concept of governing. Sides are chosen and never crossed. The middle ground is the haven for the heretics.

There is no consensus with Tebow. Either you love him or loathe him.

How ridiculous is that? This is just the NFL.

It’s mind-boggling how Tebow’s status with the Broncos even became an issue worth debating. Either he’s good enough or he isn’t. It’s pretty simple. The rest doesn’t matter.

ESPN football analyst Merril Hoge — a former NFL player whose job description is to critique, not cheerlead — strongly expressed doubts that Tebow could succeed because of flaws in his throwing mechanics and his discomfort in operating out of a pro-style system. It’s a valid criticism. Tebow never has been an accurate passer. He never had to be at Florida.

He’s a quarterback who functions best in crisis. But shouldn’t an NFL quarterback’s first priority be to avoid such crises in the first place?

But you’d think Hoge thought Tebow was an al-Qaida operative considering the public reaction. Even LeBron James tweeted, ripping the messenger instead of listening to the message with an open mind.

It shouldn’t surprise, though. There’s little room for listening when everybody’s too busy screaming.