Tim Tebow and Ben Roethlisberger

The quarterbacks for the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers show two sides of American evangelicalism.

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Oct. 30, 2011

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow kneels to pray, before the team faces the Detroit Lions at Mile High Stadium in Denver. Tebow's frequent prayers, which have been adopted by other atheletes, have also earned their own name -- "Tebowing."

Doug Pensinger / Getty

Jan 1, 2012

According to David Kuo and Patton Dodd, "Tebow is a missionary’s kid, and he has a missionary’s zeal. The Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Florida has been preaching since his dad put him on a stage in the Philippines when he was 14 years old."

Jack Dempsey / AP

Dec. 11, 2011

Tim Tebow assumes his signature pose after teammate Matt Prater kicked a 51-yard field goal to win in overtime against the Chicago Bears last month.

Jack Dempsey / AP

A retalo, a traditional devotional painting, with an image of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow by Colorado artist Catherine Robles Shaw.

Catherine Robles Shaw / AP

Dec. 7, 2011

Lindsey Vonn "Tebows" after winning the women's World Cup super-G ski competition in Beaver Creek, Colo., last month.

Alessandro Trovati / AP

Dec. 11, 2011

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee "Tebows" in the end zone before the start of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Denver.

Julie Jacobson / AP

Oct. 30, 2011

Detroit Lions’ linebacker Stephen Tulloch, front left, mimics Denver Broncos’ quarterback Tim Tebow after sacking him during the first quarter of a game in Denver. Critics, like former NFL star Kurt Warner, say Tebow should tone down the religious rhetoric. “I'd tell him, 'Put down the boldness in regards to the words, and keep living the way you're living. Let your teammates do the talking for you. Let them cheer on your testimony.' “

Aaron Ontiveroz / AP

Jan. 1, 2010

Tebow on the sidelines during the Sugar Bowl football game at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Tebow often puts chapter and verses from the Bible in his eye black.

Dave Martin / AP

In this image courtesy of Focus on the Family, Tim Tebow hugs his mom Pam Tebow in an advertisement that aired during the 2010 Super Bowl between the Colts and Saints. The commercial, which contained an anti-abortion message, was the first such advocacy ad to appear during a Super Bowl.

/ AP

Nov. 6, 2011

An Oakland Raiders fan next to a sign meant for Tebow before an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif.

Ben Margot / AP

Nov. 17, 2011

Tebow points to the heavens after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets in Denver in November. Denver won 17-13 in the final minutes of the game.

Barry Gutierrez / AP

Nov. 27, 2011

A Tebow fan cheers during the first half of a November game against the San Diego Chargers in San Diego.

Lenny Ignelzi / AP

Sept. 12, 2010

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow prays with teammates and members of the Jaguars after an NFL game in Jacksonville, Fla.

Stephen Morton / AP

Feb. 4, 2010

Tim Tebow, center, at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington in 2010.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Aug. 29, 2010

Broncos fans hold up a Tim Tebow sign during a 2010 preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Denver.

Jack Dempsey / AP

'Lost amid this season’s Tebow obsession has been an even more compelling tale: the deepening evangelical faith of Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger,' say David Kuo and Patton Dodd. 'The last time Roethlisberger’s off-field actions and attitude came under scrutiny was in early 2010, when sexual assault allegations surfaced around the two-time Super Bowl winner in northern Georgia. Although no charges were filed, he was suspended for four games under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.'

Dec 18, 2011

Doug Pensinger

GETTY IMAGES

Quarterback Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos breaks a tackle against outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich of the New England Patriots at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.

"Lost amid this season’s Tebow obsession has been an even more compelling tale: the deepening evangelical faith of Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger," say David Kuo and Patton Dodd. "The last time Roethlisberger’s off-field actions and attitude came under scrutiny was in early 2010, when sexual assault allegations surfaced around the two-time Super Bowl winner in northern Georgia. Although no charges were filed, he was suspended for four games under the NFL’s personal conduct policy."

Gene J. Puskar / AP

Roethlisberger reads a statement in the Steelers' locker room on April 12, 2010, in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger says he is "happy" to put sexual assault allegations in Georgia behind him and knows he must work to regain the trust of his teammates and the team's large fan base.

Gene J. Puskar / AP

Ben and Ashley Roethlisberger at their wedding reception in July. A Pittsburgh area pastor says that Ashley's family is “one of the finest Christian families I’ve ever met in my life.”

Michael Goldstein / AP

In his rookie year in 2005, Roethlisberger painted “PFJ” (Play For Jesus) on his cleats. In a pre-Superbowl interview that year, he said: “You don’t have to listen to what I have to say, but I will always have the opportunity to glorify God in all that I do.” Here, Roethlisberger limps down the steps to the locker room after a 14-3 win over the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh last month. Roethlisberger injured his left ankle in the second quarter but remained in the game.

Gene J. Puskar / AP

Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews tackles Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger during the 2011 Super Bowl. The Packers won, 31-25.

Charlie Krupa / AP

"Tim Tebow is a missionary. Ben Roethlisberger is a prodigal come home," say David Kuo and Patton Dodd. "Both men have found ways of living their faith — of being Christian pilgrims — that reveal more about evangelicalism than whatever can be gleaned from Iowa exit polls." Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, right, is helped to his feet by Maurkice Pouncey after being hit in the end zone during an October 2011 game against the Houston Texans. The Texans won 17-10.

Dave Einsel / AP

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Tim Tebow and Ben Roethlisberger

The quarterbacks for the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers show two sides of American evangelicalism.

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