Wednesday’s episode of First Take featured references to Tim Tebow, Skip Bayless, and — because it’s 2025 and nothing makes sense— New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani.
You might be wondering why there’s a polar bear in Arlington, Texas. Don’t worry, it was just Paul Finebaum speaking in hyperbole again. This time, the college football pundit stirred the pot by declaring Arch Manning would be the best college quarterback since Tim Tebow.
And just like he wanted no part of Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign, Finebaum had zero interest in dragging Cam Newton or Joe Burrow into the Arch Manning conversation. And that’s fine — for now. It’s July. These are the dog days of the sports calendar. We’re all grasping for something to debate besides LeBron-to-the-Knicks hypotheticals or, God forbid, another Dak Prescott legacy segment.
So sure, we’ll extend Finebaum a little grace.
But not nearly the kind of grace he didn’t extend to Skip Bayless, especially during the part of the segment where he doubled down on his Arch Manning take while casually tossing Skip under the bus.
“Tim Tebow was a bust in the NFL,” Finebaum stated. “I think we can all agree on that… I’m sorry, Skip Bayless somewhere is losing his breakfast.”
Paul Finebaum: “Tim Tebow was a bust in the NFL, I think we can all agree on that… I’m sorry, Skip Bayless somewhere is losing his breakfast.” pic.twitter.com/R2eGarW62F
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 2, 2025
Probably the same breakfast we lost when Bayless recently shared his celebrity hall pass.
Bayless may be a caricature of himself at this point, but when it comes to Tim Tebow, he’s always held the line. ESPN execs might’ve tried to curb his obsession. Stephen A. Smith probably had the worst day of his life sitting across from him during another Tebow monologue. But Skip? He genuinely believes he wasn’t pushing a bit. He was preaching the gospel of Tim.
And the wildest part? He still thinks he’s winning that argument.
Then again, Bayless thinks he’s winning every argument. For better or worse, that’s his legacy. That, and his undying devotion to Tim Tebow, something even Finebaum couldn’t help but mock.