To celebrate the latest NFL season's launch, GQ is publishing two special covers featuring Carolina Panther's quarterback Cam Newton and Jets quarterback Tim Tebow, but it's Tebow's edition that's catching people's attention.
Tebow, known to be a devout Christian and kneeling down to one knee when scoring a touchdown, graces the cover of GQ and a pose within the magazine has brought criticism comparing it to Jesus' crucifixion.
The picture in question features Tebow standing shirtless, legs crossed, and arms stretched. The pose had WFAN's Boomer & Carton sports radio host Craig Carton in a heated discussion. Carton would call Tebow a "narcissist" and a "fraud."
Carton said, "When you see a guy, who clearly thinks he is Jesus - he is posing as Jesus, legs crossed, arms out, like he's on the freaking cross, and he's got tight junk pants on showing off his big junk with no shirt on - and he's posing as 'Sexy Jesus,' he is a fraud."
However, the pose is not new. Tebow posed the "Sexy Jesus" back when he was with the Florida Gators football team for the University of Florid.. For the NFL kickoff edition, GQ has removed logos featuring the Gators behind him.
It's unclear if Carton is aware of when the picture was originally taken.
Fox News also points out the decision to feature Tebow, as before signing with the Jets he was on a team that was 8 for 8 last season.
Speaking ahead of his official start with the Jets, Tebow told GQ he hopes Jets fans will root for him.
"I'll do whatever I can to help this team win football games," said Tebow. "I'll give my heart and soul whenever I step on that field and even when I'm on the sidelines. And at the end of the day, that's really all you can ask of someone."
The Tebow edition of GQ hits newsstands on Aug. 21. The article in full can be read here.