Dean Michaels

Tim Tebow tops Forbes' 2013 list of the most influential athletes. The quarterback who was recently dropped from the Jets, may not even play next year, but that didn't stop the annual ranking from placing him at the top. Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning rounded out the top 5

Quarterback Tim Tebow, recently released by the New York Jets, has been selected as 2013's most influential athlete in sports in a survey conducted by Forbes.com.

Forbes.com reported that 29 percent of the respondents found Tebow to be "influential", beating Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, who garnered 25 percent from the survey conducted by Nielsen and market research firm E-Poll.

"For a backup quarterback to be talked about so much is incredible," says Stephen Master, senior vice president of Sports for Nielsen.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was third with 23 percent while New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (22 percent) was fourth.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, who replaced Tebow in Denver, finished fifth with 21 percent finding him influential.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees finished sixth with 21 percent followed by Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas with 19 percent and Green Bay Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers with 19 percent.

Miami Heat superstar and four-time NBA MVP LeBron James was ninth with 18 percent while David Beckham was 10th.

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson topped the survey results the past two years but did not make it this year.

 

Tim Tebow Picked 2013's Most Influential Athlete by Forbes