The Denver Broncos’ rookies and veterans begin mini camp this week in Dove Valley, marking the first meaningful football activities of the new year. It also marks many players’ first glimpse of Tim Tebow, the rookie who’s dominating all the headlines. Do the veterans resent all the attention going to a guy listed as the fourth-string quarterback? Maybe, but Tebow isn’t feeling the heat yet.

“That’s not something I can control much,” Tebow tells The Denver Post. “I think something my (teammates) will know is how hard I’ll work, and my character and what I’m all about. So, I don’t think that will bother them too much, to be honest.”

Sports Illustrated shares some fodder for hazing Tebow: The Broncos’ first-round draft pick recently had the best-selling jersey in a one-month period since the NFL began tracking the statistic; and a fan survey came up with the nickname “Mile High Messiah” for the quarterback. And Tebow will also have to live up to the fact that “the Broncos traded three lower picks to get back into the first round and draft Tebow, coveting the player many analysts predict will be an NFL bust.”

Among returning players, outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil, last year’s NFL sack leader, showed up at the mini camp yesterday, even though he has yet to sign the Broncos’ one-year contract tender from the offseason. The Denver Post says the team is negotiating with Dumervil’s agent to get a deal done. Only two players have more sacks over the last four years than Dumervil (43 sacks), and both players have $70-plus million contracts. Dumervil is in line for a similar deal, but it remains to be seen whether the Broncos will shell out that kind of cash.