If Alabama fans want to make fun of the fact that he cried following the Gators' emotional 32-13 loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship game, Tim Tebow says he couldn't care less.

If people want to crack jokes and send out e-mails with his tear-stained face, have at it, he said.

Tebow said following Tuesday afternoon's practice that he can take what criticism is sent his way and whatever fans want to dish out, but he doesn't like the fact that people are taking it out on his family, particularly his mother, Pam Tebow.

"I don't think I've really been irritated by it too much except for people giving my family a hard time in games and just when they see them or when they're saying stuff to my mom,'' Tebow said. "That can be irritating. Me hearing it personally really doesn't bother me. I can deal with it. I'm used to hearing everything from fans, and so you know what, if they enjoy seeing me cry, I have bigger things to worry about.

Tebow said he's fiercely competitive and passionate about the game, and the Gators, so he had no problem publicly showing his pain following the loss that knocked the Gators out of the national championship game.

"My mom's face gets pretty recognized now because she's always on TV so she can get it (fans taunting),'' he said. "That can hurt her sometimes, but they do a good job handling it. It really doesn't bother me. It bothers me when people give other people I care about a hard time.''

Tebow said he knows there was national discussion and coverage of his emotional reaction to the loss, particularly the photos of him crying after the game, but he hasn't heard much of the other things.

Like Alabama fans referring to him as "Tim Tearbow.''

"Never heard of it before,'' he said. "Is that what they're saying? Well, good for them.''

Tim will finish out his career against Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.