Thread: Broncos' Orton, Quinn, Tebow compete in a great race

Paige: Broncos' Orton, Quinn, Tebow compete in a great race
By Woody Paige
The Denver Post
POSTED: 06/06/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT


Tim Tebow (15) and Brady Quinn (9) are backups for now. Coach Josh McDaniels expects them to challenge Kyle Orton to be the Broncos' starting quarterback. (John Leyba, The Denver Post )
Last June, during the Broncos' minicamp, Kyle Orton was named the starting quarterback for the 2009 season.

He will not get that same designation for 2010 this week at minicamp.

The Broncos' starting quarterback probably won't be decided before the Aug. 21 exhibition in Denver against the Lions — and perhaps not until a week later when the team plays the Steelers.

A year ago on June 12, Orton — as anticipated, but not quite that soon — was called into Josh McDaniels' second-floor office at Dove Valley and told that he would be the starter. Orton beat out veteran free agent Chris Simms and rookie Tom Brandstater. Orton won't have to worry about them again. Both are gone.

This time around Orton's challengers have stronger resumes and higher profiles; the Broncos and Orton are coming off last season's gruesome second-half collapse, and the coach has declared an extended open competition for No. 1.

The Broncos have a good (or bad) old-fashioned Quarterback Controversy.

I asked McDaniels on Friday afternoon: "Does Brady Quinn (entering his fourth NFL season and first with the Broncos) have a legitimate chance to be Broncos' opening-Sunday starter?" The coach replied: "Yes."

Then I asked if Tim Tebow, the rookie first-round draft choice, has a chance to become the starter. The answer was the same. "Yes."

It's obvious Orton, currently No. 1, has a chance.

McDaniels is now an equal opportunity employer.

Orton will have to earn back his starting quarterback job. There are, McDaniels has said, "no guarantees" for the five-year veteran (29-19 overall as a starter, 17-13 the past two seasons).

With the release of Brandstater (truth is, he hadn't worked hard enough in the offseason to stay even with the others), McDaniels has sacked three quarterbacks since taking over (placing him 14 behind Elvis Dumervil).

It's assumed by the unwashed mass media that this trio will be on the roster all season, but the only sure things are life, death and rising cable bills.
After the "voluntary passing camp," finally ending Wednesday and the full-fledged "mandatory minicamp" next weekend, the continuing "optional" OTAs, the "official training camp" in late July, and the "preseason friendlies" of August, which horse will win?

An oddsmaker would make Orton the early-line betting favorite at 2-1, Quinn the second choice at 11-2 and Tebow the longshot at 25-1.

But backroom bookies, Belmont bettors, bartenders and Broncobackers don't know, and that's why they run the race.

The so-called "smart money" in Colorado will be on Orton and Quinn, but in Florida Tebow is even money, which is why the website "BroncoGator.com" has produced a logo that is an amalgamation of a toothy alligator and the Broncos' emblem. It looks like a swamp monster out of a bad "B" teen-slasher flick. (The Broncos' season-opening game, Sept. 12, is in Tebow's hometown — Jacksonville.)

Tebow's No. 15 Broncos jersey is the No. 1 seller in the land, while Orton's No. 8 jersey is a deep-discount item at the team's online shop. There's almost no interest in Quinn's Love Potion No. 9.

The most popular Broncos jersey at the Dove Valley headquarters remains, as always, No. 7.

The online shop offers this description: "Reebok Orton #8 replica home (blue) jersey, original price $79.95, sale priced

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

Post sports columnist Woody Paige fields your questions. Look for Woody's Mailbag on Thursdays.

$27.00." The non- replica jersey "was $60 — now $20."
Which is kind of sad, especially compared to the lonely No. 15 "Marshall" jersey on a hanger, also marked down to 20 bucks. But few Orton jerseys were worn at the stadium last season.

Along with the other veterans, Orton was freed from practice Friday, as Quinn and Tebow got all the reps and media attention. Afterward they did dueling interviews several feet apart.

Quinn seemed to have the slight edge in the session. Tebow threw two "touchdowns" and one miserable out pattern. Quinn said he might have an advantage because he has been training in Denver since his mid-March acquisition from the Browns.

It is known that he worked out with the Broncos' wide receivers two dozen times before the passing camp, while Tebow, according to league rules, wasn't allowed at Broncos central before the rookie camp. Orton, a restricted free agent who isn't forced to participate in the OTAs, hadn't thrown to his receivers until the passing camp.

The Broncos will have their first true QB clash for opening-game starter since 1999. The season before, Bubby Brister had replaced the injured John Elway and went 4-0. Brister appeared to have the upper arm over Brian Griese, who played briefly in one game his rookie season. But, before the final exhibition, Mike Shanahan named Griese as the regular-season starter. The Broncos finished 6-10.

McDaniels was asked Friday if he's happy with the three quarterbacks left on the roster. "I would hope so."

So would the three.

The race is on.

Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com

http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_15236442

The Broncos will have their first true QB clash for opening-game starter since 1999. The season before, Bubby Brister had replaced the injured John Elway and went 4-0. Brister appeared to have the upper arm over Brian Griese, who played briefly in one game his rookie season. But, before the final exhibition, Mike Shanahan named Griese as the regular-season starter. The Broncos finished 6-10.

BB was just friggin' awful in the '998 preseason. I couldve played better.

Originally Posted by Jrwiz

McDaniels has sacked three quarterbacks since taking over (placing him 14 behind Elvis Dumervil).

I just found this line to be humorous.

I still think Orton starts the season. But, you never know.

Originally Posted by Dirk

I still think Orton starts the season. But, you never know.

Imo it's always more important to watch what a head coach does rather than what he says because the words don't' always match the actions. Nevertheless McDaniels has said on any number of occasions that Tebow could possibly start sometime this year. We'll have to see how it plays itself but as right now no matter or tentative Orton's hold is starting job it's still his to lose.

So far I like what I hear. Pressure being placed on Orton to up his game, by Quinn, getting rid of a QB that was not going to be a difference maker.

Also sounds like Tebow is closing the gap on Quinn the best of all worlds having 3 guys making the others better.

Let the best QB win.
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Barring injury, I expect that Orton will the the #1 QB starting the season. The interesting speculation, in my mind, is about how the team will use the #2 and #3 designations on game day.

Originally Posted by Shazam!

BB was just friggin' awful in the '998 preseason. I couldve played better.

Even so I remember Shanahan saying years later that he probably should have let Brister start.

Originally Posted by Tempus Fugit

Barring injury, I expect that Orton will the the #1 QB starting the season. The interesting speculation, in my mind, is about how the team will use the #2 and #3 designations on game day.

Ditto.
But if you go back to how he says he prepares differently for every opponent, I can see his #2 and #3 being interchangeable, depending on the next week's game.

Originally Posted by TXBRONC

Even so I remember Shanahan saying years later that he probably should have let Brister start.

Just as he did with Jake's last year. Guess he has a propensity to pull the string a little early.

lol Reminds me of KC when they started Elvis over Gannon in the playoff.

Originally Posted by FanInAZ

I just found this line to be humorous.

Does not resigning Ramsey count as sack #5?

Originally Posted by Shazam!

BB was just friggin' awful in the '998 preseason. I couldve played better.

If Brister would have been better in the Preseason, then Griese would not have started, and he wouldn't have thrown that interception that lead to Terrell Davis tearing up his knee!

Originally Posted by sneakers

If Brister would have been better in the Preseason, then Griese would not have started, and he wouldn't have thrown that interception that lead to Terrell Davis tearing up his knee!

I'll never forgive him for that. May the curse of the POX live in his house.

Originally Posted by rcsodak

Just as he did with Jake's last year. Guess he has a propensity to pull the string a little early.

lol Reminds me of KC when they started Elvis over Gannon in the playoff.

A little early? Plummer started the first nine games before for his subpar play.

Originally Posted by TXBRONC

A little early? Plummer started the first nine games before for his subpar play.

Actually, Jake was playing poorly for most of the year. Shanny kept waiting for him to snap out of it but he never did.