After day one of the NFL Scouting Combine, Denver Broncos head coach John Fox was asked about the quarterback situation that is currently brewing in the Mile High City. Fox said, "Right now Kyle is our starter." Echoing statements made by Chief Football Executive John Elway during Super Bowl week.
This has to be something that Kyle Orton likes to hear, as it is no real secret that he didn't want to come back as Tim Tebow's backup. So it has to be nice to know that he will come back into training camp on the top of the depth chart.
However, Fox also said this. "I don’t think we’ll really figure it out until we start competing. It’s a group of three that are very capable...We have a young guy, high draft pick, in Tim Tebow who got his feet wet last year toward the end of the season. And then shoot, Brady Quinn I’m looking forward to seeing.”
Wait a minute, didn't you just say that Orton was the starter? Well yeah, he did. But that is of course saying that if the season started right now, Orton would be the guy. Also, you have to think that with the unknown labor situation, having a seasoned veteran available should the players be out of practices for several weeks as a result of a lockout would be more beneficial than a second year player with only three games of experience.
Slow down, Tebow nation, I can hear you coming a mile away! Really, you should all like what Fox has said here too. Yes, Orton has been declared the starter, for now. But Fox is clearly far from dead set on this. As he said, we all won't know who the clear number one guy is until they start competing for it. One thing that Tim Tebow has never minded doing is competing, that is for certain.
This is something that should make all Bronco fans excited. Provided that there is no labor stoppage to delay off-season OTAs and mini-camps, this quarterback competition should make both quarterbacks better. Tebow is going to be better than he was, no doubts. So that means that Orton will have to work just as hard to stay ahead of Tebow. If he's able to do that, and show that he's still clearly the number one guy, then that has to be a good thing. If Tebow does overtake Orton as the team's number one, then the Broncos will be able to move forward with a guy who proved that he was ready for the position. For Bronco fans, this is a win-win.
This will also help the coaches figure out who has the better attitude and who is the better leader as a result. A true leader will see this as a challenge and rise to the occasion. If one of them sulks about it, it will undoubtedly affect his play. Tim Tebow has never been one to back down from any type of challenge to his ability, so it's pretty safe to say that the sulking won't come from him. Orton may not want to have to go through any type of a quarterback competition, but if he wants to remain the starter in Denver, then that's just too bad.
If Orton does go the sulky route and complain instead of letting his play do the talking, then I'll be the first one saying that we should start Tim Tebow. As of this moment, however, Elway and coach Fox have it right. Let's let these two guys battle it out, and see who gives the team the better chance to win come week one of the regular season.
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