Tag: Kyle Orton (Page 5 of 14)

      Extending Orton’s contract a good move by Broncos for Tebow

      August 20, 2010 /
      Aug 07, 2010 - Denver, Colorado, USA - Denver Broncos QB TIM TEBOW sported a new hair cut as part of the Broncos Rookie Hazing tradition before practice at Training Camp.

      The Broncos did the best thing for Tim Tebow’s development yesterday when they signed Kyle Orton to a one-year, $9 million contract extension through the 2011 season.

      Orton has proved this summer that he’s light years ahead of both Tebow and Brady Quinn (who is freefalling down the Broncos’ depth chart) in his understanding of Josh McDaniels’ offense. (And why wouldn’t he be? He already has a year in the system.) He gives the Broncos their best chance of winning now and the contract is a reward for his hard work this offseason.

      The extension also takes some of the pressure off of Tebow, who is going to need time to develop. Regardless of whether or not you think he’s going to be great or the second coming of Drew Henson, all young quarterbacks need time to learn. Considering he didn’t run a pro style offense at Florida and is still working out the kinks in his throwing motion, Tebow is going to need even more time before he’s ready to start.

      By signing Orton the Broncos are basically saying that he’s their starter and that Tebow can take his time. I know many people can’t wait to see the Tebow era take flight in Denver, but putting too much pressure on a young quarterback too early can be death. He already has enough on his shoulders by being a first round pick – why add to it?

      McDaniels will surely put together some packages to feature Tebow’s strength as a runner, but as long as Orton is healthy and productive then he’s going to be the starter. Tebow’s time will come – it just won’t be any time soon.

      External Sports, NFL

      Brady Quinn is working his way into NFL obscurity

      August 16, 2010 /
      CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 15: Brady Quinn of the Denver Broncos calls out a play at the line against the Cincinnati Bengals during a preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium on August 15, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals won 33-24. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

      That sound you hear in Denver is Brady Quinn tumbling down the Broncos’ depth chart.

      After completing just 6 of 16 passes for 68 yards and throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the Broncos’ preseason opener Sunday against the Bengals, Quinn is off to a rocky (no pun intended) start in his new city. For a player that was once thought to be a top 10 pick, Quinn looked completely befuddled and it shouldn’t be long before he’s demoted and Tim Tebow (who had a strong debut, albeit against third-stringers) is promoted.

      Considering it was only one preseason game and his first attempt at running Josh McDaniels’ offense in live action, maybe people should cut Quinn some slack. After all, Kyle Orton (who looked fantastic on Sunday) threw three interceptions in his preseason debut with the Broncos last year.

      But considering Quinn showed next to nothing in Cleveland and is now off to a less than ideal start in Denver, the clock is ticking for the 25-year-old to prove himself.

      Quinn’s problems are the same now as they were at Notre Dame: His footwork sucks, he doesn’t make quick decisions and he can’t make throws beyond the 10-to-12-yard range. Making matters worse, he still has trouble reading defenses, even though this is now his fourth year in the league. While he still has plenty of time to turn it around, he hasn’t improved at all from year to year, which is obviously troublesome.

      Fair or not, first rounders will always have higher expectations when it comes to succeeding. It just comes with the territory, which is why Quinn needs to step up his game before he soon finds himself searching for work outside the NFL. Again, it was only one preseason game and he could come out in his next game and tear it up. But considering he was playing mostly against second-teamers and is battling against a QB in Tebow that the Broncos view as their future, he doesn’t get any mulligans.

      External Sports, NFL

      Orton on the trading block? Broncos say no.

      May 24, 2010 /

      According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos are denying that quarterback Kyle Orton has ever been on the trading block.

      Broncos official texted on report Denver had shopped QB Kyle Orton: “Kyle Orton Has NEVER been available or discussed. Ever! Period.”

      The Broncos aren’t going to risk upsetting Orton by making it public that he’s on the trading block. Because if they do have intentions of trading him and a deal never goes through, then their starting quarterback will go through the entire season knowing that his team wanted to deal him in the offseason.

      The Broncos find themselves in a tricky situation. Orton’s contract expires at the end of the year and with three developmental quarterbacks (Brady Quinn, Tim Tebow and Tom Brandstater) behind him on the depth chart, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Broncos to try to get something for the veteran QB now before he bolts at the end of the year.

      Then again, the Broncos need to go with the quarterback that they believe gives them the best chance to win now. With a year of Josh McDaniels’ offensive system already under his belt, that player is Orton – not Quinn or anyone else. Will Orton get Denver to the Super Bowl this year? Probably not, but he’ll likely perform better than any other quarterback on the roster and therefore, it might not be worth it for the Broncos to trade him for a mid-round pick. (I’m just speculating what they would get for him, but it would most likely be a mid-to-late rounder.)

      That said, if Quinn turns in a great training camp/preseason and proves that he can be a capable starter, then the Broncos would obviously be more apt to trade Orton before the season. It makes no sense to have two capable starters on the roster when one of them will surely be moving on in a year. Might as well get something in return for him now.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Should the Broncos trade Kyle Orton?

      May 10, 2010 /

      Before trading three picks in order to select Tim Tebow in the first round of last April’s draft, the Broncos acquired Brady Quinn in a trade with the Browns and already had veteran Kyle Orton and developmental quarterback Tom Brandstater on the roster. With all four of the signal callers listed on its depth chart, Denver now has a freaking mess surplus at the position.

      The most likely scenario is that Orton will be the starter this year, while Quinn serves as his backup. Tebow will probably be worked into the offense in specialty packages and Brandstater will likely spend most of the season on the practice squad. Then, once Orton’s contract expires at the end of the year, Quinn and Tebow will battle for the starting job in 2011, while Brandstater assumes the No. 3 role.

      But what if the Broncos shook things up right now? What if the team traded Orton and then Quinn, whom Josh McDaniels and his staff think very highly of, started? That would mean that Tebow would get more reps in practice (it’s easier for teams to give players more reps if they’re the backup than the No. 3) and the Broncos also wouldn’t have to worry about possibly losing Brandstater to another team. (Other teams can sign taxi squad players at will, as long as they put them on the active roster.)

      As Woody Paige of the Denver Post writes, Orton isn’t the long-term answer in Denver. He merely serves as a bridge between now and whenever Tebow is ready to start, so why not trade him now? Quinn might not give the Broncos the best chance of winning, but it’s not like Orton is Peyton Manning.

      McDaniels and the Broncos made it clear on the opening night of the draft that Tebow was their future. Seeing as how they traded for Quinn (who has starting experience, mind you), it might not be a bad idea for them to deal Orton if they can find any suitors. He’s going to leave after the season anyway, so it’s worth it for Denver to get compensation for him now if they can.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Poll: Which quarterback will have the most success in the NFL?

      May 3, 2010 /

      When we polled readers on which quarterback they think will wind up having the most success in the NFL, the one name I didn’t expect to receive the majority of the votes was Tim Tebow.

      I’ve been vocal with my opinion on the Broncos’ decision to trade three draft picks for Tebow in the first round of last month’s draft. First and foremost, I think Tebow is a massive project and to give up three picks (a second, a third and a fourth) in order to trade back into the first round and select him wasn’t wise on Denver’s part. (Especially after they traded for Brady Quinn in the offseason and still have an unspectacular, but effective Kyle Orton on the roster.)

      But regardless of whether or not you liked the trade for the Broncos, Tebow is remains the biggest boom or bust quarterback in the 2010 draft class. He is extremely coachable and works very hard on his craft, but he will likely need years of schooling before he can become a NFL quarterback. He still has a long way to go with his mechanics and he’s behind the 8-ball because he didn’t play in a pro style offense at Florida. Athletically he’s ready to play now, but there have already been a handful of scouts, coaches and GMs that have said in so many words that they wouldn’t stake their careers on him being a quarterback.

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      Barstool Debates, External Sports, NFL

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