Orton Staying Put?

Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton will be on the trading block once the lockout is lifted and many expect his departure. With two young QBs like Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn on the roster, one would think Denver would take anything for him. Well due to their steep asking price of a second round pick, NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora would be “surprised” if he’s not the Opening Day starter.

Up next, friends, is Orton, another QB. And this one is coming off a strong season and is someone who has proven he can help you win some games. Tim Tebow might be the future in Denver, though, and like Kolb, Orton is in the final year of his deal, too.

Odds: Unlikely.

The skinny: Despite Tebow mania sweeping the country and a segment of the Broncos’ fanbase, Orton by far gives the team its best chance of winning games now … something the Broncos haven’t done an awful lot of lately. It would take a lot to pry him away (starting in the second-round level), and team officials doubt that kind of demand will be there. If it materializes, the Broncos will listen but I’d be surprised given this unusual offseason if he’s not their opening-day starter. (NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora)

If there isn’t a team willing to pay such a steep price for him then I too believe he’ll be the Broncos starter in Week One. The main reason of course being the lockout

John Fox is the teams’ new coach and the lockout has prevented him from speaking to any of his signal callers. All three have NFL experience but Fox has never coached any of them personally so he doesn’t know himself what their strengths or weaknesses are. Being a new coach he’ll obviously be bringing a new playbook with him, something none of these guys have been able to have time with. With all of those things consider, I’d think early on he’d go with the veteran of the group, Orton.

The lockout could have also hindered the development of Tebow, the one many thought would be the teams starter. Tebow did start the final three games of the 2010 season but has had no chance to work with NFL coaches. Remember coming out of college many questioned his throwing motion and mechanics, how could he work on these without access to the staff and trainers?

Yes, he could have been given a program to work on but it’s not the same. He could be on the program and still doing things completely wrong, he needs that watchful eye of a coach to help.

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While I did say the lockout was the main reason Orton will be the starter in Week One, there’s another. In my opinion, Orton at this point in each of their careers, is best suited for the job. People like to make jokes about Orton because of his early struggles with the Chicago Bears.

What they forget he was a young quarterback surrounded by questionable talent. Over the past three years he’s turned himself into a serviceable NFL quarterback, one that could win the game for you, not lose it.

2008 – Chicago (15 games) – 79.6 passer rating, 58.5 completion percentage for 2,972 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions
2009 – Denver (16 games) – 86.8 passer rating, 62.1 completion percentage for 3,802 yards with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions
2010 – Denver (13 games) – 87.5 passer rating, 58.8 completion percentage for 3,653 yards with 20 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.

In 2010, he would have easily had career highs in yards and touchdowns if the team didn’t start Tebow during the last three games. In all fairness thou I can’t blame them, they were 3-10 might as well have seen what the rookie had.
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The last reason I think Orton will start is kind of a selfish reason, not by me but on the part of Fox. The Carolina Panthers just like the Broncos were 8-8 in 2009 and took a huge nose dive in 2010. It’s the reason Fox lost his job and it’s had to leave a bitter taste in his mouth.

Throughout his entire coaching career Fox has been a winner, his three worst seasons (prior to 2010) in Carolina were 7-9. He’s going to want to prove he can still coach and it was just product of the “talent” he was given to work with last season.

With that being said I think Fox will want to come out of the gate hot. He’s going to want to get back in the win column and turn this Broncos team around. We all know Fox is one tough, hard headed coach and because of that I’m sure he’ll be able to ignore all the Tebow hype in the Denver area and do what’s right for the team.

And right now what’s right for the team is Kyle Orton. Wow, did I really just say that? Even I still think of those early Chicago days first.

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Tags: Brady Quinn, Denver Broncos, Kyle Orton, NFL, Tim Tebow