The Broncos initially said Tim Tebow would start against the Texans because Kyle Orton wasn’t healthy enough to play. It was a nifty way to bench Orton without having to say so publicly.
Orton, who professes to be healthy enough to play, sees the writing on the wall and isn’t happy.
“I’d love to play it out,” Orton told Jeff Legwold. “It wasn’t my decision. There was nothing I could do. . . . The way it was presented to me was he’ll be the starter the rest of the season and that’s just how it goes.”
The Broncos gave Orton a pricey new contract just a few months ago. Now his future with the team is in doubt, and he says he’s “disappointed” that he can’t finish the year with his guys.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Orton said. “I do know I’m not the one who’s going to be making that decision. I’m not the one who made this decision. But (if) the organization wants to go a different way the rest of the year, then hey, that’s just how it is. If I’m back next year, my belief is I’m coming back as the starter.”
We think Orton should be back. He’s due $8.8 million next year, and $5.5 million is guaranteed. That’s a lot of money to swallow considering Orton played very well for most of this year. The Broncos can let Orton and Tebow battle it out in camp next year. Quarterback is hardly at the top of the Broncos’ problems.
The front office is a mess, and the team has had one of the worst defenses in football for half a decade.