The Broncos’ quarterback situation continues to be puzzling.
Multiple reports have indicated that the Broncos will trade Kyle Orton, most likely to the Dolphins. And yet when the Broncos practiced for the first time today, Orton wasn’t just on the field -- he was running the show with the first-string offense, and from all accounts outplaying Tim Tebow, the 2010 first-round draft pick who is supposedly the team’s quarterback of the future.
Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that Orton looked poised and polished, while Tebow looked slower in finding receivers and less accurate in his passing. Klis writes that not only did Orton look better than Tebow, but Brady Quinn looked better than Tebow, too.
Tebow seemed to think he played well, which isn’t necessarily a good sign.
“We’ve got to work on some timing with certain things, but for a first day, I thought it was pretty good,” Tebow said.
Although there have been widespread reports that talks between the Broncos and Dolphins could yield an Orton trade soon, Klis writes that the trade could be tough to get done because Orton wants to stay put and the Dolphins don’t want to inherit Orton’s contract, which pays him $8.8 million this season.
For his part, Orton sounds like he’s perfectly happy to stay in Denver, and that he’s enjoying the competition with Tebow and Quinn.
“It’s not awkward, to be honest with you,” Orton said. “We’re pros. I’ve been in this thing for seven years now and it’s pretty much the same every year. No awkwardness about it. Go out, compete, and like I said I’m excited to play my best football.”
Asked if he still views himself as the Broncos’ starter, Orton answered, “One hundred percent.”
Stay tuned. The Broncos’ quarterback situation could play out as one of the most interesting storylines of training camp.