Best of the West – Broncos Round Table: 2

Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow look on from the bench during a 59-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

BroncoTalk is bringing you The Best of the West all week. We’re taking Broncos bloggers from all over the blogosphere and getting their opinions as Denver’s season reaches critical mass.

Here’s yesterday’s scenario and replies.

Today we talk what every Denver fan has talked about at one point this season– Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, here is the question they were presented with:

• Kyle Orton, you have to make a decision. Is it time for Tim Tebow or is this season still salvageable under Orton?

First up on the M.I.C. is BT’s own J. Kenneth K. A notable thespian, incredible t-shirt designer and quite the catch.

Is this a trick question? The answer is neither. I would love to see Tebow get some meaningful snaps this season, but do realize the move isn’t necessary. is the season still salvageable under Orton? No. For the fans out there “holding on to hope”, it’s time to let go folks. is keeping Orton at QB1 to take the mental/physical beatings the right move? Probably, but it’s way more fun saying, “Tebooowww Tiiiimmme”, like DJ Pauly D of the Jersey Shore says, “T-shirt tiiiiiiime”.

Not to be out done is Bryan Douglass of Broncos Stable and Fanball.com. He’s also the one that coined the term, “When you chase it it’s a sin, but when it falls in your lap it’s a blessing.”

MY OPINION: It is not necessarily “Tebow Time”, at least not as it would be defined by Joe BroncoFan or Woody Paige. It’s Tebow Time in the sense that you start formulating situations that allow you to evaluate his progress moving towards the more-popular definition of Tebow Time. I’ve seen enough of him on the goal line to understand the value. I’ve seen him in the short-yardage situation meant to throw the defense back a bit. I’ve seen that and I fail to understand what you learn by a continued focus on that approach. Get him out there for some throws. Put him in on first down. Let’s see what he has and don’t be afraid to do it in spurts if needed… it’s baby steps. That’s been the approach thus far and I have no problems with it.

(And don’t give me the “You’ll lose Orton and his interest” rebuttal please. The message of a one-year extension should have been loud and clear, and if it wasn’t, turn Neckbeard towards the last week of blogs and columns. That should clear things up.)

THE TRUTH: I’d like to simply type “Read Above” right here and call it good… I honestly believe Josh McDaniels will continue to push that same approach, I believe he and the management members of the team are dedicated to that approach, and while it may not seem like it based on the headlines of this week, I believe there is an organizational focus in place and that all members of that crew are on the same page.

Now we have my split personality and cohort over at The Orange Page Waylon Williams, quite possibly the only Broncos blogger with a journalism degree that isn’t currently employed by the Denver Broncos or The Denver Post. Also, a disclaimer, here in lies a Jake Plummer mention (but it wouldn’t be a Waylon post without it).

If I’m running this team, I have one plan and one plan only for the quarterback position in 2010. It’s called ‘Flip This Quarterback’.

I know that most folks are clamoring to get the Tebow era started now, so that Timmy will be a seasoned vet by next September. However, I think that’s a short-sighted strategy and completely ignores what will likely be our best bargaining chip on the trade market this off-season. With all of this team’s needs on the defensive line, secondary and backfield, do you really want to piss away Orton’s chances at a monster statistical season?

Look at how Denver handled things in 2006 with Jake Plummer. Despite his reputation for mistakes, Jake was a proven winner as a starting quarterback and he would have had tremendous value as a trading chip had the Broncos allowed him to play through the season as starter. At the time that Jake was pulled, the Broncs were very much in the playoff hunt and a starting quarterback with multiple playoff experience would have been a big chip in the off-season.

Instead, Denver sent a very clear message to the league that they were finished with The Snake. Not only did this hurt the team’s potential bargaining power, it also created doubts about Plummer’s value.

Despite these obstacles, Denver still could have flipped Plummer for a fourth rounder… If they hadn’t destroyed his will to play organized football by jerking him around as repayment for an AFC Championship appearance.

What did the Broncos gain with all that extra preparation for Jay Cutler? 7-9 in 2007. Whoopdeefreaking doo!

See, that’s the thing with young quarterbacks… It doesn’t matter if they have five extra garbage games or not. The great ones are going to find it when they step on that field. Cutler isn’t a great quarterback, and those extra games weren’t going to change a thing.

If Tebow is going to be great, the Broncos would be better off letting him master the offense from the sideline for a season. If he’s a gamer, he’ll overcome the inexperience. So much the better if we’re able to flip Orton for an extra weapon to help him out.

And finally I, Ian Henson, take my shot at this question. If you want some extra dirt on me (as I’ve aired out every other writer that’s contributed here). I am a Pisces. Which means that I am psychic. There, do with it what you must.

I woke up this morning with the NFL Network already playing; the show, “Top Ten Quarterbacks of the ’80’s” (spoiler alert!) John Elway #4. Watching the highlights they put together was inspiring, but introspective. Introspective in that we’ve been covering a player here as Broncos bloggers for under a year that is reminiscent of Elway.

Yes, I said it, no I am not going where you think I am with it.

McDaniels is a man, a small man, but a man– a man who will raise a boy; a boy who will fulfill McDaniels’ own dreams of being an NFL quarterback. That man is not Orton, that man is Tim Tebow.

That being said, no, for Denver to survive at all this season Orton must remain in place. To me there’s no such thing as playing out the season for the draft. Statistically, touchdown percentage wise there is only an increase in Kyle’s last few games. Yes, he’s choked during crisis time several times this season, but there are only a few quarterbacks in the NFL that I’d rather have starting for the Broncos at this point.

Now I know that’s not going to be a popular statement, but you saw Orton’s behavior this off-season, he’s got character, he signed his tender and showed up to practice. He embraced his leadership role and whether he’s playing for the Broncos or someone else he’s only here to do one thing and that’s play football. That’s a lot more than can be said for a lot of the players that were employed by the franchise under Mike Shanahan‘s watch.

I still haven’t given up on the passing record and I seriously doubt that Orton even cares, that’s why he’ll be good. That’s why you will see a resurgence in Denver following this bye week and that is why I predicted in the preseason that Orton would be in the Pro Bowl at the end of the year.

That’s it for Sunday, we should have a new round table for you every day through the week as the Broncos prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs. We also encourage your participation, what would you do if given the keys to the team?