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Published on 09/20/2011 at Tue Sep 20 12:04.
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Why Tim Tebow is right where he belongs

Posted Tue Sep 20th by

Tim Tebow on the bench (Getty Images)

Quarterback Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos looks on from the bench against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 12, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 23-20. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

What if I told you that Tim Tebow was destined to put up some pretty impressive numbers as starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos over the next two seasons?

What if I told you that, in his next 32 starts, Tim Tebow will throw for over 8,000 yards? In those 32 starts, he’ll boast at least 20 games with a passer rating above 88, and of those, at least nine will eclipse 100.  What if I told you that two different wide receivers will earn Pro Bowl berths under Tim Tebow in the next two years?

Sounds great, right? You’d be pretty happy if your quarterback performed that well, right?

I just described Kyle Orton‘s first two years in Denver.

The embattled Broncos signal caller now has 30 starts under his belt in Denver, two starts away from two full seasons. Injuries have kept him sidelined for thirteen quarters in Denver, so to reach my 32-game projection I’m including the 2009 Washington Redskins game that saw Chris Simms technically start (Orton played all but the first quarter), and I’m projecting that Orton throws for at least 46 yards next week (I have a wild imagination like that).

Kyle Orton is not the problem in Denver. Just about everything else has been.

But that and a losing record haven’t stopped people from chanting for his backup (again). Today, Florida Today columnist John A. Torres (from Florida, naturally) penned yet another “Start Tebow!” piece that has been making the rounds around the Broncos blogosphere. I can recite the all-too familiar arguments out loud before I read them on paper:

“Tim Tebow is a winner. He is a hard worker and the kind of guy everyone wants on their team. He is the big, strong bull of a quarterback who can rally teammates around him and bring an organization back to greatness. He’s the guy you want as your son-in-law.”

(Yes, that’s an actual quote from the article.)

Yet the column, alluring and well-worded as it is, is centered around arguments with glaring inherent flaws, and as always, I can’t believe I’m the only person who sees them.

Torres throws out the personal agendas of John Elway and John Fox as possible motivating factors for Tebow’s benching. Either they’re prejudiced against Tebow’s Christian faith (utterly preposterous), or they’re dead-set on distancing themselves from the mistakes of Josh McDaniels.

Naturally, Torres completely ignores the fact that Kyle Orton is only in Denver by McDaniels’ good graces in the first place, but let’s not mention that.

Then, of course, there’s the main argument to any “Start Tebow” discussion. A point I’ve heard echoed a thousand times by fans and sports radio talk show hosts and bloggers and columnists more prominent than Mr. Torres.

The main, focal-point argument starts like this: “The Broncos aren’t going to the playoffs, and they’re not going to the Super Bowl. Why not play Tebow to see what they have?”

The main, focal-point argument ends like this: “Tim Tebow is a winner who will not let his team fail. The Broncos should see what he can do. And they’ll win.”

(Look in Torres’ column. You’ll find I just paraphrased half of it).

Well, Mr. Crystal Ball, if the Broncos aren’t going to the playoffs, and if the Broncos are not going to the Super Bowl, then why not let anyone play quarterback? I’ll suit up in my Broncos blues right now and sling the ol’ pig skin to Josh Temple for four quarters in front of 70,000 fans. If we’re not going anywhere this season, who cares?

What difference would Tim Tebow being a “winner” make to a team already destined to lose?

And that’s the point. It’s not the conclusion (“Tebow is a winner”) that holds the flaw, it’s the supposition: the Broncos can’t win. Taking it a step further, that the Broncos can’t win with Kyle Orton.

Kyle Orton (Getty Images)

Quarterback Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos throws a 52-yard touchdown pass to Eric Decker as Linebacker Rey Maualuga #58 of the Cincinnati Bengals gives chase during the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

The Broncos have every intention of winning as many games as they can in 2011, rebuilding be damned.

And right now, this week, the Broncos (and I) believe Kyle Orton gives them the best chance to do just that. It’s too early in this season to throw in the towel. They want to win, week in and week out, for the fans, but more importantly, for the players on that team. The veterans in that locker room do not want to work hard and fight through practice and tough it through games and risk injury for a team that’s mailed it in. Champ Bailey did not sign a contract extension in Denver to watch the Broncos admit defeat in Week 1 of this season. Can you imagine John Fox’s explanation?:

“Well boys, I know we said Kyle Orton gives us the best chance to win. But we’re going to go with Tim Tebow. Just because. We want to see what the kid has. For next year.”

John Fox says that, or even implies it, and he has lost every single man in that Denver Broncos locker room.

Kyle Orton is not perfect. Kyle Orton had a string of bad games dating back from last year. Not that he’s the only good quarterback to have a string of bad games, but that merits discussion. If that trend were to continue, and it cost the Broncos games, I’d be inclined to make a move.

But Orton isn’t the problem. The Broncos are not losing because of Kyle Orton.

Quarterback wins are the most overrated, overstated stat in professional football. How else can you explain Orton’s 21-12 winning record in Chicago compared to his 12-19 record in Denver? Orton is performing undoubtedly better with the Broncos than he did then. His stats the last two seasons blow his first four years in the league out of the water. The wins haven’t come. It’s not his fault.

I do not know if he or Tebow is the answer for next year. I think either of them might be. I also think it’s a strong possibility the Broncos add another player into the mix.

But I’m not talking about 2012. I’m talking about now. Week 3. 2011.

Who gives the Broncos the best chance to win games right now? In my opinion, and in the opinion of John Fox, that man is Kyle Orton.

And until Tebow outperforms Orton in practice (what a novel idea), or until Orton collapses down the stretch, Tim Tebow is right where he belongs: on the bench.

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  • Anonymous

    The point is this. It’s not about sucking for Luck, its about we have seen for more than 2 years that Orton is a backup QB or career journeyman. His downfalls are so massive that his few pluses just don’t compete.

    Nobody wants to watch this guy with the ball. Even if you like Orton I promise you, you’re nervous every time he goes back to throw and the last thing you want is the game in his hands in the 4th.

    I don’t know or care if Tebow is the future but we sure as hell aren’t playing for the playoffs this year so we should probably find that out before the draft comes along.

    If Tebow doesn’t show improvement throw Quinn in there. If Quinn sucks put Adam Weber in there. That kid has a lot of upside.

    Odds are we don’t nab Luck anyway but there is this kid at USC named Barkely who gets a lot less publicity and is every bit as good and we do have a real shot at him if Tebow, Quinn or Weber isn’t the guy.

    Otherwise let’s just all gather around pissed off every Monday because Orton “isn’t the only reason we lost” as this team doesn’t win more than 5 games this year at best with him at QB.

    Probably doesn’t win more than 5 with anyone at QB but at least will find out if we have someone for next year or not and maybe we get surprised. At least we’ll have something to cheer for other than Orton not fumbling around and mucking up!

  • Anonymous

    BTW Monty, despite my disagreement, I still think this was a very well written article! Keep up the good work :)

  • Anonymous

    I’m not sure you can ever say a QB put the team on his back when a total of 2 TD’s was scored. I guess we will have to agree to disagree on that one.

  • Anonymous

    hahaha!

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    This is the mystery of the season so far, Ryan is by far one of my favorite players.  Take a chill pill though guys, it’s two games and I’ve seen guys (not specifically here) say we should cut our pro bowl left tackle.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    No no no, it was Greg Jennings via osmosis from Green Bay.  He always puts da team on his back, doh.

  • http://broncotalk.net Monty

    Lol touche.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    I’m willing to kick the season into the garbage after week 7 or 8 if it means moving this stuck franchise forward after 3 years.  That’s more of a shot at McD’s regime and Bowlen’s decisions than Orton, but he gets the brunt because he’s the product on the field.

  • http://broncotalk.net Monty

    That’s definitely different from what I have heard. A quick Google didn’t point me to any articles that align with that. All I had heard is the Broncos were trying to move Orton, but couldn’t get appropriate compensation.

  • http://broncotalk.net Monty

    Thanks, I appreciate all of your points as well even if we disagree. You back things up and that makes this discourse fun.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    First you use hur dur, then you drop a bomb like “pollyannaish”.  I can’t predict you Herc, you’re dangerous.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    Depends on the player when caring about the fans, I would say it’s about 60-70% on guys that just want the paycheck and/or glory, the rest of them actually do give a RIP.  I’ve met enough pro athletes to realize which ones care and the others that pay lip service.  

    (Sidenote: Atwater is the most awesome guy you could ask or root for)

  • anthony33

    Agree.  Monty definitely poked the bear with this one.  Love it.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    I don’t get the feeling Orton is a Denver guy at all.  I don’t necessarily get that with Tebow either, I especially feel he isn’t happy with the regime and his opportunities, but he knows to say the right thing EVERY DAMN TIME.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    How do you feel about riding Orton out and moving up in the draft to take the next QB in this draft, especially if that takes multiple draft picks to do?

  • Bryansniezek

    I agree 100%. 

    If the front office is serious about Orton being the “best chance to win”, ink him up now..Not doing so just means we’ll be watching someone else go through growing pains next season, or longer.   

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    Anthony, I usually agree with your posts for better or worse but Orton has always played company man.  Denver let it be known they were shopping him.

  • anthony33

    I wonder if there is a way to check it out with ESPN or the Denver Post.  100% positive I heard it and on more than one occasion.  Can’t recall if it was Mortensen or Shefty or someone else, but sure I heard it.  I suppose it could have been opinion.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    I don’t agree with most of this article down to the core but I will say this, it’s probably the best written case I’ve seen for Orton and that includes the main stream media, not bloggers.  I’m not just saying this because Kyle is my friend and co-blogger, but this hits a lot of points on the head and kills the argument of many Tebow fanatics.  (Read that as fanatics, not fans)  Especially the line about losing your locker room in week 2.

    I think a lot of this argument boils down to franchise philosophy of the fan and frustration with the front office.  That’s where I’m coming from.  When we traded Cutler our franchise building went down the drain.  I said McD had to draft the next future QB within 2 years after taking Orton.  It just happened that that QB was Tebow, a huge gamble to say the least.  

    I am on the opposite end of this spectrum from this article, and when Kyle said he used my name in it I thought a rage article against it was coming.  Not the case and it made me laugh, but I do believe that Orton has not gotten the job done.  There are games I have no doubt Tebow would’ve won in place of Orton, namely at KC last year, at Arizona, and Monday night against Oakland.  There was a single play where the Raiders gave Orton a 15 yard rushing lane to a 5 yard first down and 10 more yards to the end zone and they knew he wouldn’t take it.  He instead walked right into the blitz.  I can give you 5 more examples from that game.  

    Like I stated above, don’t kill the season now, but come week 7 or 8, if we’re out of contention it’s time to pull the plug on Mr. Holdover and see what Tebow is.  My gut feeling is that he isn’t the franchise QB, but watching him play makes me feel wrong about that a lot of times.  But I just want the franchise to move forward, and I feel that Orton is not a part of that.  Tim might be, but we’ll have to see.  We can’t afford to sit Tebow 2 or 3 more years and have him bust when he finally does play.  That’s 6-7 years of not moving in an upward direction of winning a Super Bowl.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2UAQ54PAXXUH4NAK3EVTI3G73M Ron and Deborah

    Kyle Orton hates fans because fans have been calling for him to be benched ever since he got in the league. Fans will never accept Orton as a starter because he doesn’t have the ability to carry a team on his back. Just like everyone else, when Orton drops back, I get nervous. That’s how you should feel when your 2nd string QB is behind center, not your starter.

  • Hope

    Well will all see next two week how Kyel orton plays againts the Titans and the Packers.After watching the Broncos loose both of those games and they will badly.Then you will see what Ive said the last past two years that Kyel Orton suck realy bad.He is to afraid to get hit.Bring on the Tim tebow.

  • Jeff

    Im not sure about the Cincy game because I couldnt watch it. I did see the Oakland game and I do feel Orton did give them the win. A lot of bad mistakes and reckless handling the football. im not a Hater of Orton but it has happened several times in the past. He can play flawlessly then from nowhere, here comes the turnovers. On the other hand I do feel something happened to our once good OL, Did they go on Strike or what? 

  • anthony33

    Monty – Josh
    Woody Paige references it briefly in this article.

    http://www.denverpost.com/paige/ci_18752495

  • Anonymous

    What if he has gone 11-17 in the past two years?

    What if a majority of his stats came in trash time while we are down by double digits when it really doesn’t matter?

    I know he isn’t the sole reason Denver is a horrible team, but he hasn’t helped the situation. 

    Lets list the not so good things:

    1. Is horribly inaccurate past 15 yds.
    2. Is horrible in the redzone.
    3. Is horrible on 3rd down. 
    4. Falls down at the sight of a pass rush.

  • http://Facebook.com/BroncosZone Jon

    Nice article, Kyle.

    I do hope though that Tebow gets a shot (perhaps next season). Also, if you’re going to play quarterback and throw passes to Josh, I want in on it! I know how to play receiver…

  • Anonymous

    Great points

  • NMBronc

    This season just gets better and better.  Everyone is getting injured but kyle “scream like a little girl and collapse’ orton.  Is it too much to ask that someone knock him into…Miami.

    And then the orton lovers show up with glorious stats….you know….cause Orton is a Pro Bowler. 

    It used to fun to be a Broncos fan, now it is just a curse.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    I will give him credit, he improved his deep ball from season 1 to 2 here in Denver, probably due to McDaniels pushing him.  

    I agree with you the most on garbage time statistics, the Rams game last season is a perfect example.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    I think you’d be much better than I.  Can I coach?

  • King

    That’s not what I said in my post.  Reading comprehension.  Learn it.  ;)

  • King

    Maybe not, but Tebow is an unknown.  Orton is a known. 

    7 years in the league and he has not improved. 

    Thinking people know it’s time to move on.  If Tebow doesn’t work out after being tested in games, then we should move on to someone else. 

    McD’s biggest mistake was trading Cutler for Chokin’ O’.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/6DTWJQ4Z33YYOMWHX432SAUI5M kent s

    Right on brother! The first coherent and well worded article on the subject yet. I have felt this way the day they drafted him and I still believe it. I am not saying Orton is the long term answer but neither is Tebow in my opinion. Funny how Ortons mistakes are always brought up but what about any other players. Brain Dawkins made a few nobody i ripping him yet he is the best player on this team. I also love the now comparisons to Cam Newton! Funny how no Tebow lover ever mentioned Cam Newton in the preseason my now its part of the argument. Cam Newton was a far better quarterback coming out of college and had alot of great passing days at Auburn. He was NFL ready as every draft pro told you he was number one, no doubt! Tebow never has had the pro scouts drooling and was supposed to be a second or even a third round pick at best by a coach who we now know was a fool.  Tebow may get his day here or somewhere else but to suggest that he is better than Kyle Orton, a guy he can’t even beat out in practice, is becoming ludicrous!

  • Davidarthurowen

    Great article. Unfortunately, most broncos “fans” and Denver sports writers don’t know a thing about football and prefer to fabricate controversy to sell papers. I played with Kyle at PU. He posseses the physical skill set that only 5-10 others on this earth posses. He is also the hardest working player on the team and watches more film than anyone else. He’s very intelligent too and can read defenses. Sure, stuff happens in football. Bad bounces, the ball gets soaked and becomes slippery, etc. But the guys playing with 11 injured starters on a team handcuffed by wasted picks on Tebow and Moreno to name a few. If he had a decent team around him ala Detroit or NE, he’d be the best in the league.

  • http://Facebook.com/BroncosZone Jon

    These boxes get so small…

  • http://Facebook.com/BroncosZone Jon

    Well Kyle would need somebody calling plays from the sideline, maybe offensive coordinator?

  • Anonymous

    To be clear, I am not saying Tebow is the long term answer. In fact I have serious doubts if he is.  I just don’t like Orton when it matters.

    As others of stated, like Mark Schlreth, our 2012 QB is not yer on the roster.

  • Nisse

    i have a orton crush actuelly, love his neckbeard.

  • Nisse

    every damn time? dont forgett about the offseason interview where he said he was entitled the starting jobb. and felt as it was taken from him.

  • Anonymous

    Hey man, no problem.  If we’re 2-5 or something like that going into Oakland, screw it.  Throw the kid in there.  You’re f’d anyway at that point.  

    I think, without too much hyperbole, that McD is maybe the worst coach in NFL history.   

  • Anonymous

    wow

  • Anonymous

    and foolish

  • Anonymous

    Fair enough.  I find his honesty refreshing.  

    I also loved it when Plummer flipped off those jackasses braying for Cutler.  Because he did it with class.  

  • Iamang1515

    It’s funny every time I hear how good tebow is cause he is a winner I bring up the same thing everytime…does anyone remember the sec champsionship game against alambama?? I do cause I remember him choking in the fourth quarter!!! The worlds winningest great human & qb to ever walk earth choked!!! & people bring up cutler a mobile qb mind you who has been sacked 11 times this year!!! 11 in 2 games…i also remember with this great qb in tebow getting sacked quit a bit in the preseason not mention the dumbest play I have seen in years where he ran past the line a scrimmage & then runs back!!! Your a professional football player you don’t realize if u ran 5 yards past the line of scrimmage that you can’t come back like it’s ok!!! I am sick of tebow wo road chris leak back his first year & played in an sec the 2008 year that was god awful & beat a shitty Oklahoma team & now he is the greastest ever…UNTIL HE CAN BEAT OUT BRADY QUINN…NOBODY SHOULD EVER BRING UP HIS NAME!!! if you want him to play send him to SF and he would still sit behind alex smith…hell he would sit behind Andre Ware another former heisman trophy winning qb

  • Bleuallen2

    I do like Kyle and Tim. The problem with your argument is that no matter what team your on at some point the protection will break down. The quarter back still has to be able to move around at some point. That is why some people like Tim. If you give Kyle protection, and a good running game, and some defense then you will win. At some point those things break down and that is when you need a guy that can go in there and make things happen and inspire his team to fight and win.(John Elway, Payton Manning, etc.) Kyle definatly didnt do that last year when the chips were down. People believe that Tim has that abillity based on all of the championships and wins in his career in highschool, college,  what they saw at the end of last season, and this preseason.

  • Bleuallen2

    I think that both of these quarter backs are good. Kyle can put up huge Passing numbers and Tim can do a lot of good things. The fishy thing to me about this whole thing is why, if it was a competition from the beginning, did Kyle take all of the first team reps? Why didn’t he play against the first team in the scrimmage? Why was there not even a real chance for Tim to play with the other starters in pre season games for the audeince to actually see him compete. None of the practices were televised. So most of us who watched last year don’t undersand how he all of a sudden got so “shaky” or whatever. In the preseason games he looked good both passing and running. Like I said I think they are both good and can and will start in the NFL. Im Just asking some questions that I don’t see many people asking. 

  • http://broncotalk.net Monty

    My advice is to not trust Woody Paige when it comes to matters regarding Kyle Orton. Just don’t. Any given sentence, the guy’s either spinning or downright lying.

  • http://thingsatrexdoes.tumblr.com Mike Birtwistle

    I feel like we have the makings of a BT team coming on here.  I don’t mind spending the off season eating and playing defensive tackle

  • http://thingsatrexdoes.tumblr.com Mike Birtwistle

    Of course what’s skipped over in this debate, but monty mentions, is what “Its All Over Fat Man” calls Elways dirty little secret – we’re taking a QB with the first pick in next years draft.  And we may even mortgage Mile High to get Luck.

    Somone with the first pick – Jacksonville? – want to take the Broncos 1st, 2nd in 2013 and Tebow for Luck?

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    I think Orton’s best was the home game last year against KC.  That showed what the McD offense could truly be if run properly.  

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    I just honestly wonder if that team at the top spot is willing to give up Luck for a load of picks?  I think they will use the Peyton Manning history as reasoning not to.  Who knows, the kid could still bust, there were plenty of experts that said Leaf was better because he had a lot of the same attributes they’re touting with Luck.  The only way I see someone trading down is if they end up at that top spot due to a fluky injury to their QB or it’s Carolina.

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