Tim Tebow has fallen down the depth chart, been criticized to the point of analysts suggesting he should be cut, and been called the fourth-best quarterback on the Denver Broncos roster by some higher-up within the Broncos organization.

Enter ESPN’s Adam Schefter with some well-reasoned panic-quelling. In a radio interview with 850KOA AM Wednesday, Schefter made several great points but made one thing especially clear — Tim Tebow isn’t going anywhere.

“Let’s be very clear about this,” Schefter said. “The Denver Broncos are keeping Tim Tebow. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• Defensive tackle Ty Warren underwent surgery Wednesday and is expected to miss 3-4 months. The Broncos are not placing him on IR yet, however, and are hopeful he will return by the end of this season. [Denver Post]
• Nancy Gay breaks down and comes off impressed by the new Broncos front office. “This, folks, is what is called a professional football operation.” [Fox Sports]
• Tim Tebow may be dipping below Adam Weber in at least one team source’s mind, but the latter insists there is no enmity among the four QBs. [Max Denver]
• Champ Bailey said he is “tired of losing.” So he’s “willing to try anything.” Even nickel back. [Denver Post]
• Von Miller tells fans he doesn’t get out much. He’s too busy training at the facility. [CBS4 Denver]
• Spencer Larsen is getting a lot more work in John Fox‘s fullback-friendlier offense. [Denver Post]
• Gassers, a staple of the Josh McDaniels era, make their grand return to Broncos practice. [Denver Post]
• The Chargers will induct Junior Seau into their Hall of Fame Nov. 27 — the day they host the Denver Broncos. [San Diego Union Tribune]
• McDaniels is enjoying being able to solely focus on the offense and quarterbacks in St. Louis. [Yahoo! Sports]

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee (23) celebrates with Denver Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Clady (78) after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in the second quarter of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Some people are getting really excited about the 2011 Denver Broncos. Really excited.

OK, I am too. The first team offense and defense looked dominant against both opponents so far, and the players seem to be uniting behind John Fox and Kyle Orton.

So I decided that maybe I could take a figurative cold shower if I looked at the Broncos’ statistical standings through two weeks of the preseason. Maybe I could find something to settle down my excitement. “I mean,” I thought, “we were just 4-12 a season ago. We can’t be that good, can we?”

Take these stats with a grain of salt (it’s preseason, with a mixed bag of first through third string players contributing), but, while they’re not looking like world-beaters, the Broncos don’t seem to be in the NFL’s statistical cellar anymore (and are the most impressive-looking team within the division).

Overall offense: 361.0 ypg (6th) (1st in AFC West)
Pass offense: 251.0 ypg (6th) (1st)
Pass defense: 110.0 ypg (17th) (1st)

Overall defense: 329.5 ypg (18th) (2nd in AFC West)
Pass defense: 215.0 ypg (20th) (2nd)
Rush defense: 114.5 (18th) (1st)

Again, it’s preseason. We might as well be talking about practice, Allen Iverson. But it leaves me optimistic.

Updating a story from yesterday, tight end Richard Quinn cleared waivers unclaimed and has been placed on the Broncos‘ injured reserve list, the team announced on Twitter.

Quinn’s season is over; his career as a Bronco is in danger, but he still has next offseason to turn some heads.

We’re thrilled and grateful to report that the traffic at BT is through the roof, and with it has come an upswing in comments.

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• Is Tim Tebow the fourth-best quarterback on the Broncos roster? [Yahoo! Sports]
• Just settling him into the third-string slot is a divisive gesture. [Denver Post]
• The Raiders drafted QB Terrelle Pryor in yesterday’s supplemental draft. “I would like the opportunity to play quarterback,” Pryor said, “but I’ll do anything that the team needs me to do to win.” Something Tebow might be saying within the year? [Yahoo! Sports]
• The Broncos’ ability to stop the run is still under question. [Denver Post]
• Ted Bartlett sees more potential in these 2011 Broncos than he’s seen in any other Broncos squad since 2005. [It’s All Over Fat Man]
• Dissecting the Broncos’ tight end unit. [Predominantly Orange]
• Clearly Pro Football Weekly didn’t actually watch a lot of preseason football (or even look at a box score). [Yahoo! Sports]

Denver Broncos tight end Richard Quinn (81) during training camp at the Denver Broncos football training facility in Englewood, Colo., on Monday, Aug. 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

The Denver Broncos aren’t betting on tight end Richard Quinn recovering from his knee injury this year. The 2009 2nd round draft pick has been waived, the team announced Monday.

If Quinn clears waivers, he will be placed on the Broncos’ injured reserve, ending his season.

The Denver Post details the lack of success the other players drafted in Josh McDaniels‘ 2nd round have experienced thus far —

Quinn was one of the Broncos’ three second-round picks in the 2009 draft. The first, cornerback Alphonso Smith, was traded to Detroit for tight end Dan Gronkowski (a 7th-rounder in the same draft) last years (sic). The other pick, safety Darcel McBath, is on the roster bubble this year for the Broncos, having fallen off the two-deep depth chart at safety.

More than likely, Quinn will clear waivers (who wants to inherit that contract? Josh McDaniels?) and have another shot at a roster spot next year, but the Broncos have moved on from hoping he will be a contributor in the orange and blue this season.

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow tosses the ball during training camp in Englewood, Colo., on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011.(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

“He’s not going to be your starter, he’s never going to be your starter, and the longer he stays on the team, the more drama he is going to create.”

Those are the words of ESPN analyst and noted Tim Tebow critic Merril Hoge this morning, referring to the NFL’s most famous backup quarterback in a debate that aired on SportsCenter this morning. Now that Tebow has seemingly become untradeable, Hoge argues that the Broncos should cut ties altogether. On air, another NFL analyst agreed with him.

Following Tebow’s demotion on the depth chart to Brady Quinn (for at least one game), it is true that Tebow’s stock in Denver is at an all-time low. “The consensus in speaking with a handful of team personnel executives when it comes to one Tim Tebow is this: A trade could happen, but it’s becoming increasingly likely the Broncos will keep or cut Tebow because the trade interest is dwindling rapidly,” CBS Sports’ Mike Freeman writes (link above).

“The executives portray the Tebow situation as a complicated one.” Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Officially, the starting quarterback controversy in Denver is over. Kyle Orton has locked up the starting gig.

Head Coach John Fox announced this morning that Orton will be the starting quarterback for the regular season opener on Monday Night Football against Oakland.

The battle for the No. 2 spot between Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn, however, is ongoing.

If actions speak louder than words, this announcement was more powerfully punctuated the second the Broncos moved Quinn and Tebow around the depth chart last week. No big news here, just the Broncos trying to unify players and fans behind #8.

Denver Broncos safety Rahim Moore (R) throws Buffalo Bills wide receiver Donald Jones to the ground after an incomplete pass to Jones during their pre-season NFL football game in Denver August 20, 2011. Moore was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

• The Hit (video). Shades of Steve Atwater. [NFL.com]
• Rahim Moore “didn’t launch himself at his opponent and led with his shoulder as taught.” [NFL.com]
• Moore insists the hit was clean and didn’t intend to hurt anybody. [DenverBroncos.com]
• Buffalo Bills players felt differently. [Shutdown Corner]
• Illegal or not, Moore was penalized and can still probably expect a fine from the NFL soon. [Max Denver]
• Moore’s intense hit was just one defensive highlight in a night of many. The pass rush overall was nasty Saturday night. [Denver Post]
• More on the defense setting the tone. [DenverBroncos.com]
• David Bruton was released from the hospital and resting at home. [Denver Post]
• Doc Bear breaks down the game and the logic behind Champ Bailey lining up in the slot. [It’s All Over Fat Man]