Adjust your clocks to Tebow Standard Time

I didn't think John Fox had it in him. Lo, and behold! Tim Tebow cometh.

In maybe his worst half of football since coming to Denver, Kyle Orton went 6 for 13 passing for 34 yards and a pick (his signature move this season) and was benched after halftime in favor of Tebow. 

I thought that Fox's stubbornness confidence in Orton meant that Tebow wouldn't see any playing time unless Orton got hurt at some point this season. That was the only way he got playing time last season. Truth is, Kyle Orton is not the same guy without Josh McDaniels. Fine by me, but not helping Orton's case for that long term deal he thinks he's entitled to when he hits the free agent market this upcoming offseason.

Orton has eight turnovers in just four and a half games. Most of these turnovers have come at the worst possible time (as you can read in previous blogs). With a 6-22 record in his last 28 starts, I was under the impression that Orton would have to sustain some type of injury in order for someone else to get a shot. Why else would a quarterback with that record continue to play?

Stats are for Losers

Kyle Orton did throw for over 300 yards Monday night. See what I mean?

Denver fans have grown accustomed to seeing Orton put up respectable numbers in losses. Now 11-18 as Denver's starting quarterback, I'm not impressed with any numbers Orton puts up.

I must be alone. In the limited analysis of the Broncos Raiders game from Monday, which Denver lost 23-20, commentators are very quick to jump on the fact that Orton did in fact throw for more than 300 yards. It's also well documented that he was on pace to throw for almost 5000 yards last season before slowing down and then sitting the last 3 games. Oh, and he was 3-10.

Passing Judgement: Raiders 23 - Broncos 20

I hate the Raiders. I hate losing to them in Denver (in the orange jerseys) even more!

That's what happened tonight. The Broncos, though improved, still have a long way to go before returning to prominence.

Quarterback Conundrum

Conundrum. Definition: a confusing and difficult problem or question.

In Denver, the Broncos question and problem is who will start at quarterback this season. Will it be Kyle Orton, master of garbage time stats? Or will it be the hyped and determined yet unpredictable and unproven Tim Tebow?

Sure, Kyle Orton threw for over 3,600 yards in 13 games. And yeah, he's thrown 41 touchdowns the last two seasons to only 21 interceptions since coming to Denver. Pretty good on paper.

Good to Be Back

"Football is back," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in his statement announcing the end of the four-and-a-half month NFL lockout.

Hallelujah!

Football is back, in full force too. We've already got undrafted free agents signing with teams. Veteran unrestricted free agents can negotiate with teams but cannot sign until Friday at 6pm at the earliest. In addition, training camps will start opening up tomorrow and will be open for all teams by Sunday.

Now, football is back. We're all undefeated and the excitement of free agency and training camp can carry us fans into what should be an exciting season--especially since it's happening.

Now we won't miss out on the Cinderalla stories, fantasy football, Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil suplexing Phillip Rivers, and Jay Cutler getting his just desserts at Mile High (see: Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil). It's all going to be awesome! Glad to have the NFL back in my life.

"Game on" as Tim Tebow tweeted when the lockout was lifted.

Go Broncos!

Wake Me When It's Over

As the weekend begins, the NFL lockout continues, as it has since March 11th. The only difference this weekend is that 31 of 32 NFL ownership groups approved a new Collective Bargaining Agreement that would last through 2020. The only roadblock now, is player approval.

The same players who say the want to play football. Yes, those are the one's who are dragging the League, and every NFL fan into this hellish limbo.

According to reports made by ESPN and NFL Network staffs, if the players approved of the deal Thursday, as they were believed to do (but did not) NFL teams would open their doors Saturday (see: tomorrow). Teams would have been able to sign their own free agents, draft picks, and college free agents as early as Sunday, with training camp and free agency starting Wednesday.

In a perfect world, the players would have already approved the CBA the owners approved Thursday. Doors would open tomorrow, and the free agent frenzy would start with the college kids early, and everybody else midweek.

Nope.

Now we wait. Before the players can approve the new CBA, the major outlets are reporting that the NFL Players Association must re-certify blah blah blah. Plenty, more knowledgeable people have written ad nauseum about the recertification process so if it piques your fancy, go read up.

I hope that the players aren't just waiting around until it's their idea. The time is now. All they have to do is approve the new CBA, and get back to business before both sides lose huge money.

It's been a long process, and I don't mean for my disillusionment to imply that they've been bickering over nothing or that it's not been a serious deal. Ownership and players both have their interests that they want to preserve in their working relationship together. For the past 2 or 3 weeks the story has been: the sides are getting closer, a new deal is only a few days away.

Right now, a few days is too long. Free agency, training camp, everything else can still start in the coming week. However, the players have to get their act together and pass it--soon. Stay tuned.

First Round NFL Draft Thoughts, Round 2 primer

Last night was the craziest first round of the NFL Draft that I can remember. I'll talk about the Broncos pick of Von Miller, what I hope they'll do tonight, and other surprising / good picks from the first round.

With the second overall pick, the Broncos decided to take Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller, as was rumored they would Wednesday. Reports have said that Miller topped the Broncos draft board as well as a handful of other teams' boards. In addition to Miller, the Broncos will also have 2009 sack champion Elvis Dumervil back which should significantly improve the pass rush and put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Definitely something needed when it seemed like every quarterback the Broncos faced last year had whole minutes to decide where to throw.

I like the pick and I think as long as the Broncos can add a force at defensive tackle tonight, they should be in good shape. Miller will have immediate impact stepping in at strongside linebacker in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's 4-3 scheme. Popular sentiment seems to be that Dumervil and Miller will be the bookend defensive ends on passing situations. The increased pass rush should also mask the deficiencies of the Broncos' aging secondary.

FIRST ROUND SURPRISES

The Atlanta Falcons pulled off a massive jump into the top 10 (No. 6) to select Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. I like the pick and should make the combination of quarterback Matt Ryan, runningback Michael Turner, tight end Tony Gonzalez, and receivers Roddy White and Jones a lethal foe to any opposing defenses. Yeah they gave a lot to get Jones, but they had to. They're a good team without many holes. They can still get a quality defender in the third round tonight.

There was a run on quarterbacks in the top 12 picks. As suspected, the Carolina Panthers took Cam Newton with the first overall pick. Next, surprisingly was the Tennessee Titans selecting Washington QB Jake Locker with the eighth pick above Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded with Washington to select Gabbert with the 10th pick. Florida State QB Christian Ponder was the fourth and final QB taken last night. The Minnesota Vikings couldn't move back in the draft but stayed at 12 and decided to take Ponder. I have no idea how these moves will work for each team, but I do think Gabbert is in the best situation. He can redshirt, get acclimated and take over in a year or two. We'll see how the rest pan out.

After the run on quarterbacks, the Detroit Lions must have jumped for joy to have Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley on the board, whom they selected at 13. The combination of Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh will terrorize the NFC--especially the NFC North--for the better part of a decade. May also accumulate a lot of fines.

DENVER'S DAY TWO

The Broncos have picks 36, 46, and 67 in rounds two and three tonight. I expect they may try to move down from one or both of the second round picks (36 and 46) in order to accumulate additional picks, especially in rounds four and five, where they currently have no picks.

For now, I'll assume that they stay where they're at. I think they should stay at 36 and take defensive tackle Marvin Austin from North Carolina. He didn't play last year due to NCAA sanctions but he'd be a great quality pick at that spot. He would be a huge upgrade to a position that is essentially vacant. Austin would take the pressure off of Dumervil and Miller and allow them to obliterate opposing quarterbacks. Also, he would improve Denver's porous run defense. They have to be able to stop the run, especially when they play the Cheifs and Raiders twice a year.

At 46, there are two options I'm hopeful for. I hope that Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph will fall to the Broncos. Besides some offseason injury concerns, he'd be able to step in and contribute right away. The Broncos need a tight end with last offseason's departure of Tony Scheffler, and this offseason's dismissal of Daniel Graham. Perhaps they could get better value later but Rudolph is the top tight end in the class and would have immediate impact.

Scenario two is that UCLA safety Rahim Moore would fall to Denver. The Broncos aging secondary is in need of some youth and Moore is scouted as the best safety in the draft.

Head Coach John Fox said the Broncos would take the best player available going forward and wouldn't reach based on need. Hopefully they don't do anything too cute but also fill some needs, on defense especially.

Tonight's goal: get at least three prospects who can start. At least two on defense, please.