At a press conference on Thursday, Head Coach Josh McDaniels was asked how many quarterbacks would see action for the Broncos on Sunday against Pittsburgh.
McDaniels cracked a smile as he delivered his answer — one.
“That’s the rule,” McDaniels said. “One at a time.”
Questions about Tim Tebow’s chance of suiting up against the Steelers after sitting out the Detroit game prompted McDaniels to have a little fun with the reporters.
When the laughter left the room, he offered a more transparent evaluation of the rookie quarterback.
“He’s still pretty sore, and there are some things that I don’t think he can really do effectively at this point,” McDaniels said. “We’ve got a few more days here before the game. We’d love for him to be in the game and play, so there could be two or there could be three (quarterbacks).”
Tebow has been practicing since Wednesday, shaking off the soreness suffered from shots Cincinnati defenders laid on him in the team’s preseason opener. How much he’s able to do will dictate his participation against Pittsburgh.
“I feel range of motion has been good, so now the next thing is contact,” Tebow said.
The rookie signal-caller said it was “hard” for him to sit out against the Lions, but he was able to glean a greater knowledge of the offense from a coaches box above the field.
Every play was a chance for him to put himself in the Kyle Orton or Brady Quinn’s shoes, but without the speed of the game at field level.
“It can definitely look a lot easier from up top than it does when you’re under center,” Tebow said. “(I was) just trying to know what the quarterbacks are thinking and walk through the steps in my head of the ‘Mike’ (middle linebacker) calls and what I would do versus this and this. So I tried to play the game in my head.”
For now, he’ll do what he can and wait on permission to play.
“That’s the coaches’ decision,” he said. “Whatever they tell me to do, I’ll be obedient to what they say.”
BRONCOS STEELERS TICKETS AVAILABLE
The Pittsburgh Steelers have returned 350 tickets for Sunday’s 6 p.m. game at INVESCO Field at Mile High, and those tickets are now on sale to the general public.
The tickets are being sold at all Ticketmaster outlets, via Ticketmaster Charge By Phone, through online sales at www.ticketmaster.com and at the INVESCO Field at Mile High box office.
Fans may purchase tickets with a credit card via Ticketmaster Charge By Phone by calling 1-800-745-3000. Fans desiring to use the Internet to purchase tickets may do so at www.ticketmaster.com.
Below are more photos from Thursday’s practice.
-Gabe Hiatt, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Tim Tebow
We have Orton locked up till the end of 2011 and the franchise tag will be available in 2012. Not the ideal situation for McD to be in for sure. But what if, just maybe, Orton takes that next step? What if we win a playoff game, or two, with him at the helm? Not being unrealistic, nor am I deliberately playing Devils Advocate, but I have NO qualms about supporting Orton. Lol!
Get Healthy/Stay Healthy, BRONCOS 2K10!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to just GET INTO the playoffs to tell you the truth… lol
@sndvl: If he does, which I have faith in him doing, take us to the next level hes is more than welcome to stay and compete to remain on top. And when the time comes maybe he has played his way into a # draft pick in trade.
Sorry I ruffled you guys feathers.
I respect Orton and am not trying to put him down. I’m glad he is on our team and agree that he is our best option for starter right now.
It’s not a putdown to say I think Orton will be a success if he can become the Kubiac to Tebows’ Elway, or consummate backup, if you know what I mean.
I know it is a team sport but the truth is that all NFL teams consistantly in the playoffs every year have a great QB leading them there season after season.
If Orton takes us to the playoffs and wins some playoff games, I will buy his jersey and be ready for Tebow to ride pine as long as Orton continues to produce. I just need the Broncos to be in contention every year. Starting, now.
So, with respect to Good Ol’e Orton. He needs to find a way to give us a great shot at the playoffs or move aside and let Tebow try…
We should know around mid season if we have a legitimate shot or not… the experts in Vegas have us at 7 wins.. That ain’t gonna git the pony to the dance…
Anyways, I know I am impatient amd I’m sorry… It’s just that Tebow is like a brand new Orange Camaro or Harley that we just bought and now it’s just sitting there in the garage waiting for a nice day to get it out and drive it… the suspense is unbearable!!!!!!! How fast do you think this baby goes??! how well does it handle in the corners??!! lets take it down to the strip and RACE THIS FRIGGIN THING!!!!!!! LOL…LOL KDDN..
I just nead a reason to wear my new jerseys!!!! haha
ILMSDB!!!!!!!!
Let’s just not forget that it’s a complete team game……..no matter how well Orton or Tebow and the offense does, if our D doesn’t tighten up on 3rd downs, stop the run and allow the other team to continue to score points seemingly at will, we won’t have a chance.
I’m really hoping for an improved effort by our D this weekend against the Steelers. These games don’t get any easier from this point on and if we let the Jags, of all teams, run over us in the opening game, it’s gonna be a long season.
Can’t wait for the regular season to start!!!
GO BRONCOS!
Tebow may be a rock star but he still doesn’t know much according to Klis:
To four of the first five questions Tim Tebow was asked during his postwalkthrough media gathering Thursday, the rookie quarterback began his answer with “I don’t know . . . ” Amazing what those NFL rookie symposiums teach these guys.
Pretty funny.
And for the ones who care about our running game, after playing two practices Bucky was absent once again yesterday… It is my guess that he is now entering the danger zone of being a casualty of the 53 man cut, Stokley has also entered that zone and Thomas is dangerously getting close.
And for those who keep saying why isn’t Quinn any better, I thought he was very familiar with the system because of Notre Dame, Charlie Weiss, McD’s system familiarities etc… Quinn now says it’s all about the language, he doesn’t know it yet, and if I remember it correctly he used to keep saying this off season that yes it was great to be in a system that he was familiar with, guess since his poor outings the language is a good excuse now? Here is what he is saying according to Legwold:
“Learning a new offense is like learning a new language,” Quinn said. “And a game is like your opportunity to go out and try to speak that language in its home country. You’re trying to become fluent and understand everything around you. That’s my goal right now, to improve every day and be as fluent in this playbook as I can be.”
Whatever, good luck kid, we’ll see you Sunday, hopefully you can speak the language better than I speak russian…
Thomas? as in demaryius? I’m gunna have to disagree with you there. we drafted him first for a reason and I don’t think ive ever heard of a first rounder getting cut after his first preseason…or lack there of. if your not talking about him disregard what I just said.
And Legwold concludes his article like this:
And while Charlie Weis — Quinn’s former coach at Notre Dame and McDaniels’ former boss with the Patriots — ran a similar scheme in South Bend with Quinn, the quarterback said the Broncos’ playbook is much different from he expected when he arrived in March.
“When you say difficult, that’s probably a fair assessment of how the offense is,” Quinn said. “That’s my biggest thing right now. In some ways, it’s completely different. I understand the concepts because of the similarities in the coaching background and know what they’re looking for in situations, but I have to take that and apply it on the field.
“(I need to) just be one of those guys people can count on for whatever this team needs. Really, as bad as it looked in the first game, I came out of that looking at some of the decisions, and they were good. The ball just wasn’t where it needed to be. There’s always some bad that can happen on a good decision, and a lot of good things can happen on a bad decision. I just want to make good things happen as often as I can.”
So now he is singing a different tune now about the playbook, it’s much different than what he expected, ha, this guy is in the wrong business, he should be a politician, he has the looks for it. Sorry I don’t like this kid and from what I gather they didn’t like him in Cleveland either and danced in the streets when they shipped him to us, kind of a reversal of the Cutler deal, we laughed at Chicago, Cleveland is laughing at us, plus they got Hillis, I’d really be laughing on this one too. Again sorry, as you guys may know, I just don’t believe in the kid and I like him less and less if that’s possible. His decisions were good but the ball wasn’t where it neede to be, you think? Whatever, politics my friend, politics is your field.
Yeah, I’m talking Demaryius, didn’t say he was in the cut zone yet, but he is getting close, it wouldn’t take many more injury setbacks to get there is my meaning, first round or not if you can’t play you are dead weight, his foot has been a major problem and not getting any better, and it was supposed to be ok by the OTA’s if you recall, wishful thinking there if I ever seen any. Like for Tebow, my expectations for Thomas have been considerably lowered for this season, situational plays here and there at best for both, so if injury lingers it wouldn’t be that great a loss to sideline him, he has been sideline about 95 % of the off season, what could he bring to the table anyway, he was in a college system where he hardly ran any routes, McD taking a damaged goods player with the first pick is the real tragedy in all that, granted he has unlimited potential for the future, but I thought McD’s philosophy is to win now, well not a very efficient or smart way to go at it Mr. Genius, with all due respect
And of course I wasn’t talking getting cut from the team all together, getting cut from the 53 man roster, put on PUP, IR or whatever clever way they can use to retain him but not be burdened by him, thought that was implied, should of clarified.
With McDaniels teaching a QB, give him 2 years and I think Quinn could be a top 10 QB, but Orton in preseason is looking great coming into November and December he’s going to be looking like Matt Cassel did at the end of the year when Brady went down. I love Tebow but right now Orton looks primed for his best year ever.
Thomas is not going anywhere I don’t think. He’s raw but has a ton of physical ability, I think they are just going to let him sit and get better but I don’t see him at all on the bubble.
McD would give any of his top picks at least a year, so would any coach for that matter, he’s done it for Phonzy, so of course he is not about to plain cut Thomas out, man I’m going to have to spell things out better than I have, we have some bloggers taking my every word litteraly this morning.
And about folks assuming Quinn will be a good QB, just like Simms last year Quinn hooked up with us as early as possible, way before the draft, having similar time to absorb the playbook, just like Quinn many people thought that Simms could be a good QB, including I, even some of the media wanted him to start, unlike Quinn Simms played a little better in preseason than Quinn has so far, and what came out of it when Simms got thrown into the fire? DISASTER is what, and now he has been given the boot, I don’t see that there is anything major difference between the two other than Simms had a tougher road of it because of his spleen removed, but they both played on crappy teams in their time in the pros, Simms in Tampa and elsewhere I believe Quinn in Cleveland and Simms actually held his own in Tampa better than Quinn did in Cleveland, so I frankly don’t get it, what in the heck is it that Quinn has shown in the pros that leads you to think he will be a good QB other than you are just a Bronco fan and he is a Bronco, so you are loyal, etc…
Man, forget my russian, my english needs work this morning…
About Quinn, I answered my own question, it’s because of how well Quinn played in his game against us in Cleveland, of course it’s now obvious that’s how most Bronco fans view him, but it was THE EXCEPTION, it was his best game EVER, nothing before or after was even close, well at least there is a reason to this madness, I feel better now, cool, I’m having a discussion all by myself, haha.
Ill join the convo.
Its like a lesson in psychology. If you look the part. And act the part. You must be the part. Even if you cant DO the part.
The writing was on the wall a few Aprils back. Felt bad watching him fall and fall and fall. Got to the point where the commish even sent him backstage to avoid further embarrasment. It finally happened. His name being called that is.
Then the argument was, he was not a fair shake, lack of talent etc. etc.
A change of scenery is all it will take. A shot with the first team, then we can have an accurate assessment. Now its the language barrier.
The excuses are just about running out.
If you cant DO the part. Then you cant BE the part!
Personally, I dont want to see him fail. I am rooting for him to provide the necessary competition. I want to see him progress.
It is what is.
Get Healthy/Stay Healthy, BRONCOS 2K10!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to see Quinn and Tebow play with the starting Offense and see what they can do,it’s an unfair asessment of their talent playing with the 2nd and 3rd team Offense,just saying.
Put Orton in with the 2nd and 3rd string Offense and see if he still looks good.
Not putting Orton down,because everybody knows he’s looking a Helluva lot better,especially his footwork(which was lagging last year) and his pocket prescence looks phenominal !!!!
Just like to see Quinn get a fair shake is all,we know Tebow ain’t going anywhere,fair shake or not,but Quinns status is up in the air,and I still don’t think he’s getting a fair shake,I say start him against the Steelers with the 1st team Offense and see what he’s got,instead of some people wanting to trade him,because the way he’s lookin with the backups,his value is worthless,give the kid a FAIR shake,is all I’m saying !!!
I would comment on the post about keeping Orton to mentor Tebow,who in the Hell is gonna pay 9 million bucks for a tutor,I mean now that Orton is making the big bucks,he’s not gonna sit back and teach,he’s wanting a long term deal with megabucks.Which he deserves,whether it’s with us or another team,his career is taking off like I never thought it would,if he can play this good in the regular season is the next question.Just one man’s opinion that don’t mean a Helluva lot!
BFE
Half the starting offense has been hurt so I would say orton is playing with backups
Quinn’s fair shake got thrown out the window by McD the day he drafted Tebow, life is a beatch. Gotta do with the hands you are dealt in this life, unfortunately for Quinn that’s what he’s been dealt, playing with the back ups behind Orton, that’s not going to get any better unless he moves up the chart to the ones playing with the back ups, tough draw, his best shot is Orton getting hurt and then it will be like watching Simms in Washington all over again…
IDK.
It doesnt matter what kind of talent (or lack thereof) surrounding you thats gonna fix over/under throwing receivers, pocket presence, decision making and all the other “things” it takes to BE a QB.
I can accept the O-line theory. But isnt Walton, Beadles, Hochstein and Batiste our starters anyway. At least for the time being?
there is a rumor on espn.com that Quinn has a shot to be the starter??? Are they stupid or high?? i cant see Quiin replacing Orton unless Orton gets hurt. By that time tebow might be #2.
BFE
I suggested that once before for the simple fact that we already know what we have in orton just to see the rest get a fair shot with the starting offense. It was shut down and was said that Orton earned the right to have the first team (which i also admited in the post that it is earned) but technically Orton is there by default, last year and this year cuz he has the most experience. I dunno about against Steelers because NFL coaches take the third game seriously. But maybe 1 drive against the vikings or something. This is what I would LIKE to see, but its JUST not the way it works
SNDVL
“Look, whatever our record is at the halfway point or three quarter mark, it will be a team record. Not an Orton record. Let me put it this way, if were 2-4 by the 7th home game and I was pushing for Champ or Dawkins to be benched in favor of Phonzy, Cox, Bruton or McBath-so they can be developed for the future- y’all would let me have it. ”
Really? come one, youve been watchign football long enough to know better than that. Tell that to Plummer who was benched for Jay Cutler and the list goes on. Besides the difference between Champ/Dawk from Orton, is that the coach didnt draft safeties or CBs in the first round cuz the ones they had now couldnt cut it. We have the best.
The same reason Orton is called a “winner” is the same reason he will be blamed for the loses. QBs take the praise and the blame because in all honesty, Orton in Bears wasnt a winner. The team was. Great Defense and Special Teams and good ground game.
Just my take. TRB out…
PS: Its good to know im considered the good TRB and not the bad TRB, especially since I tend to clash with people on here frequently LOL
When I said the good TRB, I had my reservations, LOL.
What kind of rumor was that on ESPN, from Brady’s mother?
Hey, guess what Lindsay Jones is saying just about the same things I’ve been preaching this week, yes writers do read these blogs, either that or we all think alike, haha:
In his two years in Denver, McDaniels has only coached one win in the preseason, in the fourth game against Arizona last year. With losses in the first two exhibition games of this year, the McDaniels Broncos are 1-5 when the games don’t count.
Yet, to McDaniels and his players, winning still matters.
“Putting up a win in the preseason, going into the regular season, would do a lot for us,” said receiver Brandon Lloyd. “It’s good for morale purposes. Winning, getting that taste in your mouth going into the regular season.”
(Lloyd is right. The team certainly could use a win for morale. The last time the team won a game was Dec. 6, 2009, at Kansas City. The Broncos lost their final four games of last season.)
2-10 aggregate and counting…
orton is the man for the season. We should win the first two games, the challenge starts with indy!!!
60 MINUTES OF FOOTBALL GO BRONCOS!!!
I know what you mean TRB.
But look where the Plummer benching got everybody. Not to mention, as big a fan of Plummers that I was, dude was changing plays in the huddle. That will tick off a HC like no other. And earn you a trip to the pine faster than 3 missed FG’s in a playoff game.
Its widely accepted that McD reached for Tebow in the 1st round. Questions abound whether or not he can even become a pro QB.
Questions on McD’s drafts period.
I know youre still jilted by the Marshall saga. But keep in mind, this will be Ortons 3rd FULL year of starting.
Get Healthy/Stay Healthy, BRONCOS 2K10!!!!!!!!!!
We rocketed up a MILE HIGH and then skidded back down into Invesco in a flaiming heap in 09….
I think this is the year we start of slow and then improve towards the end of the season….
KEEP THE DRIVE ALIVE BRONCOS!!!!
ILMSDB!
sndvl, with respect, i only remember Orton playing one “uno” season in Denver… Maybe I missed a year?? haha just kiddn
The old adage is still true, now more than ever, one game at a time, the first challenge is in Jacksonville. Please tell me the players don’t feel like the fans about that and set their eyes on Indy, that would be a pity. Like Woody said today the game at Jacksonville is a trap game.
Starting, including the Bears I assume.
baylin, you know what happens when you assume…lol j/k
yes, third year as a full time starter.
rookie season- duty while Grossman was hurt.
sophmore year- backup to rexy
3rd times a charm, only to be traded in his fourth. Now entering year 5, 2nd season with our Broncos and third as a FULL TIME STARTER IN THE NFL.
I’m thinking the team is looking a Pittsburgh right now and thinking they need to WIN OUR HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE BACK!
Preaseason or not, the Broncos and Coach Josh need to get redemption on the Steelers!!
An Eye for an Eye! Tooth for a tooth! Jersey for a jersey!!
We need to show the Squealers that we OWN OUR HOUSE! THE MILE HIGH BRONCOS in the house built by Invesco!!! Yeah baby!!
ILMSDB! KEEP THE DRIVE ALIVE BRONCOS!!!
Well, what do you know, one fan who actually buys that Sunday’s game is not all for nothing, I don’t feel so lonely now.
A win is a win. And we need one in a BAD way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh, I see… third year starter.. dig it.. my bad
“never assume”
YES!!!
Our motto this year shoud be,
WIN BACK THE MILE HIGH MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! at INVESCO
Couldn’t agree more sndvl, on the last cheerledader blog from Margaret I posted the following:
Glad you’re having fun Margaret, keep on cheering, we badly need it.
hey! I did it!!!!!!!!
I found a way to make INVESCO sound positive and in a motto that is fun to say!!!!
Sacco would be proud of me!! I hope?
I LOVE ME SOME DENVER BRONCOS!!!!
Yeah but they are going to pick it apart, because Mile High is the location and Invesco is the name, so Invesco at Mile High is how they do it, agreed it sounds better your way though.
I like to thank who ever said that in so many words,” you cant fully rate or grade Quinn or Tebow because they are playing with the 2nd and third teams. That means the O-line doesn’t have the starters protecting them. Who ever is at Qb doesn’t have the #1 recievers to run routes or catch for them or the Runningbacks to pick up blitzes or run routes for theem either. I dont believe any Qb would look as good or crisp with the back up O-line protecting them, they ( Qb ) wont have the time for the play to develop, time for the recievers to run their routes, or time to check down for their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th options on passing plays. It makes so much sense. Be realistic guys and give our back ups a chance. They wouldn’t be on any N.F.L. team if they weren’t qualified especially at the Qb position. Sometime bad evaluations are made therefore terrible unqualified people make i to the league but they don’t last long ala Ryan Leaf,Lawence Phillips,Tim Couch,etc…. College isa totaly different level than The N.F.L. You cant automatically judge a persons skill level according to what the person did in college. Too many times people won trophies ( Heisman ) and accolades due to their college careers but got into the N.F.L. being drafted very HIGH and turned out to be BUSTS. That is why so much money is paid to people that can PROPERLY evaluate TALENT. No one is perfect or get it rigt everytime but some can evaluate talent much better than others. In some cases I think the person who is being judge don’t work as hard, dont properly prepare themselves for the N.F.L., or dont believe that the N.F.L. is that much more harder then college is but when they get intoe pros, they realize it but it is already too late. Few adjust, many dont. I believe Tebow will be SPECIAL, I dont know about Quinn. IWILLX2……Orton will be even better this year having another year in McDaniels system. This will be the best year of KYLE ORTON’S CAREER…..MARK MY WORDS and know You heard it from me 1st. IWILLX2……..GOOOOO BRONCOS !
Yeah, but I didn’t call it Mile High. I’m saying win the (Mile High Magic) not the stadium. Then, the name of the stadium is INVESCO… So (at INVESCO) would be accurate..
MAN… who knew blog cheerleading can be so legally technical…. haha
10-4, received loud and clear, words marked but didn’t hear it from you first, many bloggers have preceeded you claiming Orton will be better than ever this season, sorry to pop your balloon, haha.
Problem is Invesco has the only word that counts on how it will be used, it took forever to have them agree to call it Invesco Field at Mile High, the good thing about Inveso is no one really knows what the heck it is so it’s kind of neutral, could be a lot worse, like Schlitz stadium, hahaha, figured you’d know what I’m talking about being old enough to have drank a few.
Wow.. How about sell it to Miller Lite and call it Mile High Miller Light field…. And give away FREE BEER and Orton jerseys!!!!!!
totally just kddn….
I hope I don’t get sued??? Oh yeah, I have an anonymous handle…..haha
Mile High Life Miller field.