Since this is defensive back week here on the Denver Broncos web site, with the site taking a hard look at the cornerbacks and safeties eligible for the 2011 National Football League draft, I thought I would look back on the best defensive backs ever drafted by the franchise.
In my opinion, with some miscellaneous personal memories thrown in, the six best players ever drafted by Denver as defensive backs are these:
Billy Thompson, drafted in the third round in 1969. A member of the Broncos’ Ring of Fame, BT started out at cornerback before setting into his safety position. To this day, he remains the only player ever to lead the league—he led the American Football League—in punt and kickoff returns in the same season (1969). “Bronco Billy” had 61 career turnovers and is the NFL’s all-time leader in opponent fumbles returned for touchdowns, with four.
He was my wife’s favorite player for years well beyond his retirement. A team captain, he always played and led like one. Billy was a vital member of the first Super Bowl team in 1977.
Louis Wright was the Broncos’ number one draft choice in 1975 and he too is in the team’s Ring of Fame. A great cornerback who truly deserves induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, according to some voters whom I shall not name, he routinely took away an entire half of the field from the other team’s passing attack. A great cover corner, he was also a fearless hitter and a tremendous special teams player.
I remember that during the 1977 run to the Super Bowl the Broncos had just about secured a win in Kansas City, with just one more punt to the Chiefs. Unfortunately for Denver, the Chiefs’ punt return man jumped out the pack and was heading for the game-winning touchdown. But fortunately for Denver, the player chasing him was Louis Wright, a great track star at San Jose State. Wright caught him just before he scored and the Broncos had a goal line stand to preserve the win. But no Wright, no win in KC.
It was so common after a big play by the defense at Mile High Stadium that it seemed the crowd was booing. They were not booing, they were shouting, “Loooooie.” He still looks like he did then. An astonishing physique that makes it look like he can still play.
Drafted the same year as Louis Wright was Steve Foley, in the eighth round, the first pick on the draft’s second day, in 1975. He was the 199th player selected, and the Wright/Foley combo is the best Denver has ever done in one draft at the defensive backfield. Steve is the Broncos’ all-time interception leader with 44 and was named to the team’s 50-year all-star team.
I can remember talking to a member of the Broncos organization (I was a radio announcer in 1975) the morning of the second day of that year’s draft. I asked if the team was looking for anyone in the eighth round, and was told that “there is a quarterback at Tulane whom we think might be able to play a little safety.” Foley had been a college quarterback and had never played safety in his life. But he played more than “a little” for the Broncos. Plus, one of my all-time favorite guys. A complete stand up guy.
In 1981 Dan Reeves made his first number one draft choice a great safety from USC, Dennis Smith. Dennis Smith also would go on to be a Ring of Famer for the team and a key cornerstone to the defense that helped the Broncos go to three Super Bowls in the 1980’s.
Denver was the only AFC team to go to three Super Bowls that decade, and Smith was renowned for his great hits in the secondary. Boy, did he hit for keeps, and Dennis paid a price for it.
He played the game with a raw fury, like he was settling a personal grudge with someone who had trespassed on his space. I remember once that his lovely wife Andre’ told me that on Monday mornings after a game, when Dennis got out of the bed, the sheets did too. They were stuck to him in the spots where he had bled on them overnight. Some wives help their husbands get out of bed. Andre’ Smith helped to peel her husband out of bed. Then he came to work, and she washed the sheets. And then he went out and hit the same way the next week.
In 1987 the second to the last pick taken in the entire draft, selection number 334 (334!) was a skinny defensive back out of North Dakota State named Tyrone Braxton. Too short, too slow, too light, but all he ever did was make plays—big plays—for championship teams. Tyrone’s North Dakota State team won three national championships while he was playing there, and he was a key starter on the Denver defense for AFC championship teams here in 1987 and 1989, and for the back to back world championship teams in 1997 and 1998.
So his career brought him seven rings in college and pro football, a total that not very many players, if any, can claim. He was a polular player who deserved his popularity, always great with the fans and another stand up guy with the media. “Chicken” might have looked small, but appearances were never more deceiving. Tyrone Braxton was all player.
And the most recent of the great defensive backfield draftees by Denver was Steve Atwater, the smiling assassin. He was the number one draft choice out of Arkansas in 1989 and was a cornerstone at safety for the Broncos, ultimately ending his career in the Ring of Fame as well.
The great victory by the Broncos over Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII was immortalized by Pat Bowlen’s postgame comment that “This one’s for John,” and the Most Valuable Player deservedly was running back Terrell Davis, who scored three touchdowns leading the Super Bowl win in his hometown of San Diego.
But Atwater was a devastating force all day long, both in the secondary and rushing passer for a Denver defense that bent some but would not break. Atwater might have had the best performance ever by a safety in a Super Bowl game to that point, and it was a key to Denver’s win.
So that group of six includes four Ring of Fame members, and Foley and Braxton.
We’ll see if anyone comes out of this year’s draft to challenge for membership in that club.
You never know.
Tags: Billy Thompson, Dennis Smith, Louis Wright, Steve Atwater, Steve Foley, Tyrone Braxton
Oh yeah, I forgot about Tebow. Getting Tebow was a pretty smart move. Only I’m not sure they had to get rid of as much as they did to get him. So in a way I guess it could be viewed as a dumb move too. But I’m glad they made that move, so I can’t complain.
I definitely was excited about Cutler at first too. But I still don’t think it made sense to try to replace Plummer at that time. He was playing at an MVP level and had us in the playoffs 3 years in a row. He was the last player that needed to be replaced. It was just bad timing if you ask me.
Agreed milehigh
Well actually, I think Al Wilson and Rod Smith were the last players that needed to be replaced aside from Plummer. But Wilson and Smith both suffered career ending injuries the next year. So we basically lost our two vocal leaders and our starting QB all at once. 2006 was a rough season. Kind of the beginning of the end in a way, even though it seemed promising the last few games with Cutler’s impressive play for a rookie.
I don’t like the Tebow move man. Just being totally honest and actually going out on a limb here a little to say so. I like the guy, and I think he’ll be the best backup ever with his leadership skills and stuff, but I just don’t see it. He did show alot of heart and toughness in his starts this past year, but I’d prefer Orton at this point.
Orton for now, not as the future guy who’s gonna win it all for us. That’s what I meant.
Fair enough rocksi. I can see what you mean. I for one am not totally sold on Tebow’s actual skill set. But it’s the leadership and heart you mentioned that I like. I’ll admit before we drafted Tebow I couldn’t stand all the Tebow hype. But after watching him play those last three games I’m convinced he’s the type of guy that other players will follow.
But like I said I understand what you mean, I don’t have a ton of faith in his play just yet. It’s more of the way he makes players around him better that has me interested. Now, if he can actually improve his game and stand strong in the pocket, then I will think it’s a brilliant move. But for now I just think it’s just a good move that could become a great move in the right circumstances.
And actually I do like Orton too. I just don’t see him as much of a winner. And he’s way too easy to sack, that’s what drives me crazy the most about him. Personally I see Orton as an excellent backup but only a decent starter.
Agreed man. He does have a way of inspiring people that’s for sure. Like I said, I hope he proves me wrong cuz he’s a tough one.
I think Orton has to have a great running game to really be effective. The way we played offense the last couple years just doesn’t suit him if you ask me. He’s the kind of QB that can win a lot of games if he only has to throw 20-25 times a game. But throwing it around 40 times a game like McD had him doing just exposes all of his weaknesses.
I just remember how on point Orton was the first half of the season. He’s accurate, not afraid to stay in the pocket and all that, but he does get sacked alot. Then he gets that look on his face like he just got caught passing gas, and things unravel. And he’ll never be accused of having a cannon arm. But hey, both of them have their good and bad, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see what Tebow can do since we know what Ortons ceiling is now. But even that seems tricky cuz u dont wanna ruin his confidence putting him out there with it all on his shoulders when we all know we’re in for a few rough seasons.
I like Tebow. Other than the common rookie mistakes he didn’t make to many but he did look awkward throwing he ball. But it always got there and that’s all I am worried about.
Yeah, I think you guys both make great points about our QBs. I really do like both of them. I like Tebow for his heart, passion, and toughness. I like Orton for his accuracy, intelligence, and mechanics. So I can’t really decide between the two. Right now I say Tebow just because I don’t think we have anything to lose. But if it Fox chooses to start Orton, I won’t be that upset. We just have to have a running game for either one of these guys to actually shine.
So the way I see it, they are both good players but they both have plenty of flaws. I guess whichever one of them can improve those flaws the most will get my vote in the long run. I’ve been pulling for Tebow all along, but I won’t deny he has a lot of work to do.
my biased opinion, I would take Tebow over Orton any day! Orton has shown me all he can, when the going gets tough Orton quits going…Tebow will give you 100% every second he is on the field…and I respect your thoughts rockski, but I personally have seen very few players who can lead as well as Tebow and I think with time he will shock the football world..I just don’t see why Orton deserves the starting spot! And I don’t see how you don’t think Tebow has what it takes!
And by the way, the way you described Orton’s facial expressions when things go wrong is hilarious! Like he just got caught passing gas… Haha. I knew exactly what you meant when I read that!
I am sorry but I cannot agreeon the orton thing with you. I will never forget him stepping up in the pocket and Walton got pushed back close to him and he just fell down not even being touched.
I’m with you Yovi, I think Tebow does have what it takes. He just has to show me he can improve on the little things it takes to be a successful NFL QB. I know he has the work ethic to get it done, I just have to see it before my eyes before I totally bow down to him. That’s just me though.
But like I’ve said several times, he’s still my choice over Orton regardless of what happens. I’ve kind of flip flopped on this issue because I was all about Tebow once the season ended. But as time has gone on I’ve decided he really does have a lot of work to do before he can take this team anywhere. I know he can do it, I just have to see it first.
I’m definitely with all the Tebow lovers, LOL. I can just understand rockski’s position because Orton is the more refined passer right now. But if I was in charge, it would be Tebow no question, simply for his ability to make something out of nothing. I feel like a politician right now trying to please every side, haha.
It’s kinda hard for me to explain, cuz I’m not a scout or anything, but I’ll try. It has to do with the way he throws the ball and how quick he breaks the pocket. Now, he was a rookie so some slack is due, but to me a qb should be able to “feel” the pocket pressure, reacting off of blocking schemes and pre-snap reads to kinda float around in there all the while keeping their eyes downfield on their progressions. I just don’t have the confidence he can stay in the pocket long enough to fully develop those things. Plus, he wasn’t asked to be an NFL style qb in college. But like I said before, I hope he proves me wrong cause he’s a heck of a man, a true leader and all that. And I respect all ur guys opinions as well, we’re all in this together.
Ya Mikey, I remember that one too unfortunately. I’m not saying Orton is gonna lead us to the promised land, but he is a vet, and we’re gonna struggle for a few years. That could ruin a guy like Tebow with so much to learn IMO.
See for me personally, I think that’s exactly why Tebow should be the guy. If we’re going to have a couple of shaky seasons ahead of us, why not try out the young guy with more potential just to see what he can do? I understand it could ruin a young player, but if it ruins him then we’ll probably know he’s the guy. That’s why I’ve always liked starting QBs early. The ones who are destroyed by having all the pressure on them probably shouldn’t be franchise QBs in the first place. I don’t know, just the way I see it.
Sorry, I meant if it ruins him we’ll not he’s NOT the guy.
Ah! I still didn’t say it right! If it ruins him we’ll know he’s not the guy. There, haha.
I think we should start him because he seemed to handle the pressure real well last season and he got the team to play better as a whole kinda like an offensive ray Lewis.
LOL. Good point and I understand what ur saying. Are we running a new offense this year? That’s something I haven’t thought about actually. If it’s a brand new one, that could be all the more difficult too. But looking back at what Tebow did in those 3 starts, he did do good. And there’s definately something to be said for his toughness. I just remember people like Alex Smith who lit it up in college only to seem stonewalled in the NFL. But I think we can say he’s gonna be better than him right?
So would you guys want them to trade Orton away if they could get say a 3rd or 4th rounder for him?
TEBOW, TEBOW, TEBOW!!!! That Houston game is all I need to state about Tebow. The Arizona game is all I need to say about Orton…I thank him for doing what he has done, but I can almost promise you he will not lead us to more than an 8-8 record!….Tebow single handedly won us the Houston game and did a great job keeping us in the San Diego game….Tebow is the answer! with Fox’s running system he should be unstoppable!
TT= O in 11′
PP= D in 11′
Well, good talking to u guys, I’ll check this again tomorrow but take care. And remember, if Orton or Tebow arent the answer, we’ve always got F’N Brady Quinn! (thx Josh, another genious trade).
If we could get a 2nd for Orton, that would be amazing! A 3rd or a 4th wouldn’t be as good, but it would be better than just letting him walk as a FA after the season is over.
My choice would be to trade Orton for whatever we can get, then sign a veteran like Jake Delhomme, Sage Rosenfels, or Kerry Collins to backup and mentor Tebow. Then after another year or two if Tebow doesn’t improve, we can find a different franchise QB. Hopefully by then we will have built the D and the running game to a point that either Tebow or another young QB can step in and be effective and win games. That’s my dream scenario. But like I said before, I won’t be upset if Orton is still on the roster this year. It’s just not my top choice.
If we could trade him a third would be great!…I would prefer a second, but I just don’t see that happening with all the QB’s on the market.
Eww, no Brady Quinn! LOL.
Take it easy rockski.
Yeah Yovi, a couple years ago we could probably even get a 1st for someone of Orton’s caliber. But times have changed in the NFL, so a 3rd would actually be pretty good value now. I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for a 2nd though…
My plans for Orton would be if there is no CBA by the draft to trade him for the best defensive player we can get. Oh and I looked up Jake Plummer and it all came back to why we got rid of him. 4 turnovers by himself in the conference championship in 2005 to the Steelers along with a bad start in 2006.
Dont really know why its a debate. Tebow has soo much upside I dunno why its not a simple decision. It all comes down to how comfortable the coach is I guess. afterall, its HIS job on the line. Lets get a CBA and get Tebow in there.
Also saw that Broncos were in attendance at the PP Pro day and schedule a private work out with him. Still think top two comes down to PP and Dareus. We take who the Panthers don’t. Hopefully they don’t take PP but he is THAT good
2P’s = D in 2011. Later Days, TRB out…
haha, I feel you TRB… Is not thinking only on immediate needs, we would fill an “upcoming” need at DB for years to come if we get him… Champ is not going to stay on his early 30′s forever… Besides, he could play Safety a bit at the beginning if needed and I want to see him on “kickin” duties along with Thompson and Decker(he did a very good job on kick offs)! PP runs and moves like he’s 30 pounds lighter!
As for the TT and Orton debate, I think we should just check some of last season tape, what games were more exiting to watch(that’s gotta mean something) and appreciate the efficiency to move the chains on the “dual” threat Tebow represents , sacks allowed, red zone efficiency… or just the fact that he did not give up at anytime during games and kept us competing, or his leadership and spark(that guy has some kind of “spark” and you know what I’m sayin’), that’s what Orton lacks and is because those simple facts that I would prefer Tebow starting! Of course Orton has more experience, better mechanics, but that’s something teachable!
I would like to mention that wouldn’t make me “a serial killer” if we decide to “try not to lose” with Orton instead of trying to win the darn game with Tebow! I’ll take another year of learning and improving for Tebow, I expected him to be NFL ready in 2 years anyways, but wouldn’t mind if he learns at real NFL speed out there.
Could anyone explain to me what is this “antitrust lawsuit” all about(in simple words please LOL), how bad or good is it or if it’s necessary to get a deal done? Baylin’ maybe you can enlighten me! XD
PP 2nd overall, if not Dareus would be nice too!
Go Broncos(and players and owners haha) on 2011!!
TRB…
I hear you man! Carolina apparently is strongly considering Peterson as their #1 overall pick! I for one hope it doesn’t happen and hope they take Dareus! I honestly believe that Peterson is the only person worth the top 1-2 overall pick! I see him being as dominant as Bailey, Revis, and Palomolo or however his name is spelled!!
Peterson just seems to be that game changer and with how good he is with tackling as well, just like with Champ, we can mix in some GREAT CB blitzes on the QB!! Those would work great! I also think that we would use him in our return game! He doesn’t seem to be injury prone at all so we should be okay with that! Peterson gives you that dual threat, just like Tebow, and will be the best player overall in this draft in many peoples opinions, including mine!! I see us taking him, especially if Carolina drafts Dareus which I am hoping that they do!!
PP Baby!!
Mike Mayocks top 3 players in the draft as he ranks them:
1. Marcell Dareus- DT Alabama
2. Von Miller – LB Texas A&M
3. Patrick Peterson – DB LSU
i got to say, and i will prob get crap for it but i do not think orton is much better of a pocket passer. to me a good pocket passer knows when to get rid of the ball and i can remember plenty of times when orton just took the sack or flat out fell down( he is such a F&%$&n baby). TT can avoid it with his feet, extend it for the big play down the field or he throws it away. watch some of his preseason games as well the boy should be starting for us. passing yrds does not matter to pe W and TDs do!!!!!!
TT011 and we will win more than 4 games
Good morning fellow bronco fans!!!!
TRB… article over at Denver Post re: Stephen Paea (Q&A), if you haven’t read it already, here’s the link.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_17613546
C.R, in simple words, the antitrust lawsuit that a group of players have filed against the owners is in hopes of stopping the lockout.
That lawsuit will be heard on April 6th. But, there’s a twist. We all thought the case would go before Judge David Doty, who has handled other lawsuits involving the NFL, and usually ruled in favor of the players. This had the NFL owners very worried, but they don’t have to concern themselves with that now. At least initially.
Instead, the case was assigned to Judge Susan Richard Nelson. The players claim that it’s no big deal because they feel they have the law on their side, so it won’t matter who the judge is, but you have to believe they would have liked the case to go before Doty.
But it still might. Former U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Tom Heffelfinger said there is a way for the case to still wind up in front of Doty. “If either the court or one of the parties designates the case as a related case to one that has been previously assigned to another judge, it could get reassigned,” Heffelfinger said … Because that case has not been closed, the possibility remains that the new case could be designated as related and therefore reassigned to Doty.
I would like to intersect something to the Tebow/Orton debate if I may. Thinking back to the Houston game. Where would we have been if Orton was the qb and we went into the locker room at half time down like we were? We all know where we ended up with Tebow leading the charge the second half. He has no quit in him. He has no lay down because I am in trouble in him. Basically, he has the drive to win and he pushed those around him to do the same.
As for Tebow’s progression as a qb in the NFL, I wonder if he had been taking the snaps under center all year during practice sessions, instead of doing “mental reps” the whole year (except the last 3 weeks) where his progression would have been those last three weeks? We might have possible won more than just one game in that group.
Personally, I have watched Orton lay down when his receivers were not open long enough. He has no winning drive left in him. He has no push left in him, and most of all, he has lost the respect of the players around him. Once this has happened, it is over for him for that team, and it is over for Orton with Denver. He might as well pack his bags and go somewhere because he will never be able to lead this team again as a winner.
And for the ones here who side with the players, so you must be ok with this then:
The NFL Players Association is putting into place a plan that would prevent each top college prospect from attending next month’s draft in New York, according to multiple league sources. The NFLPA already has contacted 17 top prospects who ordinarily would have received an invitation to attend the draft and informed them not to go.
“As of right now, this is 100 percent happening,” one source familiar with the NFL Players Association’s thinking said earlier Monday. “This is going down.”
Going down is the operative phrase. As in this whole thing is going down the tubes.
Listen 88, I already stated on a previous blog I am no longer going to talk about unions and politics here since talking politics or religion can almost always immediately turn two football beer drinking friends into having a nasty discussion. Because let’s make no mistake, this NFL/union thing is a political thing, as we are seeing it all over this country now like in Wisconsin by the way of the State of Wisconsin vs. the teachers’ unions. It all starts with money and then politics take over…
So I will simply say this:
You, Royalty and mikey can crap all you want on the NFL owners and Mr Bowlen (yes, he is an owner like any other and has voiced he has been extremely disappointed by the NFLPA), and I’ll crap all I want on the players…. but the end result remains the same:
Pro football is going down the crapper and us with it….
Now I would like to intersect my 2 cents worth about the CBA. Some time back on another blog, I said that these “men” were acting like a group of children, and they have proved just that. I don’t understand it, have never understood it, and do not profess to understand it in the future. But, I will say this. The NFL as we have all known it is gone. If you think that you have seen high process to get into games in the past, just hold on to your wallets boys and girls, it is fixing to get a whole lot worse, AND if you think that the players or the owners care about that, then you are living in a dream world. The players have proven that they do not give a care ion the world about the fans. This has been made quite evident. If they did, then they would have never walked away form the table. This would have been hashed out and over with by now and we would be blogging about something more important.
The NFLPA had no intention of agreeing to any terms with the owners. If they did, then they would not have been sitting discussing this at 4 p.m. while the legal papers are being filed in the federal courts in another state completely. Tell me that was not the plan to start with.
I have no use for the players at this point. I think that they tried to bring the owners down to their knees, and it has backfired.
SE, totally agree with your post, the players completely abandonned Orton and gladly took a front row seat on the Tebow train at the end of the season. How could any fool expect to sell Orton back to the same team now? I don’t care that we might have a better D and running game, that won’t be enough to get them to embrace Orton. Orton is basically history in Denver and only hanging on by a thread since there is no cba. But this debate they had last night over Tebow or Orton is so old, I didn’t have the heart to participate in it yet one more time.
It should be Tebow time NOW, and if that doesn’t work out, since we should have a top draft pick next year once again, we could pick Andrew luck or some other QB. I just don’t buy Tebow needs two or more years to be NFL ready, he’s got what it takes to go now, like he already showed last year. And of course there are risks! Isn’t that what makes football so interesting, the risk/reward thing? Well you get that with Tebow, what do we really have to lose at this point in our franchise? Orton needs to replace DeMaurice Smith as the NFLPA representative next year, LOL.
For all the PP fans out here:
The Broncos’ football decision-making trio of John Elway, John Fox and Brian Xanders did not travel to Baton Rouge, La. today to personally watch cornerback Patrick Peterson’s Pro Day workout.
Which may mean something considering the Broncos have the No. 2 draft pick and Elway, Fox and Xanders watched the Pro Day workouts of Alabama’s Marcell Dareus, Auburn’s Nick Fairley and Texas A&M’s Von Miller.
Or it could mean nothing considering the Broncos’ brass of Josh McDaniels and Xanders didn’t attend Tim Tebow’s Pro Day workout at Florida last year.
Peterson only did position drills at his Pro Day. When you run a 4.34 40 at the scouting combine, that’s fast enough.
Although Peterson has been deemed worthy of the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, the Broncos figure to have more pressing needs than cornerback after they re-signed Champ Bailey to a four-year, $43 million contract last month and they have two other starters in Andre’ Goodman and Perrish Cox returning.
I say Fox and Elway are a lot more transparent and less deceitful than McD ever was and so all this means to me is no PP for Denver!
I for one am very excited about Ayers moving to DE! I just watched some of his highlights at Tennessee and he was straight up dominant on the line! I cannot believe we tried to convert him to a 3-4 LB!!! Him and Doom being on each end of our Defensive Line automatically improves our DL drastically!! Add to that that we also signed Vickerson back who was very good last season, I believe our DL is going to be completely different! With us getting these 3 guys on our line then it allows us to take Peterson with our 1st round pick and pick up Martez Wilson and Marvin Austin in the 2nd!!
If we were still in the 3-4 then I would say straight up draft Dareus due to his size and quickness and ability to play NT, DT, or anywhere on the line!! I believe that Ayers is going to look like either Freeney or Mathis this coming season with being on the line! It’s just too bad we prolonged his production for 2 whole years with putting him as a LB!!!
So if the Panthers select Marcell Dareus then it`s obvious that we pick Nick Fairley. How easy is that. No brainer.
I agree Bay. I may have gotten a little carried away with the issue last night and I agree that this isn’t the place so I will say no more on the topic from here on out. But to me this isn’t a matter of politics, it’s a matter of doing what’s right and fair. With that said you will hear no more from on the matter.
Oh and just to clarify, when I brought up the Soviet Union thing I didn’t mean it as an insult in any way. I was just referring back to that conversation only I was about 2 weeks late jumping into it. So I apologize if it rubbed you or anyone the wrong way. I was just trying to make a point, that’s all.
So like I said, nothing but football from me on here from now on, I promise.
That’s the way I see it too strand, if Dareus is gone Fairley is the only choice for me. I’ve been considering other options if we can’t get Dareus but I can’t help but think DT is the only position that would make sense with our first round pick.
And here comes the Dareus vs. Peterson debate again, LOL.
I hope we are not that week minded! Fairley is the biggest reach in the entire draft in my opinion!
Also Last season I was firmly in the Orton camp and wanted him to lead the team. But somewhere along the way (Arizona) I lost all hope in him as our starter. You can say that after the Texans came to town sporting a huge lead at the half and Tebow brought us all the way back to a VICTORY – after that I became a Tim Tebow fan and although he will never win like other NFL QBs – he’ll win and win often and win more than he loses going forward once he is the STARTER!!!
TT is the answer!!! GO BRONCOS!!!