Kyle Orton’s career year (3,800 yards, 62% completions, 21:12 TD: INT, 7 YPA) didn’t win him a lot of respect in Denver’s front office based on the Broncos’ offseason moves.
The lack of appreciation is now extending into the media.
A sample from Sunday’s Denver Post:
Mike Kizla says Orton would have “rocks for brains” to start another game for the Broncos, and should quietly request a trade.
“Why should Orton stick around and be a clown in the Tim Tebow circus?” Kizla asks.
Woody Paige says the team needs to deal the “Deberg-like” Orton. He is apparently “not a true leader. . . . Orton’s soft attitude didn’t motivate his teammates. . . . Orton is not a short-term fix or a long-range fit for the Broncos.”
We don’t agree with either position. Orton’s best chance for a big contract elsewhere would be to perform well under McDaniels in Denver. He has the inside track on a starting job to open the season. He’d be crazy to want to leave now to be a backup elsewhere.
Trading Orton sounds good for Denver, but who is giving up anything for him at this point? We can’t imagine a team that would invest in Orton. We’d argue that keeping Orton around for another year and retaining his rights is more valuable than some sixth-round pick.
Finally, Orton knows McDaniels’ system well and he’s the best quarterback on the roster.
Here’s a scary notion for Denver: he might still be the best quarterback in two years.
