DENVER - I think it is fair to say that when the other team's punter has more yards passing your quarterback, it's going to be a long day.
Denver Broncos fans are now facing the possibility that one bad day, may lead to one bad week, one bad month, you know the restÂ…
The old saying goes, "the most popular player on any team is the backup quarterback". The adage may be applicable in many cities. However, Denver is not one of them.
For all of the criticism Kyle Orton has endured since joining the Broncos, it is quite ironic that his true value wasn't fully visible until he was injured in Sunday's brutal loss to the Washington Redskins.
For everyone who thought Orton was holding the team back, wasn't stretching the field, wasn't doing anything more than "managing" a game...well, how do you like Chris Simms doing those things instead?
Orton's numbers on Sunday: 11-18, 193 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.
Simms' numbers: 3-13, 13 Yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception.
In defense of Simms, he looked like a guy who not started a game in three-and-a-half years. That's because he hasn't started a game inÂ…three-and-a-half years.
Simms is a very personable individual who spent 44 months away from football recovering from a ruptured spleen he suffered in a 2006 game that nearly killed him. Yes, it was that serious.
Just coming back at all is a victory in itself.
However, there are no excuses now. The Broncos need solid quarterback play from somebody, right now.
The San Diego Chargers, once three-and-a-half games behind the Broncos, are steaming hot. Philip Rivers & Co. have won four in a row and, coupled with Denver's three game slide, have pulled into a first place tie in the AFC West.
We were conditioned to think that THIS Broncos team was different and wouldn't fold like last year's team. And it still might not.
Head coach Josh McDaniels said on Monday that Orton is "questionable" for Sunday's game. If he can't start, it will be Simms all the way and, after a full week of first team repetitions, he should be far better prepared to play in Denver's biggest game of the season to-date.
The best endorsement for Orton is a statement that at one time sounded crazy but now, despite his struggles in games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, shows Orton's mettle more than anything.
Simply put: this Sunday, if all of the following players were healthy, who would you start: Orton, Simms...or Jay Cutler?
Denver Broncos fans are now facing the possibility that one bad day, may lead to one bad week, one bad month, you know the restÂ…
The old saying goes, "the most popular player on any team is the backup quarterback". The adage may be applicable in many cities. However, Denver is not one of them.
For all of the criticism Kyle Orton has endured since joining the Broncos, it is quite ironic that his true value wasn't fully visible until he was injured in Sunday's brutal loss to the Washington Redskins.
For everyone who thought Orton was holding the team back, wasn't stretching the field, wasn't doing anything more than "managing" a game...well, how do you like Chris Simms doing those things instead?
Orton's numbers on Sunday: 11-18, 193 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.
Simms' numbers: 3-13, 13 Yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception.
In defense of Simms, he looked like a guy who not started a game in three-and-a-half years. That's because he hasn't started a game inÂ…three-and-a-half years.
Simms is a very personable individual who spent 44 months away from football recovering from a ruptured spleen he suffered in a 2006 game that nearly killed him. Yes, it was that serious.
Just coming back at all is a victory in itself.
However, there are no excuses now. The Broncos need solid quarterback play from somebody, right now.
The San Diego Chargers, once three-and-a-half games behind the Broncos, are steaming hot. Philip Rivers & Co. have won four in a row and, coupled with Denver's three game slide, have pulled into a first place tie in the AFC West.
We were conditioned to think that THIS Broncos team was different and wouldn't fold like last year's team. And it still might not.
Head coach Josh McDaniels said on Monday that Orton is "questionable" for Sunday's game. If he can't start, it will be Simms all the way and, after a full week of first team repetitions, he should be far better prepared to play in Denver's biggest game of the season to-date.
The best endorsement for Orton is a statement that at one time sounded crazy but now, despite his struggles in games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, shows Orton's mettle more than anything.
Simply put: this Sunday, if all of the following players were healthy, who would you start: Orton, Simms...or Jay Cutler?
