Gator Gridiron
Roger Franklin Williams
New Denver Broncos Head Coach John Fox declared Kyle Orton as his "starting quarterback" on Thursday. (Gee, and I thought Steve Addazio was an idiot.) Putting aside the fact that the term "starting quarterback" in February is about as much of an exact term as the phrase "the check is in the mail", Fox' statement does reflect the mindset of the new leadership of the Broncos. It also represents, temporarily at least, another obstacle for the NFL career of Tim Tebow. Acutally, not just another obstacle, but another irrational, moronic, unfair obstacle. After providing the Broncos with a shot in the arm in the last 3 games of last season, when he led Denver from a 0-17 halftime dedicit to victory in one game, became only the 3rd QB in the history of the National Football League to throw a 30+ yard TD pass and run for a 40+ yard TD in the same game in another while making Denver's final 3 contests competitive as he piled up yardage, first downs and, of course touchdowns, Tebow now has to suffer the indignity of being relegated to 2nd rate status once again. (Tebow accounted for 13 touchdowns in his minscule time on the field---3 games as a starter---while the "starting quarterback" Orton accounted for a total of 20 in 13 games while going a scintillating 3-10 as "the starter".)
What's wrong with these idiots in the NFL? Or, more specifically, Denver?
The answer to that is complex, but mixed among the complexity are some elements of the base,dark side of the human condition. For example, longtime observers of the NFL, such as Gator Gridiron, are keenly aware that the NFL provides a textbook example of that insidious corporate disease "group think". The price, or at least the perceived price, for failure--losing your job--is so high that those in positions of authority over personnel decisions fall back on tangible qualities such as 40 yard dash times and results of such arcane exercises as the shuttle run (whatever that is). For quarterbacks there is only one accepted style of play and that is the classic drop back passer model. Any player who dares to deviate from the accepted template of physical appearance or playing style is shunned by the group (player personnel types/front office executives/coaches). No one has the originality or courage or integrity to break away from the group norm and accept the common sense notion that there is not just one way to play quarterback....even when outstanding, successful, winning play is being demonstrated right before their very eyes!
New Denver coach John Fox is apparantly another one of these sad-sack, cold, gray souls who lacks the discernment or courage to step outside the "group-think" norm of the other nameless, faceless corporate NFL drones.
DOES ELWAY FEEL THREATENED?
Alas, in Denver, Tim has ANOTHER non-performance related obstacle in his path---former Hall-of-Fame QB and Denver icon John Elway. At first glance Gator Gridiron felt that having Elway more involved would be beneficial to Tim....seeing how Elway faced some of the same frustrations that Tebow has endured when he (Elway) came into the league. Elway--admittedly more of a "drop back" passer than Tebow-- came under fire, nevertheless, for his propensity to abandon the pocket and run to buy time or gain yardage; the same complaint so often hurled at Tim. Elway, however, seems to be another Tebow detractor.....perplexing....until one reflects back to the before mentioned "base, dark side" of human nature. As the resident "All time Greatest Bronco", maybe John Elway understands, in an innate kind of way, that status is a LOT safer with Kyle Orton as starting QB than with Tim Tebow.
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