The 2010 Broncos season is just one draft, three shockingly random trades, and five months away.  The once proud residents of Broncoland, who have spent most of this offseason trying to avoid the new ‘all news is bad news’ flavor of the organization, are desperate to know how Denver stacks up against its 2010 competition.

What follows is an exact (mock) depiction of the Denver Broncos’ 2010 schedule.  While staring deeply into my future-sight crystal ball (it may have been a highball glass) I was able to watch the entire 2010 Broncos season unfold from on high.  Returning in a stupefied, half-conscious state, I wrote this article…

Denver Broncos @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Sunday, September 12^th 2010 @ 11:00 MST on CBS

The revamped Denver defense will hold down the inconsistent Jacksonville offense just long enough for Kyle Orton to find a tight end or something for the winning touchdown.  Josh McDaniels will be hailed publicly as a genius, but still reviled privately by 90% of his players. WIN 1-0

Seattle Seahawks @ Denver Broncos

Sunday, September 19^th @ 2:05 MST on FOX

Pete Carroll & his Seahawks will stroll into Mile High Stadium fresh off an emotional Week 1 victory at home versus the division-rival San Francisco 49ers.  Pundits will believe that the Seahawks are now a competitive team.  They will be wrong.

The Broncos’ offense will open up a minor can of whoopass on the defenseless Seahawks.  Having started the season 2-0, pundits will laud Denver as a challenger in the AFC West.  They will be wrong. WIN 2-0

Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos

Sunday, September 26^th @ 2:15 MST on CBS

An 0-2 Colts squad will come to Denver off unexpected losses at Houston to the rising Texans and at home to Manning the Lesser and his hardnosed Giants.  Peyton Manning will finally warm up that terrifyingly mechanical Indy offense after two pitiful outings, followed by an undressing of the Broncos’ young secondary. LOSS 2-1

Denver Broncos @ Tennessee Titans

Sunday, October 3^rd @ 11:00 MST on CBS

Josh McDaniels will have his team playing tight, disciplined football by Week 4.

Unfortunately, the Titans have been playing tight, disciplined football (except for the postseason) for 15 years under Jeff Fisher.  McD’s Master Plan will not be enough to mash out a win in Tennessee.  LOSS 2-2

Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens

Sunday, October 10^th @ 11:00 pm on CBS

Last season the Broncos were embarrassed at Baltimore 7-30.  That loss came after a 6-0 start, and it started Denver down a path to football purgatory (8-8).  In 2010, the Ravens will have a chance to deal Denver its first losing record of the season.  They will succeed.  LOSS 2-3

New York Jets @ Denver Broncos

Sunday, October 17^th @ 2:15 MST on CBS

The Jets will have an opportunity to start the season 5-0 with a favorable early-season schedule.  (Road games against beatable teams, home games against tougher teams.) Will the boys in green really come to Denver undefeated in Week 6?  I don’t know, my amazing Future Vision becomes blurry and disoriented at the New Jersey border.

What is certain is that the Jets will stroll into Denver with a winning record, a bye week on the horizon, and a serious case of unfocused play.  It happened to the Jersey Jets all last season, and it will happen again in Denver.  Lucky thing too, because the Jets are a title contender in 2010.  WIN 3-3

Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos

Sunday, October 17^th @ 2:05 MST on CBS

The Broncos have struggled with the Raiders in Denver the last two seasons.

This time McDaniels will have his team ready.  Josh McD is a lot of things… among them a sore looser.  Recognizing that he lost to a lesser team at home last season, McDaniels will outmaneuver whatever pasted-together coaching staff takes the Raiders sideline on this particular day.  WIN 4-3

Denver Broncos @ San Francisco 49ers

Sunday, October 31^st @ 11:00 MST on CBS

For some reason I blacked out during this portion of the Vision.  It may have been too much whiskey, we’ll never know for sure.  As a result this game will officially be noted as a sure-thing tie.  Good job Broncos.  Way to not lose.  TIE 4-3-1

BYE WEEK

Week 9

Josh McDaniels will utilize his Bye Week to place his best player on the trading block.  It will probably be DE Elvis Dumervil.  Luckily, other organizations will have stopped answering McDaniels’ & Errand Boy Brian Xanders’ phone calls weeks earlier after McXanders drunk dials his entire NFL contact list in a single night.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos

Sunday, October 31^st @ 11:00 MST on CBS

The Broncos are lucky to get Kansas City at home after a week of rest.

These Chiefs are on their way up the AFC West ladder.  A well-rested Denver defense does just enough to hold down the explosive KC offense, and Kyle Orton throws for 300 yards in the win.  Zombie Eddie Royal shakes off a headache and the thirst for sweet brain juices long enough to find his legs and grabs 10 balls for 100+ and a touchdown.  WIN 5-3-1

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

Monday, November 22^nd @ 6:30 MST on ESPN

The Broncos’ one and only trip to the Monday Night Football stage in 2010 will be an unmitigated disaster as the Chargers flex their dominance.

However, in an epic twist of fate, former San Diego Nose Tackle Jamal Williams, now decked out in orange ‘n blue, does a double underhook suplex on Chargers’ QB Philip “Perma-smirk” Rivers.  Philip breaks something important on the play, and the Chargers immediately regret trading their best backup QB in the offseason.  Undaunted, Norv Turner puts Darren Sproles under center and runs direct snaps to him the rest of the game.  Somehow this strategy works, or Josh McDaniels calls fifteen bubble screens to Jabar Gaffney or something, and the Broncos lose anyway.  LOSS 5-4-1

St. Louis Rams @ Denver Broncos

Sunday, November 28^th @ 2:15 MST on FOX

This late November game in the Mile High City will be played in swirling snow.  Knowshon Moreno will take the opportunity to run for almost 200 yards while only fumbling twice.  His three touchdowns will make it just better than a break-even day, and Elvis Dumervil will toss Rams quarterbacks all over the offensive backfield.  WIN 6-4-1

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday, December 5^th @ 11:00 MST on CBS

It’s a real shame the NFL scheduling czars didn’t see fit to make this a Monday night affair the next day.  The Broncos always beat the Chiefs on my birthday, December 6^th.  Check the record books, its true.  The day I was born, the Broncos beat the Chiefs on December 6^th.  A couple years ago Denver rocked the chiefs on my birthday.

December 5^th?  What a lame day.  And a lame loss.  The Broncos experience their typical late-season in KC shakes, and are pounded into the Arrowhead turf.  LOSS 6-5-1

Denver Broncos @ Arizona Cardinals

Sunday, December 12^th @ 2:15 MST on CBS

Poor, poor Cardinals fans.  Kurt Warner comes in and turns a perennial loser into a Super Bowl contender.  Then, like a flash, he’s gone, and with it any hopes of a return to the Big Game.  Luckily, Arizona still plays in the weakest division in football.  Unluckily, their soft schedule will not prepare them for a home game against the Broncos.

Denver rolls the Cards in an unseemly fashion.  WIN 7-5-1

Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders

Sunday, December 19^th @ 2:15 MST on CBS

Late in the season and needing a win to stay in the playoff hunt, the Broncos scrape together a gutsy win in Oakland.  For many Broncos fans, this game will look like an okay team turning the corner towards greatness.  Other Broncos fans will realize that it’s just the friggin’ Raiders and even a near-loss to Oakland is just a little disgraceful.  WIN 8-5-1

Houston Texans @ Denver Broncos

Sunday, December 26^th @ 2:05 MST on CBS

The Day After Christmas and all is not well,

For one Gary Kubiak is coming to town.

Mastermind Junior and dressed in all red,

With visions of playoff births stuck in his head.

McDaniels will scream, kick, bite & spit,

But the Ghost of Mike Shanahan presides over this.

At Mile High Stadium on this fateful day,

The Texans will win it running away.

LOSS 8-6-1

San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos

Sunday, January 2^nd @ 2:15 MST on CBS

A New Year and a new chance to smite the hated Chargers will instill a sense of purpose and destiny in the Broncos.  Having already locked up the shaky AFC West, the Chargers will rest Philip Rivers, who has his contract amended to read, “Philip shall not take the field if Jamal Williams and Elvis Dumervil have both lined up on the opposite side of the ball.  Failure to abide by this amendment shall result in the immediate launching of one Norv Turner from the nearest catapult or catapult-like object.” WIN 9-6-1

Denver eeks its way into the postseason with a 9-6-1 record, beating out at least three 9-7 teams.  A first-round rematch with the Jersey Jets lies on the horizon.  (End Vision)

Before you settle in for another non-stop media blitz populated by talking heads, draftnicks & pundits galore, take a moment to reflect on the 2009 season with Jerome V’s 2009 NFL Awards

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Miscues in ‘09 set table for 2010 Draft

The first day of the first draft of the McDaniels-Xanders era in Denver was, by most accounts, a disaster.  The Broncos had just traded franchise quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears for two 1^st Round picks, and expectations were high for how those picks would be used.

Then Josh “I Do What I Want” McDaniels and Brian “I Do What Josh Tells Me” Xanders traded the Broncos’ extra 2010 pick for the 5^th pick in the 2^nd Round of the 2009 Draft.  The player they grabbed with that pick?  Wake Forest Cornerback Alphonso Smith, who couldn’t muscle his way past the Ghost of Ty Law in the Broncos’ DB pecking order.

The two ’09 picks that preceded Smith were used to draft Georgia Running Back Knowshon Moreno & Tennessee Defensive End Robert Ayers.  Moreno started through the 2009 regular season, but lacked the explosive playmaking ability that made him a 12^th Overall coming out of college.  Ayers spent the majority of his rookie season injured, and the rest of it ineffective.

Time will tell whether the Broncos later ’09 2^nd Round picks, Safety Darcel McBath & Tight End Richard Quinn, will pan out in Denver.  Quinn will see a lot of snaps in 2010 since former 2^nd Round TE Tony Scheffler was exiled to the Detroit Lions on Monday.  We’ll know a lot about how the Broncos coaching staff feels about McBath’s NFL progress after this week’s draft.  If Denver grabs a free safety in the first three rounds, it may be a sign that McBath is a bust.

At least the McXanders combo will have a chance to right their early-round wrongs from ‘09 with three picks in the first two rounds of the 2010 Draft.

Late-round 2009 picks are projects best saved for later examination, but overall rounds 4-7 look pretty good for McXanders.  Safety David Bruton, WR Kenny McKinley & Fresno State QB Tom Brandstater all looked solid in 2009 preseason action against fellow late-round talent.  No doubt, McKinley and Brandstater are learning to do things the McDaniels way before they ever become major role-players in his offense, but Kenny in particular has shown exceptional talent for a 5^th Round Selection.

The 2010 Draft is nigh upon us

By the time this article publishes, we will be roughly 24 hours away from the start of the 1^st Round of the 2010 Draft.

The Broncos ended the 2009 season with a lot of clear needs on the defensive side of the ball.  Strong Safety is probably a concern, but Inside Linebacker and Nose Tackle take clear precedence.  That’s the entire middle of the Denver defense for those keeping track.

The Broncos’ primary offensive need is at Center after 2009 7^th Round selection Blake Schlueter ended up with the Atlanta Falcons.

Denver Broncos needs in the first 2 Rounds

The weakness at ILB will likely spur Denver to pick up exceptional Alabama Linebacker Rolando McClain in the 1^st Round.  Despite the defensive depth in the 2010 draft, the LB class is one of the weakest in years.  Plus, McClain is the type of run stuffing on-field coach that Brian Xanders & Defensive Coordinator Don Martindale (himself a former linebacker) can build the rest of the defense around.

Really, the interior of the offensive line was the only big issue for the Denver offense going into this draft until Brandon Marshall was traded to the Miami Dolphins last week.  Unfortunately for the Broncos, the WR class gets pretty light after troubled but talented receiver Dez Bryant, and there is no way that Denver wants another head-case wideout mucking up the locker room should he fall to the 11^th pick.

What does work out in the Broncos’ favor is that the top Center in the 2010 Draft, Florida’s Maurkice Pouncey, may be available when Denver makes their first pick of the 2^nd Round.  However, if McClain is off the board earlier in the 1^st Round, the Broncos may go ahead and grab Pouncey with the 11^th Overall.  By most accounts, Pouncey is 1^st Round material in a draft so loaded that many top players will be available in the 2^nd.

Who goes when will all come down to the needs of other teams, but ideally these will be the Broncos’ top two picks.

Another 1^st Round option is Tennessee Nose Tackle Dan Williams, although the NT class is deep enough that Denver can get a less expensive center for their 3-4 defense later in the draft.  Terrance Cody, Alabama’s behemoth Nose Tackle, may fit the bill.  Cody has conditioning issues, but may work well in a platoon with recently acquired veteran NT Jamal Williams (formerly of the San Diego Chargers).  North Carolina DT Cam Thomas should be available late in the 2^nd Round.

Ian’s Dream Draft: Rounds 1 & 2

All things being equal, it is difficult to decipher the tendencies of McDaniels and Xanders after their free-wheeling, pick-trading 2009 Draft odyssey.  If the stars aligned perfectly, the Broncos could spend the first two picks setting the middle of their defense & offense with Rolando McClain & Maurkice Pouncey respectively.

Since Denver has both the 11^th & 13^th picks in the 2^nd Round, taking Pouncey with the 11 and then the best Nose Tackle available at 13 makes a lot of sense.  However, my Dream Draft has another, considerably wackier outcome.  Pouncey Centered an outstanding offensive line as a Gator in front of Heisman-winning Florida QB Tim Tebow.

If Tebow falls to the 2^nd Round, the Broncos will have the rare opportunity to grab the Center/Quarterback combo that made Florida a National Title contender the last two years.  Pouncey is clearly the best Center in the draft, and should both he and Tebow fall to the early stages of the 2^nd Round, I would love to see both end up in Denver.

Read more about Tim Tebow as a Bronco here.

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The Denver Broncos should take a flier on Tim Tebow.  No doubt.

Proven talent, proven personality & versatility, wears the colors well.  But before we get into the many reasons that Timothy Richard Tebow would be a great fit for the Denver Broncos, we’ll address the immediate, “Are you kidding me!?” queries.

Are you kidding me!?  Tebow didn’t play in an NFL-type system as a Gator.  He won’t be able to run an NFL offense efficiently.

Tim Tebow threw 88 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in his time at Florida, and was the first college quarterback to both run and throw for 20+ touchdowns in a single season (2007).  Those two statistics speak volumes about his maturity as a young quarterback.  Add to that his Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, another NCAA first, and you’ve got a balanced playmaker who is clearly well ahead of the traditional QB learning curve.

Tebow did all of this without elite receiving options in the most aggressive defensive conference (SEC) in the nation.  If that doesn’t spell NFL-ready, I don’t know what does.

Give Tim Tebow a system and pro-caliber receivers, then watch him thrive.

Are you kidding me!?  Tim Tebow doesn’t have the traditional delivery of Peyton Manning and other elite NFL quarterbacks.

Tim worked throughout the last year to teach himself the traditional delivery that NFL coaches prefer.  He has succeeded at everything he’s ever done, and done so at an accelerated pace.  Tebow will master a new throwing motion in less time than it takes to teach a lesser two-way quarterback the new playbook.

Add to that his proficiency with a non-traditional semi-sidearm throw, and you’ve got the kind of versatility required to survive in the NFL.  Tebow’s natural throw is more useful on the run, and as a running quarterback he can challenge defenses to chase him outside of the pocket.

Pursuit or coverage?  Pick your poison.

Are you kidding me!? Tim Tebow’s Heisman-winning sophomore year was his peak.  He’ll never be as explosive as he was in his first starting season with Florida.

While Tebow’s passer rating and touchdown totals did decline each season as a Gator, his completion percentage spiked in his senior season at 70.1%.  That 2009 campaign saw Tebow playing alongside the least amount of offensive talent in his career, which explains the drop-off in passer rating and drastic rise in sack total.  Tim was dropped for a loss 25 times in 2009 compared to 15 sacks in 2008.

Despite the team-related struggles, Tebow still only threw 5 interceptions and made up for what his teammates lacked by rushing for over 900 yards.  That was a career best, and showed that Tebow was as explosive as he needed to be without pushing too hard.  Tim had less to work with, but didn’t make the mistake of trying to force plays.

That situation is precisely what Tebow will likely be walking into at his first NFL job, as the teams in need of his services predominantly lack both a star quarterback and elite receiving talent.  Those “welcome to the NFL” moments that have destroyed a laundry list of quality college quarterbacks won’t deflate Tebow.  His college career slowly prepared him to do more with less, and his decision-making is unparalleled in this draft.

So… why the Broncos?  They’ve got a signed starter in Kyle Orton, a quality backup in Brady Quinn, and a QB-in-training in Tom Brandstater.

Make no mistake, Kyle Orton is not a winning quarterback.

Orton is just good enough to not lose.  A winning quarterback goes out and takes the game by the horns.  Kyle’s above-average winning percentage in the regular season is purely the result of playing on good defensive teams with the kind of conservative approach that promises fewer mistakes.  (Orton was a loser in every game last season where his opponent scored more than 23 points.)  He will never win a playoff game, because that takes a quarterback who is capable of stepping up his game under pressure.

Brady Quinn may yet turn the corner as an NFL quarterback, but his statistical career to date is a nightmare.

In 14 NFL games over a 3-year career Quinn has thrown for 10 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.  In 10 games during the 2009 campaign, Brady’s passer rating only topped 75.0 twice… against Detroit & San Diego.  In half of those games it was worse than 50.0.

Quinn’s only wins last year came against Pittsburgh (a 13-6 suckfest) and Kansas City.  In his win over the Chiefs, Brady threw for a total of 66 yards and 2 interceptions.  He didn’t throw a touchdown in either victory, and 7 of his 8 touchdown passes on the season came in two of his ten games… against Detroit & San Diego… both losses.

Gag me with a spoon.

Tom Brandstater is presumably a system quarterback whom Broncos coach Josh McDaniels plans to mold into his perfect passer.

However, Brandstater is clearly not anywhere near ready to take the helm.  Otherwise the Broncos would not have marched the noodle-armed Chris Simms onto the field after Kyle Orton was injured at Washington.  Perhaps Brandstater would be better suited for the practice squad until he can top a trust-fund baby on the depth chart.

By comparison, Tim Tebow excels where each of these quarterbacks is lacking.

Tebow has guts and moxy where Orton has made a career of low risk, low reward quarterbacking.  Tim’s last two years in Florida compare favorably to Quinn’s last two in Cleveland considering they both played on untalented offenses.  Tebow manufactured yardage and wins in that situation while Quinn ceded time to Derek Anderson.  Brandstater is a slow-developing maybe-someday QB where Tebow is a proven winner who has quickly dominated every new or changed situation throughout his career.

And what about Josh McDaniels?  Why would he want a Tim Tebow on his team?

Because Tebow gives him options galore in an offense clearly working towards a highly complex, misdirection-heavy playbook.  (Wild Horses anyone?)  Not only is Tim a quick learner, not only does Tebow have the ability to run set plays, options & the occasional breakdown with maturity and efficiency, but he is also everything that Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall & Tony Scheffler are not…

Tim Tebow is a good kid.

We’re talking Christian Missionary good, Jesus-lite good… the epitome of all things positive in a prominent sports figure good.  Dude visits jails to bring the Good Word to those who have no hope.

And whether you agree with that message or not, you have to respect the fact that Tim Tebow isn’t doing community service because he ran afoul of the law.  Tim does it because he wants to, feels driven to, gains pleasure from doing so.  Who wouldn’t want to coach that kind of player?  Who wouldn’t want to root for that kind of guy?  Who wouldn’t want their kids looking up to him as a model for success?

Tim listens well, learns well, and stays out of off-field trouble.  He is the ideal student for a coach looking to bark orders and take no lip.  And yet, no matter how hard McDaniels pushes, Tebow will forever remain… the unflappable Tim Tebow.  McD couldn’t possibly break this kid or so much as hurt his feelings.  Tim works for The Man, and all else is a means to an end.

The foul-mouthed, no nonsense, my way or the highway coach who would just as soon spit on you as apologize, and the saintly son of a preacher who has never doubted his talent or his path since before he could grow chin hair.

They’re a match made in heaven.

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Broncos starting Quarterback Kyle Orton has signed a restricted free-agent tender with Denver, indicating that he will stay with the team through the 2010-2011 season.  Orton was tendered at a first-round draft pick, but is not likely to follow the tender-to-trade path that Brandon Marshall took out of town.

Orton was already participating in the Broncos’ offseason conditioning program after signing an injury waiver, and his relationship with the team was never in doubt.  Kyle said that he felt his presence at offseason workouts was necessary because of his leadership role with the team.

However, Orton was also critical of Denver’s unwillingness to settle ongoing contract disputes with Pro Bowl Defensive End Elvis Dumervil and other young Broncos who had paid their NFL dues by playing through their rookie contracts without asking for a pay increase.  Dumervil has not signed the RFA tender offered by the team, and may hold out through training camp as a result.

Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has said that Kyle Orton will remain the Broncos’ starting QB so long as he continues to perform at a high level and show improvement.  There was some doubt as to whether the recently-acquired Brady Quinn would compete with Orton from the beginning of training camp.

Orton threw for more than 3,800 yards last season, with more than 1,100 of those yards moving through elite Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday.

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Brandon Marshall was traded to the Miami Dolphins early Wednesday morning in exchange for two 2nd Round draft picks.  According to league sources, the Denver Broncos will receive a 2010 2nd Round pick & a 2011 2nd Round pick from the Dolphins in exchange for the big, physical Pro Bowl receiver Marshall.

With Brandon Marshall’s exit from the Broncos, head coach Josh McDaniels has successfully finished erasing the face of the Shanahan Era from the Denver offense.

The Broncos received two 1st Round picks, two 2nd Round picks & a 3rd Round pick in exchange for the two most recognizable aspects of former Denver coach Mike Shanahan’s highly efficient offense from the 2008-2009 season.

Brandon Marshall is expected to receive a very lucrative offer from the Dolphins in exchange for his services, as Miami seeks to offset the New York Jets’ recent acquisition of Super Bowl MVP receiver Santonio Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The move makes the AFC East one of the most powerful divisions in the league.  In addition to the Jets & Dolphins, the AFC East also houses perennial powerhouse and former McDaniels employer the New England Patriots.

Marshall will travel to Miami today.   Assuming he passes a physical and the NFL processes the trade paperwork without any snafus, the Dolphins will enhance an offense that was missing exactly what Brandon brings to the table: a big, talented possession receiver to match their dynamic running game and stout defense.

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Brandon Marshall has signed a $2.5 million restricted free agent tender with the Denver Broncos.

The tender offer by the Broncos and Marshall’s acceptance were the result of a phone call between Marshall & Denver head coach Josh McDaniels.  The two spoke today regarding Marshall’s future with the team, a conversation that no doubt included input from the Broncos’ front office and Brandon Marshall’s agent Kennard McGuire.

While this move may seem like an indicator that Brandon Marshall will stay with the team, it is more likely designed to ease the Broncos’ negotiating position with teams interested in the 6’4″ wide receiver.  Marshall caught 101 passes for 1,120 yards last year despite missing the team’s final game versus Kansas City.

Denver is rumored to be shopping Marshall to the Seattle Seahawks, and the $2.5 million restricted free agent tender will make any potential move much easier.  Previous to Marshall signing the Broncos’ tender offer, Brandon would have needed to sign off on any potential trade.  Now Brandon Marshall is under contract with Denver through the 2010 season as a restricted free agent, and the Broncos can make any trade move that suits the organization.

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They say where there’s smoke, there’s fire. That’s not always as true when it comes to NFL trade rumors. Especially when those rumors are fueled by Drew Rosenhaus . Add to that the fact that Josh McDaniels and Brandon Marshall have a scheduled phone call today, and things might just be getting interesting in Broncos Country again. Remember just about a year ago, when it was a series of meetings and phone calls that ultimately led down the road to the Cutler trade. Now, it’s Marshall on the other end of the line, and McDaniels can be expected to do some serious laying down of the law – what, did you expect him to coddle Marshall? Don’t count on it. These ‘putting the foot down’ kind of conversations nearly always lead to the player being traded, and since Marshall had one foot and his entire disposition out the door already, this very likely signals the upcoming trade.

Drew Rosenhaus, the super agent that also engineered many of the T.O. moves, said on south Florida TV that Marshall will be moved to Seattle for a second round pick, and a lower round pick in addition. While this is wild rumor almost certainly floated by an agent without substantiation, let’s assume it for a moment.

I love the trade. Let me be clear – I don’t want to lose Marshall. A beast like him is not common among NFL teams, and the offense will suffer for having lost him. But he’s already gone. Call it an attitude problem, call it fall out from the Williams murder, call it what you want – but you have to call it reality. He’s gone. And the Broncos have 2 options:

1. Keep him around, suffer through the media circus and the half-assed play for another season.

2. Trade him for the best you can get.

While I don’t put option 1 beyond McDaniels, I really think he’s of the type to get what he can. Remember, Shanahan was ready to cut Marshall and got fired before he had a chance to execute that plan. And thanks to Santonio Holmes, a legitimate star receiver with serious off the field problems, being traded for a 5th round pick (and a bag of footballs?), the market for Marshall just tightened up considerably.

So if Seattle is willing to part with a 2nd round pick, I say take it and run. Anything else you get is gravy. The Seahawks get a true number one receiver to play alongside Whosyermama, and the Broncos get to move on having completely dismantled their offense in 1 short year.

Correction – Drew Rosenhaus does not represent Brandon Marshall – Kennard McGuire does. But that doesn’t change the source of the rumor, nor the grain of salt with which it should be taken.

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Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said from the NFL owners’ meetings in Orlando that 2009-10 starter Kyle Orton is still the team’s top Quarterback.

The Broncos traded for former Cleveland Browns Quarterback Brady Quinn on March 14^th, leading to questions about the QB depth-chart in Denver.  McDaniels finally answered those questions (for now) when he said Orton had “the respect of his teammates and coaches and we look forward to him improving.”  Josh held out the possibility that Quinn could start the 2010-11 season, though saying that, “Now Brady’s here competing, and as always, players determine what they do on the field.”

Second-year player Tom Brandstater will also compete for the starting Quarterback job, but will have difficulty ascending past two experienced starters.  Brandstater played well with the second and third teams in the preseason last year, and will continue to develop with Denver’s younger receivers.

Quinn says he knows the score, but plans to compete for the starting job anyway.  “I’ll put it this way, I think every quarterback on our roster wants to play,” said Quinn. “Believe me, whether it’s Tom, Kyle, or myself, we’re all quarterbacks. We’re going to be team players first, but we all want to be out there playing.”

For his part, McDaniels welcomes the idea of a competitive environment.  Josh was optimistic that a competition at the position will push each of his three QB’s to excel.

“There are guys that are definitely starters, and until someone comes in to knock them off their spot, it’s going to be that way,” said McDaniels on Monday.  “Brady’s a player who fits a lot of the qualities and characteristics we look for in our quarterbacks. We feel like we have three who are in that same boat. It made sense for us to try to improve the competition at that position just like it does when we try to improve our competition at any position.”

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The Broncos have acquired quarterback Brady Quinn for Peyton Hillis and draft picks. Quinn, who was the first round pick (22 overall) for the Cleveland Browns in 2007, was supposed to be the franchise quarterback, but couldn’t wrestle the starting job from Derek Anderson, who was recently released.

Peyton Hillis became a fan favorite in Denver in 2008 after picking up playing time in the wake of multiple backfield injuries. Hillis could never make it into the good graces of head coach Josh McDaniels, however, and saw his playing time diminish to almost nothing.

The Broncos also sent a 6th round draft pick in 2011 and a conditional pick in 2012 for Quinn, who is expected to land on the depth chart as the backup to Kyle Orton.

On first look, I’m inclined to like this move if only for one reason: Hillis was done here anyway, and getting anything for him was a coup. I loved to see Hillis in the backfield, but it was clear McDaniels had no such love. If the guy was gone, then we oughta get something for him. If that something is a quarterback to push Orton, then even better. Of course Orton is the starter, but word is that BQ has the chops to master the McDaniels system (he’s familiar with former Belichick assistants anyway … Crennel, Mangini), and he certainly has more raw arm strength. I’m not calling Quinn the savior just yet, but that McDaniels even went after another QB at least sends the message to Orton that his job isn’t any safer than anyone else’s. So for that reason alone, I give this trade a solid B.

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The Broncos placed a first-round tender on Brandon Marshall earlier this week, and Denver will have seven days to match any contract offer the Seahawks make.  If the Broncos let Marshall go on his merry way, Seattle would owe Denver their top first-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.  For those of you keeping track, that means the Broncos would have three top-50 draft picks in 2010… follow closely now…

Denver traded Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears last season, and they got 2009 & 2010 first-round picks in return.  The Broncos then traded their own 2010 first-rounder to the Seahawks in return for Seattle’s high second-round 2009 pick.  (Denver used that pick to draft cornerback Alphonso Smith.)

The 2010 Chicago pick that Denver retained ended up being the 11th overall when they lost a coin flip with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had an identical record to the Bears’ last season.  That left Denver with pick #11, and the Seahawks with Denver’s #14 pick.  Seattle also has a top-ten pick, #6, as a result of their dismal 2009 season.

If the Seahawks put an offer on Brandon Marshall and he ends up in Seattle, the Broncos would have the #6 & #11 overall picks in the 2011 draft.  They also have the #13 pick in the 2nd round, good for 45th overall.  Not bad.  In fact, this is probably the best situation available for Denver and Marshall.

Despite The Beast’s impressive set of receiving skills (and his amazing post-catch ability to run through & around opposing secondaries), Marshall has too much negative history in Denver to ever fully develop with the Broncos.  Brandon played a role in the shooting death of Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams, and his relationship with Denver head coach Josh McDaniels is tense at the best of times.

Marshall needs to go, and that’s why the Broncos placed a 1st round tender on him instead of the 1st & 3rd round tender they placed on DE Elvis Dumervil.  With the 1st round tender Marshall is marketable, and Seattle would seem a perfect fit.

The Seahawks just watched their #1 receiver, Nate Burleson, exit to Detroit via free-agency.  (Major burn.)  Their #2 (Deion Branch) and #3 (TJ Houshmandzadeh) are both beyond their prime at 31 & 32 years old respectively.  Plus Seattle has seen a rash of injuries at the wide receiver position for two consecutive seasons, and Brandon Marshall is a big, durable player with no history of major injury.

Expect this deal to be done by the middle of next week, as Seattle will not find a better receiver than Marshall in the 2010 Draft.  While Denver will not necessarily receive the Seahawk’s #6 pick, they should at least get their #14 back.  Negotiation is possible, but Seattle knows that the market for Marshall extends to a number of other teams.

The Broncos just re-signed Brandon Marshall’s proxy, possession receiver Brandon Lloyd, another signal that Denver is fully prepared to let Marshall ride off into the Seattle sunset.

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