"After watching MNF, why is Kyle Orton the starter? He looked horrible all game. Tim Tebow was at least competitive against Oakland last season. What does the brain trust see in Orton that is not evident to the rest of us?

— Jeff, Las Vegas

Jeff, I thought he looked awful, too, and have written that in two columns this week. You are correct that Tebow, on the road against the Raiders, with a team that was worse than this one, and a playbook that was about the size of a comic book, scored 23 points. Twenty-three points on Monday night would have tied the game and sent it into overtime. Orton and his mates on the OFFENSE scored 13 points. Eric Decker? gave the Broncos their only touchdown for three quarters on SPECIAL teams. I've seen Orton. I know what he is. I haven't seen enough of Tebow to know if he can play or not in this league.

Let's say the Broncos win seven, or even eight, games with Orton. What good is that since they won't get into the playoffs? Tebow won 33 percent of his starts last season. That's not good. But it was a higher winning percentage than Orton (3-10) had last year. At least, if you start Tebow, you find out this year what he really is. If he and they are terrible, draft a quarterback. If he's good, you bring in a veteran quarterback, or even go draft another quarterback. Orton's not coming back. The Broncos won't give him $50 million. Miami wouldn't, which is the reason he's still here. You'd think Orton might wait until he played in ONE playoff game before he demanded a long-term contract.

Quinn's not coming back because he will be a free agent and wants to go to a team where he might have a chance to become a starter. Good luck on that. Did I say Luck? If Tebow is good, then Tebow is the QB. If Tebow is a waste, then the Broncos will have a chance to draft Luck. Where's the downside? To answer your question about the brain trust: Orton practices well. I play golf. I hit the ball well on the practice tee. (By the way, Orton is a one handicap in golf. Maybe he chose the wrong sport).

Orton understands the offense. He's in his seventh year in pro football. He should practice well and know the offense. Orton doesn't throw many interceptions or make many mistakes, is what his supporters say. But he throws interceptions at the worst possible times and makes mistakes at the worst possible times. I point to the end of the fist half and toward the end of the second half. They lost the game. They have lost many other games when Orton has thrown mistakes in critical moments, or been sacked.

I point back to the Miracle in Cincinnati two years ago. Orton was sacked when the Broncos (who had only three points up to then) could have scored to win the game. Then he threw a bad Hail Mary that was tipped by the Bengalis and fell into the hands of the Broncos for the winning touchdown. Orton is not Luck, but he was Lucky. The Broncos like Orton's work ethic, and they like his leadership. But they don't really like him."