Kyle Orton News: Pro Sports Daily

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November 20

Colorado Springs Gazette

"Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton was a no-show at practice for the second straight day. Orton was not present for the portion of practice that is open to the media. Orton has a sprained left ankle, and has one more chance to practice this week. The Broncos have a practice on Friday, which is their final practice before Sunday's game. Usually Friday's practice is the lightest of the week. Most players don't play if they haven't practiced during the week, but McDaniels said he has no set rule on whether someone can play after not practicing. The Broncos are not giving up hope that Orton can play Sunday. The winner of the Broncos-Chargers game will be in sole possession of first place in ..."

Injured Broncos QB Orton improving, but still a question

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November 19

Denver Post

"Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said today quarterback Kyle Orton is making progress with his severely sprained left ankle, but that no determination will be made about Orton's playing time for Sunday's game against San Diego until it's necessary. And that decision certainly wasn't coming today. Orton has received treatment all week, but did not practice Wednesday or today. "(He'll) continue on with his rehab schedule, certainly not making any determination based on where he is now," McDaniels said. "But we'd love for him to be out there as soon as he can possibly be out there and we're hopeful he's going to play." Orton suffered the injury in the final seconds of the first half last Sunday ..."

Broncos' Orton sits out practice, but hopes to play Sunday

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November 18

Denver Post

"Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton said today he is optimistic he will be ready to play in Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers. "That's the goal," Orton said during his weekly news conference. "I'm going to do everything that I can to be on the field Sunday. Myself, just like everybody else, we're excited to move on and play San Diego in this big game for the AFC West." But had the Broncos played the Chargers today, Orton would not have been their quarterback. Orton was not on the field for the Broncos' practice Wednesday, at least during the first 10 minutes or so that are open to the media."

Broncos' Orton will play despite ankle injury

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November 16

NFL.com

"NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi is reporting Denver Broncos QB Kyle Orton will play this week against the San Diego Chargers despite an injured left ankle. Orton sat out the second half of Sunday's 27-17 loss to the Redskins after he was injured during a scramble late in the first half, and refused to speculate on the severity of the injury following the game."

Orton injures ankle

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November 16

Denver Post

"There is now a mirror image to the tortoise and the hare fable. It was the Broncos' Game 9 story of Kyle Orton. No rabbit, Orton started fast against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, but couldn't finish. Tackled from behind on essentially the final offensive play of the first half, Orton limped off with a sprained left ankle and didn't return. With backup quarterback Chris Simms struggling to shake off nearly 3 1/2 years of rust, the Broncos suffered a disheartening 27-17 loss to the Redskins before another sellout crowd at FedEx Field."

Kyle Orton leaves game with leg injury

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November 15

Denver Post

"Kyle Orton suffered an ankle injury on his final snap of the first half and is listed as doubtful to play in the second half. Chris Simms, in his first possession of the season, led the Broncos to first downs, but his first possession ended in a short Mitch Berger punt. Orton was running for a short gain inside the Redskins' 10-yard line when he was tackled by rookie Brian Orakpo. Orton came up limping."

Deep ball high on Orton's wish list

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November 12

Denver Post

columnist Dave Krieger

"There's a new voice calling for the Broncos to throw the ball down the fieldKyle Orton's. It is his coach, Josh McDaniels, who seems reluctant to let him try. Granted, this requires a little tea-leaf reading. The only times we actually see Orton and McDaniels talking is on the sideline during games. Sometimes it looks as if they're yelling at each other, but we can't hear what they're saying. McDaniels assures us that what you say is more important than how you say it, and that Orton has a thick skin, so I guess we have some idea what they're saying. But I wasn't even asking Orton about that Wednesday when he volunteered that it would be great to make a few plays down the field. He was ..."

Orton, Broncos looking inward to fix stalled offense

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November 11

Denver Post

"With the Broncos coming off back-to-back losses, it is time for introspection at Dove Valley, quarterback Kyle Orton said Wednesday. For Orton, that started with giving himself a clean shave — he has rid himself of the full beard he has sported in recent weeks — and then taking a critical look at every phase of the Broncos offense. "You've got to look at what they've done to us, but we've also got to look at what we've done to ourselves. I think it goes both ways," Orton said. "We've played two good teams, two good defenses and they've done some good things against us, but really, the big thing for us is look at the things we've done to ourselves and try to correct those as fast as ..."

Interceptions doom Denver in loss to Steelers

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November 10

Longmont Times-Call

"During the first six weeks of the season, the Denver Broncos outplayed and outcoached their opponents. During the past two weeks, the Broncos have been given a taste of their own medicine. Monday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers came to Invesco Field at Mile High and dominated the second half en route to a 28-10 win over the Broncos. "They just outplayed us for 60 minutes," running back Correll Buckhalter said. "We don't have no excuses. We got beat. Bottom line." After a 6-0 start, the Broncos (6-2) have lost two in a row — by a combined 41 points. Yet, following Monday's defeat, the Broncos insisted there is no reason to panic. "We are in first place of the AFC West (and) lost to two good ..."

Orton expects Broncos to rebound against Steelers

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November 4

Denver Post

"Quarterback Kyle Orton expects the Broncos offense to bounce back nicely from last week's disappointing performance at Baltimore. He said the platform to do so — hosting the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers on "Monday Night Football" — is a perfect scenario. "Guys like to play on primetime," Orton said during his weekly news conference today. "There is extra emotion on Monday night games. We'll be excited and we'll be ready to go." Orton said Denver's primary objective is to execute while playing its most physical game of the season."

Orton thrives with Broncos, rookie coach

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November 3

Longmont Times-Call

"Through the first few months of his rookie season, Tom Brandstater has learned plenty from Kyle Orton about the art of playing quarterback in the National Football League. Brandstater is not, however, likely to seek automobile advice from the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback. A well-known environmentalist, Orton has ditched the high-priced vehicles and drives a Honda Insight hybrid. "It always gives me a laugh every time I see him get out of a meeting and hop in his little fake car, as I call it," said Brandstater, the Broncos' third-string quarterback. That "fake" car may not be the typical vehicle for an NFL quarterback, but it's typical for Orton. "He's definitely interesting," ..."

Orton, Broncos offense have an off day

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November 2

Baltimore Sun

"Kyle Orton should have known Sunday would be his worst day so far as a Bronco after only one play. Orton took the opening snap at Denver's 31-yard line and prepared to toss a short screen pass to running back Knowshon Moreno. Problem was, no one was left to block Ravens outside linebacker Jarret Johnson. Johnson rushed into the backfield and threw Orton on to the wet grass at M"

Broncos' QB Orton to get a second chance against Ravens fleet defense

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October 28

Denver Post

"When it comes to a stroll down memory lane, Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton isn't in a hurry to look back at the last time he faced the Baltimore Ravens defense. Orton has only faced the Ravens once in his career — with the Bears in 2005 — and will get his second chance Sunday in Baltimore. "I've only been able to play these guys one time... and that was as a rookie," Orton said Wednesday morning. "That's pretty much unfair if you're a rookie quarterback. "That isn't one of the moments I look back on with pleasure my rookie year. They're fast, they get to the ball, they're intimidating, everything you want in a defense." While players like linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed remain from ..."

On Football: Win-win situation

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October 23

Washington Times

"The Chicago Bears got Jay Cutler and are so thrilled by his play that they needed only five games to sign him to a contract extension through 2013. The Denver Broncos got Kyle Orton and are the NFL's surprise team, starting 6-0 with Orton throwing nine touchdowns and one interception. It almost never happens. Two teams make a huge trade - this one was gigantic - and both teams benefit. This isn't Miami fleecing the Washington Redskins for Jason Taylor (two draft picks) or Dallas overpaying for receiver Roy Williams and getting 30 catches and one touchdown in return. Orton and three picks went to Denver. Cutler and one pick went to Chicago. It was a risky deal for both teams. Denver gave up ..."

Broncos' Orton not concerned about Cutler's new deal

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October 22

Denver Post

"Don't get any ideas. Just because the Chicago Bears gave Jay Cutler a two-year contract extension worth $30 million doesn't mean the Broncos will initiate in-season discussions on a new deal with quarterback Kyle Orton. Yes, Orton has outperformed Cutler, the man he was traded for (along with draft picks) during the offseason. And yes, Orton is in the final year of a contract that is paying him a mere $995,000 this year. And sure, Orton would eventually like a long-term deal that would keep him the Broncos' quarterback until the end of his career. But Orton said the only time he thinks about his contract situation is when people ask him about it. "Those discussions are for the Broncos or ..."

Orton says he's thrilled with Broncos

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October 17

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Quarterback Jay Cutler's demand to be traded out of Denver was the NFL's greatest offseason soap opera that didn't involve Brett Favre or a court room. Cutler had been the heir apparent to John Elway, but his distaste for a new coaching regime doomed his future with the Broncos. So Denver jettisoned him in a trade with Chicago, and all of the chatter was about Cutler getting a fresh start. Nobody seemed to care much about what it meant to Kyle Orton, the Bears quarterback who was the other major piece of the deal. Orton, it turns out, was as thrilled as Cutler to be moving on. "I was extremely excited when I got the call," Orton recalled this week. "I thought this was a great chance, ..."

Kyle Orton has great "D" Jay Cutler would have killed for

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October 17

Denver Post

columnist Jim Armstrong

"How much easier is life for Kyle Orton, the proud possessor of a legit defense, than it was for Jay Cutler? The answer, my friends, is blowin' in the wins. Orton is 2-0 when the Broncos don't score 20 points. Cutler was 2-12 in those games. . . . In case there was any doubt, we give you the stat of the year in the Valley of the Dove: Broncos opponents have converted two third downs in 30 second-half attempts. And keep in mind, they've faced Carson Palmer, Tony Romo and a man named Brady. . . . Paid 30 bucks to park near Invesco a few weeks ago. I only mention it because a season ticket at the 50 cost $31.50 in 1960. . . . A league with a franchise called the Redskins won't allow Rush ..."

Broncos down Patriots in OT

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October 12

Denver Post

"As often happens when Bill Belichick coaches against one of his former assistants, the showdown between teacher and student got heated. Only Belichick was an innocent nonbystander on the opposite sideline, nowhere near the tongue-lashing and glare Broncos coach Josh McDaniels gave his special-teams assistant, Mike Priefer. "I deserved it," Priefer said. "It was a field position game and those were costly mistakes. I should have coached them better. But that's OK. We'll learn from it and keep getting better.""

Broncos' Orton praises Marshall

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October 7

Denver Post

"Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton doesn't have to look at Brandon Marshall's statistics to know the team's star wide receiver is becoming a bigger target every week. Orton said Marshall's increased work ethic and enthusiasm in practice are reflected is his recent production. Marshall, who was suspended in the preseason for conduct detrimental to the team, has caught nine of his 16 passes and his two touchdowns in the past two games. His receiving yards-per-game and average yards-per-catch has increased over the four victories. "He's certainly a special player that can make types of plays that probably other people can't," Orton said today at his weekly news conference. "He's worked extremely ..."

Broncos' QB Kyle Orton has a knack for winning

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October 5

Denver Post

"Kyle Orton is usually good, sometimes not so good, and occasionally lucky. What he is above all else is uncanny. He came into this season with an impressive 21-12 record as a starting quarterback in the NFL despite an unimpressive 71.1 passer rating. Make that 25-12 after Orton helped the Broncos defeat the Dallas Cowboys 17-10 on Sunday. "I don't listen to things about me," Orton said. "I play this game to win football games and compete with 52 other guys. It is not about me." The Game 4 box score will show Orton completed 20-of-29 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. There was more to the story behind those touchdown passes. His first zipped through the hands ..."

Orton, Marshall to play vs. Bengals

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September 13

ESPN.com

"Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton is on the field, in uniform, warming up and will start against the Cincinnati Bengals, a Broncos official told ESPN's Adam Schefter. In addition, Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall, coming off of a team-imposed nine-day suspension, is in uniform and will play against the Bengals on Sunday. Orton, who has a dislocated right index finger, is wearing a glove on his throwing hand at practice this week but he'd rather do without it on game day. He said he's never worn a glove, even in the winter while he was playing for the Chicago Bears."

Orton set to start season

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September 13

Longmont Times-Call

"Kyle Orton appears ready to go for Sunday's regular-season opener in Cincinnati.The Denver Broncos' starting quarterback hasn't played since injuring his right index finger Aug. 30 against the Chicago Bears.This week, he has practiced with the first-team offense, wearing a glove on his right (throwing) hand to protect the bandage and stitches."He has handled it great," head coach Josh McDaniels said Friday. "He is a tough guy. It is an unfortunate injury to have as a quarterback, but he has dealt with it fine and hasn't complained about it at all and gone out there and gone about his business."Orton threw the ball well during passing drills Friday."

Orton to start Broncos' opener

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September 12

Denver Post

"Barring a stitch problem in pregame warmups, Kyle Orton will be the Broncos' starting quarterback Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Orton has been taking all the snaps from starting center Casey Wiegmann this week. He was the quarterback with the first-team offense today, as he was Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Wearing a glove on his right throwing hand to protect his bandage, which protects the stitches to close the gash on his right index finger, Orton is throwing the ball with his usual zip and depth. Orton, perhaps by coaches orders, said: "We'll see on Sunday." Orton also said he has had no limitations."

Orton to start Broncos' opener

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September 11

Denver Post

"Barring a stitch problem in pregame warmups, Kyle Orton will be the Broncos' starting quarterback Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Orton has been taking all the snaps from starting center Casey Wiegmann this week. He was the quarterback with the first-team offense today, as he was Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Wearing a glove on his right throwing hand to protect his bandage, which protects the stitches to close the gash on his right index finger, Orton is throwing the ball with his usual zip and depth. Orton, perhaps by coaches orders, said: "We'll see on Sunday.""

Orton hopes to play through pain in season opener

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September 10

Longmont Times-Call

"Pain or no pain, Kyle Orton wants to be on the field Sunday when the Denver Broncos visit Cincinnati to open the NFL's regular season."I'm preparing that I'm going to play, no question about it," he said Wednesday. "Everybody wants to play on opening day and I'm no different. I want to get out there and compete and do everything I can do to help the team win."The starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos was out nearly two weeks after dislocating his right index finger on Aug. 30 against the Chicago Bears. Although he returned to practice Tuesday, Orton said, "It doesn't feel great. That's football and everybody has to deal with a little bit of pain."Orton didn't speak to the media after ..."

Bengals QB can relate to Broncos-Marshall situation

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September 10

Longmont Times-Call

"Carson Palmer knows what the Denver Broncos are going through.Broncos star wide receiver Brandon Marshall has asked to be traded, and earlier this week was reinstated after a two-week suspension for behavior deemed detrimental to the team. Although he's back, it's still to be seen how happy Marshall can be in Denver."It definitely can be a distraction," said Palmer, the veteran quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals who is preparing to face the Broncos on Sunday. "You want 53 guys that want to be part of that 53-man roster, and when you have one guy that's pulling in a little bit of a different direction, it can be a distraction."Marshall's story is familiar to Palmer. For the past several ..."

Broncos hurting at QB

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September 1

Denver Post

"The Broncos have a serious quarterback problem that has nothing to do with the performances of Kyle Orton and Chris Simms. The health of Orton and Simms, however, is another matter. Orton suffered a serious injury to the index finger of his right (throwing) hand Sunday during the Broncos' preseason game against Chicago and is in danger of missing the season opener Sept. 13 at Cincinnati. Simms has been out since suffering a severe left ankle sprain Aug. 22 at Seattle. Two NFL sources said the finger was not fractured but that Orton suffered an open dislocation (penetration of skin) of the right knuckle. That would explain the blood dripping from Orton's finger and the excruciating pain the ..."

Orton's finger injury puts QB spot on the spot

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August 31

Denver Post

"Hurry up and heal, Chris Simms. As the Broncos' quarterback situation stood Sunday night, there was a chance Simms was in position to heal from his left ankle sprain before Kyle Orton was able to recover from his right index finger injury. Orton had a delayed reaction to his injury, which occurred following an incomplete pass on a third-and-2 play with 5:37 remaining in the first half. NBC cameras showed his right finger bleeding. It then appears his finger was yanked into place. Teammates could hear Orton scream in pain before he was escorted to the locker room. Afterwards, his right finger was heavily bandaged but he would not reveal specifics of his injury, per instructions of Broncos ..."

Chicago "D" notices Orton, but that's it

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August 31

Denver Post

"This is pro football, so there is zero time to get sentimental. In a sport where contracts are not guaranteed - and especially in the preseason - even players wearing the same uniform are trying to take the livelihoods of one another. So there was no rendition of "Memories" sung by the Chicago Bears' defensive players when they saw Kyle Orton on Sunday night at Invesco Field at Mile High. As defensive tackle Tommie Harris put it, when asked what it was like to play against a former teammate who's now a Broncos starter, "A quarterback is a quarterback." Star linebacker Brian Urlacher wasn't quite so coldly dismissive, saying of his former teammate: "It was good to see him. I know he got ..."

Broncos believe Kyle Orton will be good fit

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August 28

Chicago Tribune

columnist Dan Pompei

"There are things Kyle Orton has done here that he really couldn't have done in Chicago. He has climbed mountains, he has been camping and fishing, and he has watched his golf balls rocket out into the mile-high air. Now, he expects to do some things on the football field for the Broncos that he never could have with the Bears. With this coaching staff, with this offense and with this team, Orton could achieve more. Certainly, more is being asked of him. He expects to be throwing more than 40 times in some games, which he did once in his 33 starts for the Bears. The Broncos offense is considerably more ambitious and complicated than the scheme in which Orton played with the Bears. Broncos ..."

Left alone, Orton looks all right

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August 24

Denver Post

"Stay strong, Kyle Orton. Stay strong this week through the well-hyped return of Jay Cutler. And by strong, the Broncos mean using your strong arm. The right one, not the left. That lefty flutter on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line Saturday night at Seattle's Qwest Field? If there was a radar gun, it wouldn't have registered. As they would have said in Chicago: What da . . . ? "Yeah, well, certainly I would have rather been able to throw it right-handed or do something," Orton said after the Broncos' 27-13 loss to the Seahawks in a preseason game. "But I didn't want to take the sack. Sacks aren't going to get you anywhere in that situation. Just throwing the ball up in the air to see ..."

QB comes close to even better stats

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August 23

Denver Post

"Aled to a lefty lob. It would have been a difficult catch, but had Jabar Gaffney held on to a pass with his reaching hands, Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton would have had a near-perfect night. Late in the first half of Saturday's preseason game, the Broncos had second-and-goal at the Seattle Seahawks' 1 when Orton had to throw over one defender to a wide-open Gaffney in the back of the end zone. Gaffney had to jump and lift his hands over his helmet, but the ball was catchable. Had Gaffney clutched the ball, Orton would have finished the half 18-of-21 for 178 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 133.7 passer rating, and the Broncos would have been leading the Seahawks late in the ..."

Orton learns to develop thick skin

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August 22

Denver Post

"There's up. There's down. Cold. Hot. Fast. Slow. And for a Broncos quarterback in the post-Elway era there are these contrasts: Great. The worst. There is no middle ground, no place to hide, and for Kyle Orton it is a fact of football life he accepted long before he became the Guy Who Was Traded For Jay Cutler. "I always think about something my college coach just harped on," Orton said, referring to former Purdue coach Joe Tiller. "He used to always say, and I totally believed it then and totally believe it now, that when things are going good, quarterbacks get way too much of the credit, and when things aren't going good they get way too much of the blame. "I certainly agree with that. ..."

Orton OK with rough first outing

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August 18

Longmont Times-Call

"Relax, Broncos fans. Kyle Orton has played half a game - a preseason game, no less - as the Denver Broncos' new starting quarterback, and some are already calling for his benching. "I understand (the fans) want us to be playing perfect right off the bat," Orton said Monday. "That's how it is in this league. But I just try to stay on track and do my job and get better this week." Orton was far from perfect on Friday night against San Francisco. It was his first game with Denver - also the Broncos' first game in the post-Jay Cutler era - and Orton's performance gave reasons to worry. He threw three interceptions and led the Broncos to zero points in the four possessions he engineered. "He ..."

Broncos going with Orton, despite INTs

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August 16

Denver Post

"By preseason's end, Chris Simms must trust that his quarterback competition with Kyle Orton will be decided not by choice, but performance. "I'm sure you guys will write a lot of articles and talk about it on talk radio and everything else," Simms said Friday night in San Francisco after the Broncos lost their preseason opener 17-16 to the 49ers. "It's not going to change me one bit. I'm going to do whatever Coach McDaniels asks me to do for the team, and I'll continue to play to win." In all ways but one, Simms is an ideal backup quarterback. The son of a former NFL quarterback, Simms can stand on the sidelines and serve as a mentor and second coach to the first-string quarterback. Simms ..."

Orton responds with best practice of training camp

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August 10

Denver Post

"Nobody booed Kyle Orton on Sunday. During a 7-on-7 pass coverage drill early in the Broncos' practice at training camp, Orton threw a ball 40 yards until it landed perfectly in Brandon Stokley's hands, much to the dismay of cornerback Jack Williams. Later, during a full-team controlled scrimmage, Orton threw touchdown passes on four consecutive plays - to Daniel Graham down the right seam, Jabar Gaffney in the back of the end zone, Gaffney again on a touch pass just inside the goal line and Eddie Royal on a hook pattern. Orton then zipped completions to Stokley and Tony Scheffler during the practice-ending, two- minute drill. It was Orton's best practice as a Bronco. "Training camp's a ..."

Broncos fans boo Orton at practice

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August 7

Indianapolis Star

"The largest crowd ever to watch a Denver Broncos practice didn't much like what it saw. New quarterback Kyle Orton, acquired from Chicago for Pro Bowl passer Jay Cutler in the biggest NFL trade of the offseason, was booed by the crowd of 13,402 at his unofficial debut at Invesco Field when he threw two interceptions and several bad passes during a structured scrimmage Thursday night. The former Purdue quarterback drew the fans' ire when he was picked off twice by cornerback Andre' Goodman, the second of which was returned for a long touchdown. "I had a good day," Goodman said in a lonely sentiment afterward. Orton also was jeered when he threw behind receiver Chad Jackson, again when he ..."

Job security, grand offense give Kyle Orton reason to smile

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August 4

Green Bay Press Gazette

"The rarified air of the Rocky Mountains has provided Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton with a breath of fresh air.For the first time in his NFL career, Orton is not trying to win a starting job in training camp. Rookie head coach Josh McDaniels took care of that when he named Orton the starter over Chris Simms in June. In his first four seasons in NFL - all with the Chicago Bears- Orton battled not only for the No. 1 job but the backup role, too. Orton loves the idea of playing in McDaniels' offense, which produced big numbers for New England in 2007 with Tom Brady at quarterback and in 2008 with Matt Cassel filling in. "For four years, I was on a team based on defense and special ..."

Orton feels at home in Denver

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August 2

Chicago Sun-Times

"Not since his days at Purdue has Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton entered training camp as the definitive starter. With the promotion comes more snaps, responsibility and a heap of pressure because Orton now resides in the long shadow cast by Hall of Famer John Elway. The legacy of No. 7 has been difficult to live up to. The Broncos have won only one playoff game since Elway retired with two Super Bowl titles a decade ago. Not that it's a bad thing. Chris Simms, Orton's backup, welcomes the comparisons. ''[Elway] has set quite a legacy here for the quarterbacks,'' said Simms, whose father, Phil, was the Super Bowl MVP for the New York Giants when they beat the Broncos in January 1987. ..."

Orton crams for first test with Broncos

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August 1

Denver Post

"As the Kyle Orton Era officially got underway in Denver on Friday with the first full practice of the 2009 season, it would be easy to measure the quarterback's progress merely by counting completed passes. But it might be just as important to count the pages of detailed notations in Orton's personal notebooks, taken over the course of nearly four months since he arrived in Denver. "He's always writing in his notebook. He's got books in there, at least it looks like it to me," backup quarterback Chris Simms said. "He's very meticulous with his notes. He's a smart guy, there's no doubt about that." For whatever physical prowess Orton needs - and coach Josh McDaniels is confident the ..."

McDaniels in no hurry to name No. 1 QB

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June 13

Denver Post

"Give Chris Simms credit for maintaining his sense of humor in the midst of a very real quarterback competition. Asked after the conclusion of the first mandatory minicamp practice how he thinks he's faring in the battle with Kyle Orton, Simms joked that coach Josh McDaniels had named him the starter. "I'm not supposed to tell you," Simms said Friday, before quickly getting serious. "We have no control over that. I just come out here and try to be my best and let the coaches make the decisions from there." In reality, McDaniels seems in no rush to name a leader in the quest to replace Jay Cutler. Orton and Simms each took repetitions with the first-team offense Friday, though it was Orton ..."

Simms giving Orton stiff competition at quarterback

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May 30

Denver Post

"Chris Simms has chucked his way back into the quarterback competition. For most of the offseason, Kyle Orton appeared to be the front-runner to replace Jay Cutler as the Broncos' new quarterback. It was Orton who had the most recent playing experience, going 9-6 in 15 starts for the Bears last season while Simms hasn't played in nearly three seasons. "I understand everybody else looking at it that way, but to me it doesn't even matter," Simms said. "Regardless, I'm coming out here trying to do my best, trying to learn the offense and compete. At the end of the day, you do your best and let the coaches make their decision." Simms clearly got more first-team reps in the passing camp session ..."

No Rocky Mountain sigh for Kyle Orton

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May 5

Chicago Sun-Times

"Kyle Orton didn't say if they asked him to turn out the lights when he left, but there's no question he has been the last man leaving the Denver Broncos' facility most nights in the last month. Finally given an opportunity to exhale Monday morning -- coach Josh McDaniels gave the Broncos the week off -- Orton had a chance to reflect on his whirlwind transition since the trade that brought Jay Cutler to the Bears on April 2. Once he got over the initial shock, Orton said, he embraced the situation in Denver with top receivers in Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal and a stout, young offensive line. The most difficult thing was leaving behind teammates such as Pat Mannelly and Olin Kreutz. ''I ..."

QB fight nothing new for Orton

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May 2

Denver Post

"Kyle Orton is here and Mark Sanchez is not. Instead of a franchise quarterback, the Broncos took a franchise running back in Knowshon Moreno. Call draft day a win-win for Orton. "There's no question about it, a good running game is the best friend for a quarterback," Orton said. "We've got a good group of running backs and Knowshon should fit in well." The veteran Orton is attending the Broncos' rookie minicamp this weekend while the rookie Sanchez is nowhere near Dove Valley. The Broncos thought about taking Sanchez, a pro-polished quarterback from USC, with their first pick in the NFL draft. They even flew to Los Angeles to give Sanchez a private workout five days before the draft, and ..."

Orton's experience outweighs Simms'

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April 12

Denver Post

"The last time Kyle Orton and Chris Simms led their respective teams to the playoffs, so did Jake Plummer. It was 2005, a season that in many ways was so long ago. The difference between Orton and the other two is that he didn't get rewarded for his accomplishment. After posting a 10-5 record for the Chicago Bears as a rookie starter in 2005, he was replaced by Rex Grossman for the playoffs. Orton remained on the bench until he beat out Grossman for the job late in the 2007 season. "I've been through a lot in four years, there's no question about it," said the newest Broncos quarterback. "Right now, I appreciate the past I had in Chicago, but I'm so excited for the future." Strange how the ..."

Orton ready to go to work, compete for starting job

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April 5

Denver Post

"Kyle Orton not only arrives here eager to learn and lead, he's here on the cheap. In the final year of a five-year contract he signed prior to his rookie season, Orton is to make an affordable $995,000 salary in 2009, plus - get this, Broncoland - a $100,000 workout bonus. And yes, Orton is already well on his way to qualifying for the bonus. "Leadership doesn't come overnight," Orton said. "I plan to put my head down and go to work and show the guys what my work ethic is." In fact, Orton will lead the league in mini-camps this year. Most teams have two mini-camps, and he's already been through one with the Chicago Bears. The Broncos get an extra mini-camp because they have a new head ..."

Welcome back to mediocrity

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April 3

Denver Post

columnist Dave Krieger

"Kyle Orton? Really? Be still, our hearts. Welcome back, Broncos, to a world you thought you left behind in 2006. Welcome back to the world of mediocre quarterbacks. Welcome back to Mike Tomczak and Jim Miller, Chad Hutchinson and Rex Grossman, the world the Bears just left behind. Welcome back to Steve Tensi and Steve Ramsey and Max Choboian. That's right, Max Choboian. Led the Broncos in passing in 1966. You can look it up. There's a reason they were celebrating in Chicago and we were shaking our heads in Denver on Thursday, even with all those draft picks. However you felt about Jay Cutler, there is no debate in the NFL about the importance of franchise quarterbacks. The past five Super ..."

Bears' trade takes media hits

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April 3

Denver Post

columnist Anthony Cotton

"It may not matter much to you, sitting by the fire under your orange-and-blue blanket, but outside of Denver, there seemed to be one overriding question in the face of the trade of Jay Cutler: What were the Chicago Bears thinking? "They gave up an awful lot to get him, they'd better be getting their money's worth," former Bears head coach and current ESPN analyst Mike Ditka said. It's not that Cutler, who threw for more than 4,000 yards in making his first Pro Bowl last season, isn't considered a special talent. It's just that his particular skill set - throwing the football - seems out of place. The Bears seemingly haven't thrown a meaningful forward pass since Jim McMahon hit Willie ..."

Deal begs question: what happened in seven days?

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April 3

Denver Post

"There are a few people in the vast region known as Broncoland, not to mention members of the national press, who want to know: What happened in seven days? On Tuesday, March 24, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said, repeatedly and emphatically, regarding the disgruntled Jay Cutler: "He's our quarterback. We're looking forward to getting him back. We're committed to him." On Tuesday, March 31, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen issued a statement that said, in so many words: "Jay Cutler is outta here." Cutler and a fifth-round draft pick were shipped Thursday to the Chicago Bears. In return, the Broncos got quarterback Kyle Orton, two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick. The relationship ..."