Tim Tebow: Why the Broncos QB Needs to Demand a Trade

Three weeks of the NFL season are over. The Denver Broncos sit at an underwhelming 1-2, their only win coming against a rebuilding Bengals team fielding a rookie QB. So far the quarterback play from Kyle Orton has been spotty.

Orton has five touchdowns, but also three interceptions. In the tight contest against Tennessee this past Sunday, he tossed a pass out of the back of the end zone even when there was very little pressure on him.

The knock on Orton has been that he's great between the 20-yard lines but less than stellar in the red zone.

Despite these critiques, head coach John Fox maintains that Kyle Orton gives his team the best chance to win.

So where does that leave back-up QB Tim Tebow? With a fantastic college resume and unquestioned athletic ability, Tebow has a huge upside. But right now he's buried in the depth chart at QB behind both Orton and Brady Quinn. 

I'd like to posit (as others have) that Tim Tebow needs to be in a different situation to realize his potential. This slideshow will examine three of the key reasons why the Broncos should strongly consider trading him before the October 25 deadline.

Tim Tebow Would Develop More Quickly If He's on Another Team

The Broncos aren't doing Tebow any favors by letting him languish on the bench.

While he did get some work at wide receiver when injuries knocked out Brandon Lloyd and Eddie Royal in Week 2, coach Fox has seemed reticent to get him involved in the offense for "special" packages.

Tebow clearly has talent aplenty. A more creative offensive play-calling team like the Philadelphia Eagles or the New Orleans Saints would put those talents to better use.

I'd love to see a more explosive offense make use of Tebow's unique skills as a runner and thrower. A team like the Saints would be able to use those skills more effectively than the Broncos, while also developing him as a more complete quarterback behind Drew Brees.

While I realize that he would still be a back-up, most experts don't think that Tebow has developed the kind of pocket presence and skills at reading defenses that would make him a quality starting QB.

Being able to learn and grow at QB behind a well-respected (and likable) guy like Drew Brees would be a breath of fresh air for Tebow.

The Broncos Are Better off Getting Some Value for Tebow

Woody Paige of the Denver Post has suggested that if the Broncos don't think that Tebow can develop into a starting QB in the NFL, they should trade him.

If the season continues to go south for the Broncos (which seems likely with Green Bay and San Diego as their next foes) then Denver will be primed to have a high draft pick in 2012.

They know what they have in Kyle Orton. Brady Quinn has progressed well and showed up nicely in preseason, but it's doubtful that he can transform himself into a franchise QB at this point in his career. In addition, both of those guys' contracts are up after this season.

If they truly don't believe in Tebow, then they can set themselves up for the future by tanking in 2011 and readying themselves to draft Stanford's Andrew Luck or another highly touted college QB.

If they trade Tebow, they could add some pieces to their suspect defensive tackle rotation or to their running back corps to get some value for him.

Tim Tebow's Rabid Fan Base Need to See Him on the Field

Legions of Tebow junkies have been calling for him to see the field since his first days as a rookie in the NFL.

These folks have put both Tebow and the Broncos organization in a tight spot.

The promotional side of the organization clearly wants to capitalize on his popularity. While no longer the No. 1 selling jersey among NFL players, logging in at No. 10 as a second/third-string QB is still pretty impressive.

Broncos literature to season ticket holders trumpeted Tebow and splashed his visage across their materials.

But at the same time (in the minds of the Broncos coaches, at least) Kyle Orton gave the team the best chance to win, so he got the nod over Tebow.

Tebow needs a fresh start in a place where he won't be the subject of constant controversy and vitriol. While Tebow insists that the mess surrounding him doesn't effect him on the field, at some level it has to be difficult.

Orton has to feel a bit slighted as well. The "TE-BOW" chant echoed through Sports Authority Field at Mile High in the Broncos during their season opener against the Oakland Raiders. Orton may not be the ultimate answer for the Broncos (his bland mediocrity is appallingly consistent) but he deserves a better shake than the fans gave him.

Tim Tebow needs a new start in the NFL. Orton, Tebow and the entire Broncos organization would be better off if he landed somewhere else.