Broncos start camp without Tebow
Denver’s rookie quarterback and the 25th overall pick in April’s National Football League Draft, Tim Tebow has not signed the dotted line on his contract. Tebow clearly stated last month that he didn’t want to miss a single practice to avoid falling behind in Dever’s complex offensive schemes, but he can't show up to Broncos camp until his signs the contract.
The unsigned Tebow will miss more than Wednesday's workout, unless he and his agent Jimmy Sexton get the right offer from Broncos manager Brian Xanders. If both parties can’t reach an agreement in time for the full squad practice on Sunday, Tebow may be considered as a holdout.
The former Florida Gator star continues to wait patiently to join his new team while his agent and Broncos general manager continue exchanging numbers. A source told NFL Network's Scott Hanson that an agreement between the sides is "close."
When the deal is finalized, Tebow is expected to receive close to $12 million over five years.
Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said he wasn't worried that Tebow's absence would turn into a holdout, but did note that the Heisman Trophy winner at Florida is in danger of falling behind others and might be overwhelmed when he does arrive at Broncos camp.
"We went through 60 pages this morning in an installation meeting. Those pages are filled with information," McDaniels said. "It's not that we're not going to go back and review that, we will."
What does this mean for the rookie? LIkely a few extra hours in the film room, a few extra hours studying and memorizing Denver’s gigantic play book, and a few more meetings with the coaches in order to get up to speed. Tebow will have to adapt to all these extras sessions and be expected to follow with his regular workload.
You can tack on all the training camp traditions that all rookies must endure— of course with the exception of Cowboys’ Dez Brynat. It’s tradition that all new players entering the league carry veteran players' pads at the start and end of practice.
Projected starter Kyle Orton jokingly said "I've got these pads on. I need somebody to take them in for me." Tebow might be the number three quarterback on the depth chart behind backup Brady Quinn, but he remains the hot topic in town since the Broncos traded three draft picks for the right to select him.
He got the highest praise possible when legendary quarterback and Super Bowl winner John Elway spoke approvingly of him.
"I think there's a connection with Tim Tebow and the way he's acted, come in and [shown] the type of person he is. He fits perfect into this community," Elway said. "Everyone is excited about him because they kind of feel like, you know, he's the next son of Denver. That's how I felt when I came in."
Although the quarterbacks will be getting the majority of the media spotlight at camp over the next six weeks—especially when Tebow arrives, the more interesting and competitive position battle will come to the quarterbacks’ best friends on the field: the receivers.
With Brandon Marshall’s departure, the Broncos’ former Pro Bowl receiver has left a huge void for the Broncos' offence. Marshall will now be catching passes for Miami.
Veteran wide receivers Jabar Gaffney and Eddie Royal figure to provide leadership at the position, along with the ageless wonder and 12-year veteran Brandon Stokley.
The old guys will have to prove that they can still hang with the younger generation and will compete for a roster spot against Brandon Lloyd, Kenny McKinley and Matt Willis.
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