The Denver Broncos will find out sooner, rather than later, if quarterback Tim Tebow is their guy.
The highly touted first-round draft pick, who spent most of last season backing up Kyle Orton, isn't the one available for a trade; Orton is. Tebow's also the one without much of a résumé.
Brooks: Tebow will be Fox's guy
All you've got to do is take a look at John Fox's coaching history to know that, in all likelyhood, Tim Tebow will be his choice for starting quarterback of the Broncos, writes Bucky Brooks. **More ...**
Denver, especially its new coaching staff and new head honcho, former Broncos quarterback John Elway, need to know about Tebow. The only way to find out is to put pressure on him and see if he can handle it. That pressure comes by making him the guy whose job it is to lose. It's easy to look good as the backup because there aren't expectations. Not the case if you're the starter.
Tebow said he's eager, using the experience he gained starting the final three games of last season as the impetus.
"You really don't understand until you get in," Tebow said. "It's important to understand the offense. It's important to go and watch film and go through the OTAs, but it doesn't fully translate until you're on the field."
Coach John Fox said he has an idea of who will be his starter when football resumes, but there will be a fair competition for the opening-day job. That competition could be lighter if a team offers the Broncos adequate compensation -- maybe a third-round pick -- for Orton, who is available, according to league sources. Those same sources said they haven't heard the same about Tebow.
Draw your own conclusion.
As far as dealing with a new coaching staff, Tebow pointed out that offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is back and that continuity will only help him -- and the lockout won't hurt him.
"The great thing is I don't think there's going to be too much change," Tebow said. "Coach Fox is going to be a great leader for us. It's not like he's changing everything. He'll have his ways. I'm excited to learn all of them. For the most part, I believe we're going to have a similar offense."
It will be similar in some areas, but Denver will run the ball more. The quarterback will be important, but not the end-all player on offense. As has been noted, Fox won a lot of games with Jake Delhomme as his quarterback in Carolina. If Tebow can't be what Delhomme was, then he shouldn't be Denver's quarterback.
There's only one way to find out.
Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks
