All along, through the offseason workouts and training camp, Kyle Orton has said he believed he was the Broncos’ starting quarterback. Now he’s got the deal to show it.
The Broncos agreed to a one-year, $8.8 million contract extension Thursday that takes Orton through the 2011 season. Orton and head coach Josh McDaniels said today the two sides had been discussing an extension for weeks before coming to the deal Thursday.
“It was an exciting day for my wife (Bridget) and I,” Orton said. “We certainly love the community. It had kind of been talked about, back and forth, for the last couple months there. I’m really happy where I’m at as a player. I was telling Josh (Thursday) night I feel like I’ve come a really long way in three months and I feel like there’s still a ton of room for exponential growth just moving forward.”
Orton threw for 3,802 yards last season, his first in Denver. This offseason, Orton went about his business as the Broncos traded for Brady Quinn and used a first-round pick to draft Tim Tebow. He cemented himself as the team’s starting quarterback in the process.
“We’re excited about having the opportunity to come to an agreement with Kyle,” McDaniels said. “It’s something we talked about for a little while over the course of the offseason. Just his performance, his leadership, his understanding of the offense, and all the things that he’s done, he’s really demonstrated that he’s at a different place than he was last year. I think it’s good for our team, it’s good for him.”
“I’m just real excited about it,” Orton said. “I know I’m appreciated here, I knew that last year. Any time you can go out there and just display good work ethic, do everything team oriented, which I try to do, I think you’re always going to be appreciated by your teammates and your coaches.”
Orton will earn $2.62 million this year from the tender he received as a restricted free agent to go with the $8.8 million next season.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
