The biggest news to start draft day had nothing to do with football yet I saw it having a direct impact on the (non) action at Radio City Music Hall that night. The NCAA let it be known that rather than destroying March Madness by expanding to 96 teams, they were instead proposing an expansion to 68 teams – probably the only way possible to actually improve the tourney (assuming mid-level BCS conference teams are the ones in the play-in games). I figured living in a world where even the NCAA does the sensible thing could only mean one thing.

Common sense is coming to the sports world.

I thought this was an omen for the NFL draft. Maybe for once teams would do the common sense thing. Ignore the high risk/ sexy names and focus on better value players at more important but less exciting positions.

The draft started that way with even Mike Shanahan drafting a offensive lineman in the top five. Heck, logic prevailed to such a degree that the Raiders made a good pick, taking Rolando McClain, the player I personally coveted for the Broncos.

And then with the 10^th pick the Jaguars took a guy out of Cal I had never heard of before, and since he is going to Jacksonville will never hear of again.

But the Jags going off script was the beginning of the end for my trusted friend logic.

And of course, there is one team that epitomized this ‘What the…’ draft logic and it was (sadly) my Denver Broncos.

Trading back is a classic Bill Belichick move so it shouldn’t have been a surprise that the Broncos moved back – especially with my man Rolando off the board (or so I want to believe). When they drafted Demaryius Thomas at the 22nd pick just as I landed at DIA, I was…ehhhh…about it. Yes, the Broncos need a wide receiver to replace the departed Brandon Marshall so I understand the thinking of drafting the big Thomas. I watched him pick apart the FSU secondary last season, so I know he is as good as….well just about any receiver in the NCAA so maybe that isn’t the best benchmark.

Of course the only problem with drafting Thomas is that it doesn’t matter if the Broncos receivers are any good when the quarterback is running for his life the moment he receives the snap and the opposing defense drops into passing coverage immediately because there is no threat of a running game.

(Translation: It sure would be nice if the Broncos improved their offensive line at some point.)

Thomas also does nothing to help a Bronco defense that went from early season surprise to late season embarrassment faster than you can say ‘the Chiefs and Raiders combined for 64 points against them’

As I walked through the DIA terminal I passed a sports bar and I saw them showing Tim Tebow and his family celebrating. Knowing from text messages since I landed that Doug’s Dolphins would soon be on the clock I held out hope that I had a new source of mocking for our constant email exchanges.

And then my phone rang and it was Doug himself.

As you know, it wasn’t Doug’s Dolphins drafting Tebow. It was my Broncos.

Gulp.

For a moment I debated just walking across the terminal and boarding the red-eye to London to start over. I have my boys from Arsenal, who needs the NFL?

Making my way to the car instead, my phone received so many texts and emails it actually dropped service.

So what to think?

Frankly I don’t know. This is going to take awhile to really process.

As an impartial analyst, I can’t fully argue with the pick. After years of brainwashing by Tebow I am convinced he could end up being successful in the pros. It just requires a mad scientist of a coach that can find the best way to use him.

I just didn’t want Dr. Frankenstein’s lab to be located in Englewood, Colorado.

As a shockingly sane fan said on 850 KOA call-in show, the Broncos can use Tebow much like UF did his freshman year: as a package quarterback brought in for short yardage situation. Is there any better weapon on 3^rd and three than a guy that can throw the ball, run up the middle or hand to a speedy runningback to hit the outside edge?

Of course, the counter argument is: do you really spend a first round draft pick on a guy who can only be used in limited situations? Isn’t that why kickers don’t have a lot of draft value? Also, how successful can any quarterback be with a sieve of an offensive line in front of them?

Those are the debates of the impartial analyst in me.

The 10000% partial Bronco and Seminole fan had a slightly different reaction:

NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After spending countless hours over the years coming up with new and exciting ways to make jokes at Tebow’s expense he is now being cast as the savior of my Broncos? I am supposed to (gulp) cheer for Tebow? Is this some sort of karmic retribution? After years spent playing the sarcastic, cynical observer of the sports world, was this the cruel joke to be played on me by a higher power?

And what of poor Kyle Orton? He could throw for 3,500 yards and 43 touchdowns in the first fifteen games next year yet throw one pick in that 15^th game and a third of the stands will start chanting for Tebow to come in. Another third will be cheering for Brady Quinn to come in. And the final third will be cheering for some weird quarterback-centric bastardized wishbone featuring Quinn and Tebow together.

A year ago, I gave up on the Rockies thanks to their ownership’s unwillingness to make moves that make the team better rather than just moves that make them wealthier. In theory, I could do the same with the Broncos. But unlike the Rockies who didn’t form until 1993 and I didn’t follow until just a few years ago, the Broncos have been my team for nearly 30 years. There is too much history for me to turn my back on the Broncos simply because of their drafting Tebow.

Instead, much like some sort of biblical character, I look at this as a test. A test of my personal strength. A test of my fortitude. My character. My loyalty. My devotion.

I am sure there is some biblical story where a character is put through a series of tests to demonstrate his devotion.

I just wish I knew which one.

I wonder if there is someone moving to Denver who might be able to help teach me which biblical story is most applicable?

Tagged as: 2010 NFL draft, broncos, demaryius thomas, denver, tim tebow