It now seems very possible that Tim Tebow — and not Kyle Orton — is the odd man out in Denver.

After a bizarre series of twists and turns in which the Broncos were reported to be close to trading Orton to the Dolphins — which many presumed would have put Tebow in line to start — the deal fell through and put Orton right back where he had been, taking reps as the team’s No. 1 quarterback. It was reported throughout the offseason that the Broncos would keep Orton if their price tag wasn’t met. NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi says that the decision by John Elway and John Fox — neither was involved in drafting Tebow — not to pull the trigger has made the 2010 first-round pick expendable.

“He’s in limbo right now,” Lombardi said about Tebow’s future. ”I said all offseason that I thought Tebow wasn’t in their plans. Many in Denver said that wasn’t true. I think, ultimately, he isn’t in their plans.”

Lombardi adds that Tebow was given every indication before the NFL lockout that he would be the starter. For now, that isn’t the case, and it might be Tebow who finds himself on the trading block.

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