Are the Denver Broncos preparing to surprise the Steelers with a quarterback switch Sunday?
That was the buzz at Denver's training facility today after word emerged that Tim Tebow had been giving up some first-team practice snaps to backup Brady Quinn, though no one would confirm it. Practice has been off limits to reporters all week.
Tebow will be the Broncos' starter, coach John Fox made clear again this afternoon. But Fox continued to brush off questions about replacing Tebow with Quinn if Tebow struggles as he did in the team`s final three games, all losses.
"I don't deal in hypotheticals," Fox said. "We expect our starters to play well, always."
He then was asked how he could use Quinn, given that Quinn hasn't appeared in an NFL game since Dec. 20, 2009, while with the Cleveland Browns.
"He's on the football team," Fox said of Quinn, "and everybody on the team's ready. Like every game, we expect our starters to play well. If for some reason an injury occurs or something happens, then it`s the next man up. That won`t change any more this week than it has all season."
Tebow speaks to the media only on Wednesdays of a game week, but he appeared to be in excellent spirits after practice and told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in a brief discussion, "I'm really looking forward to this."
Quinn did speak with the media and drew quite a crowd at his stall. He denied that he had taken extra snaps or that coaches had told him to be prepared to enter Sunday, at least any more than usual.
"No," Quinn said. "Just trying to stay ready and get guys extra catches in practice."
Quinn shrugged off his inactivity.
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