Broncos camp report: Mile High City should prepare for a new low

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DENVER -- On the surface, everything seems calm at Broncos camp. The practices grind forward with a steely precision and a small group of fans watches quietly, giving a nice golf clap when a big play erupts. One player actually bows to the fans in appreciation.

After practice, coach Josh McDaniels, who resembles a friendly first-year med student, meets with the press and chats calmly. Players leave the field satisfied with a good morning's work. Even wide receiver Brandon Marshall -- Kid Calamity -- has a smile on his face.

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Things seem normal. They resemble many scenes at camps across the NFL except there's one difference: The Denver Broncos -- for the moment -- are a dumpster fire.

The potential for implosion is almost Oakland Raiders-like.

The problems for the Broncos began when McDaniels photon-torpedoed the locker room by trading Jay Cutler and making Kyle Orton the starter. Orton responded by tossing three interceptions on three drives in his first preseason game. Orton at times looks like he's in over his head, like a frat boy suddenly commissioned with delivering a keynote address at the United Nations.

The star receiver, Marshall, remains at odds with the team. Well, actually, to say that Marshall and the Broncos are at odds is like saying the birthers and President Obama had a mild disagreement. There is such dislike and distrust between the Broncos and Marshall that another 38th parallel might be needed.

Several Broncos veterans privately admitted that the Marshall situation -- he wants more money and has requested a trade several times -- has a chance to become even uglier.

The Broncos have told Marshall he won't be traded, but the New York Daily News reported that the Jets have held discussions with the Broncos about trading for the Pro Bowl wideout.

While other teams and their respective issues have drawn more attention (see: Michael Vick, Brett Favre and, as always, the Raiders) the Broncos are just as drama worthy. They are potentially the true Inglourious Basterds, and a little nudge could send the Broncos over the edge.

This is a proud and brilliantly run organization with top-notch ownership and a good front office. Nevertheless, the Broncos are conducting a grand and dangerous experiment. What happens when a team trades its best player and keeps another who despises his own team's front office?

Publicly the Broncos are keeping a brave face. "We don't pay any attention to what the media says or what people think," quarterback Chris Simms said. "We believe in each other. That's all that matters. We'll let the media say whatever it says and we'll play football."

Orton's preseason has gotten better since the disastrous beginning but that first contest understandably raised doubts. When the Broncos recently practiced at Invesco Field, he was loudly booed by fans, prompting the site Profootballtalk.com to write the humorous play on Seuss: "Orton hears a boo."

When asked if the media and fans have been too tough on the quarterback, McDaniels responded, "I don't know. I don't know. I didn't read anything, so I don't know how much heat he took. But he certainly made a few mistakes that we don't want him to make. And turning the ball over is never a good thing, but he also did plenty of good things ... and ran the team effectively in a lot of ways. But we made some mistakes in the red area and on third down that hurt us. He's definitely got to do better than he did in terms of some of those situations he was in, but I think he has a great attitude and he understands what was wrong and he'll work hard to fix them."

"I understand [the fans] want us to be playing perfect right off the bat," Orton explained. "That's how it is in this league. But I just try to stay on track and do my job and get better."

Orton added: "I haven't been a turnover-prone guy in my career and I'm not going to press about it."

Still, no one should be shocked if at some point in the season Simms supplants Orton.

For his part Simms is saying little about the quarterback situation and is supportive of Orton. Simms is also excellent at providing perspective. He remembers being a backup in Tennessee, injured, and so concerned about his future there he got ulcers. Now Simms is healthy and happy.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Simms said. "I just know I'm healthy and I'll do whatever Coach McDaniels wants."

Orton might be average but at least, unlike Marshall, he doesn't have tortellini for brains.

Marshall and the Broncos are playing a great game of chicken, and Marshall is acting like he's holding all the chips. In many ways, he is. When Denver traded Cutler it meant McDaniels was in a spot because he can't trade two team superstars in his first year. Marshall knows this and it has emboldened the already bold receiver.

We've seen players implode teams from within many times before and that might happen with Denver.

For now the Broncos are holding firm on not trading Marshall. How long that mettle holds is the question because Marshall could go out of his way to make it so uncomfortable for the team that it has no choice but to deal him. In some ways, that has already started.

When Marshall was recently acquitted of misdemeanor battery charges -- one of several times he was accused of striking women -- one person close to the situation confirmed published reports that he was miffed at how the Broncos handled the news.

"I think the biggest thing was, it was really disappointing hearing that ... some of my teammates were coached to say 'Don't say you're happy for Brandon,'" Marshall said.

A team public relations person told players not to publicly express to the media they were happy for Marshall, regarding his acquittal. Instead they were instructed to say it was good for the organization.

Marshall took the situation as a slap in the face and thought the directive came from a high-ranking member of the organization. The Broncos apologized to Marshall.

"Those are all private meetings and we're trying to do what's best for the football team," McDaniels said.

Add to all of that the team's schedule. Denver's non-division games include Dallas, New England, at Baltimore, Pittsburgh, the Giants and at Philadelphia.

Wow.

Well, things could be worse for the Broncos.

They could've signed Vick.