Consider this: Kyle Orton is the first Quarterback since John Elway’s retirement who wont be compared to the almighty number seven.

He’ll get comparisons to the supposed next rising of the messiah, who was shipped off to Chicago with his bottom lip puckered out, but not to Elway.

That will be a huge component of his success.

The pressure of being held up to Saint John for comparison has ruffled the feathers or gotten under the skin of every previous quarterback who has come into the Bronco’s fold. It comes from the fans and the media, who analyze each new QB and judge his worthiness by how stacks up against John Elway.

Brian Greise had the distinct disadvantage of following right on the heels of the departing Mile High Deity. He looked clumsy and lumbering after 16 years of Elway’s dexterity and dynamism.

Plummer’s displeasure with the Denver fans and the Elway comparisons is well documented (insert finger wave here).

Cutler had to feel the pressure also; in one interview he defensively quipped that he had a stronger arm than Elway.

In comes Kyle Orton and the inevitable comparisons to, wait for it, Jay Cutler.

For Orton, shaking away from the short legacy of Jay Cutler is much less a daunting task than sluffing the monkey of John Elway off one’s back. It would take 16 years, five Super Bowl appearances, with two wins, a “Drive” or two, and a handful of successful auto dealerships to live up to the legend that is Elway in Denver.

But he doesn’t have to worry about that. All he has to do is have a better 2009 season than Jay Cutler. That Or take Denver to the playoffs while Chicago stays home. Even if he breaks even, and goes nose to nose with Cutler through 2009, Orton wins.

Jay Cutler getting traded has unintentionally allowed Kyle Orton to step out from under a different shadow. One much smaller and a lot less intimidating than big John’s.

In a sense, a curse has been lifted.

 

 

 

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