Kyle Orton the Denver Broncos starter, but Brady Quinn competition welcome, says coach Josh McDaniels

Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels says there's "no question" Kyle Orton is the team's starting quarterback, according to The Denver Post. But he's leaving room for newly acquired Brady Quinn to compete for the job.

Earlier this month, the Broncos acquired the former first-round draft pick from the Cleveland Browns for fullback Peyton Hillis, a 2011 sixth-round draft pick and a conditional pick in 2012. That raised questions in Denver about who would be the starter in 2010.

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But McDaniels, speaking at the NFL owners' meetings in Orlando, said Orton has earned the right to begin camp as the Broncos' starter.

"He's a guy who made the most of an opportunity he was given last year," McDaniels said, according to the report. "Kyle started all but one game for us last year, and he's got the respect of his teammates and coaches and we look forward to him improving. Now Brady's here competing, and as always, players determine their roles by what they do on the field."

Shortly after the trade, Quinn -- who competed with Derek Anderson for the starting job in Cleveland -- made it clear he wanted to compete for the starting job in Denver. Quinn said the coaches would make the decision on who plays, but the players have to prepare to be the starter.

Quinn

Orton

"I'll put it this way, I think every quarterback on our roster wants to play," Quinn said at the time. "Believe me, whether it's Tom [Brandstater], Kyle, or myself, we're all quarterbacks. We're going to be team players first, but we all want to be out there playing."

When the trade happened, Orton welcomed Quinn and said he was happy to work with him. But Orton also said he expected to be the starter, adding he had talked to McDaniels about Quinn before the trade was made

"I will keep [the conversation with McDaniels] private but I do have total confidence that I'm the guy there,'' Orton said at the time, according to The Denver Post. "Just like every year I'm going in to try and earn my starting job. I don't think I have anything to fret.''

On Monday, McDaniels said he welcomed the competition.

"There are guys that are definitely starters, and until someone comes in to knock them off their spot, it's going to be that way," McDaniels said, according to the Post. "Brady's a player who fits a lot of the qualities and characteristics we look for in our quarterbacks. We feel like we have three who are in that same boat. It made sense for us to try to improve the competition at that position just like it does when we try to improve our competition at any position."

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