Broncos want to trade QB Orton to clear way for Tebow

The Denver Broncos are willing to deal starting quarterback Kyle Orton, league and team sources said, and spent Tuesday assessing that market. Minnesota, Arizona and Miami are among the teams expected to engage in trade talks with them.

The Broncos value Orton and are unlikely to deal him for less than a third-round pick, sources said, with the possibility that the compensation escalates based on Orton's performance and/or his new team signing him to an extended contract.

Orton is in the final year of his deal and put up solid numbers in Denver after being a part of the Jay Cutler trade with the Bears in 2009, but apparently new coach John Fox has decided to go with Tim Tebow, a first-round pick in 2010, as the Broncos' starter.

Orton, who participated in Broncos player-led workouts during the lockout, has made it clear he does not want to back up Tebow. Orton has started 28 games for the Broncos the past two seasons, passing for 41 touchdowns and almost 7,500 yards.

The Denver Post, which first reported that Orton was on the trading block, listed the Tennessee Titans as another possible trade destination for Orton. Trades were able to be announced as of 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

The Post also reported that the Broncos plan to release 11-year veteran running back Correll Buckhalter, 32, who is scheduled to make almost $2 million this season.

After starting seven games and rushing for 642 yards in 2009, Buckhalter gained just 147 rushing yards and 240 receiving yards this past season.

The Broncos spent the day negotiating with their draft picks, including No. 2 overall selection Von Miller, who said he planned to be ready to practice when training camp starts.

"I want to come in and just learn. I don't want to put myself anymore behind than I already am," Miller said.

Miller stands to make much less money in the new labor accord, with a four-year deal likely worth about $25 million or so, some $45 million less than he could have gotten under the old setup.

"I've been playing football all my life for free. So, whatever it is, whatever my contract may be, I'm good with whatever," Miller said. "You really can't be possessive over something you didn't have."

On top of that, Miller figures he will simply make it up during his career.

"I plan on getting three, four, five contracts," Miller said, smiling. "I don't plan on just getting this one. I just want to play football. I'm not really worried about all that other stuff."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Pryor's best move is to steer clear of NFL during uncertainty

Terrelle Pryor has yet to chose an agent or file for the NFL supplemental draft. And, if I were representing the former Ohio State quarterback, my advice to him would be simple: Forget about the NFL, at least for 2011.

Pryor is walking into the vortex of the spring/summer of uncertainty in the NFL, a time where, outside of April's draft, you really can't bank on anything. In many ways there could be perhaps no worse time for a 21-year-old, slightly-tarnished developmental quarterback in need of prolonged teaching and instruction to be embarking on an NFL career, especially when teams I speak to have just a fifth-round grade on him at best.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have acquired the negotiating rights to Terrelle Pryor and have spoken to Pryor's lawyer about bringing the former Ohio State QB to the CFL. More ...

» Brooks: Pryor not ready for NFL

There isn't much to lose by plying one's trade elsewhere for a year or two -- not monetarily, not in terms of hands-on teaching time and certainly not in terms of future earning potential, given that the young man doesn't even turn 22 until later this month. And the NFL that would await a fifth-round supplemental pick come training camp -- whenever that actually starts, and assuming in fact that a legal battle over the very idea of a supplemental draft during a lockout doesn't postpone the event itself indefinitely -- would not be very advantageous to cultivating project quarterbacks.

Indeed, if Pryor is determined to be a pro quarterback, and not a receiver or a "slash" or some hybrid of the sort -- then the UFL or CFL provide the best options. The money would be about the same, he would be a higher short-term priority there and the coaching can be plenty good as well (especially if, say, you were to land with Marty Schottenheimer's staff on the UFL's Virginia Destroyers).

I know that's the thinking of at least one agent who has had conversations with Pryor (the agent came away pleasantly surprised with Pryor's attitude and character, by the way, and believes a normal pre-draft interview and workout program would actually boost Pryor's stock).

And it's sound logic.

So many teams already found their young starter or developmental guy in the draft, or they have their eye on a un-drafted kid, likely older, more experienced and mature than Pryor, and a prospect who wouldn't cost them a draft pick. Many NFL teams are essentially putting their coaches and football operations staffs on vacation the rest of the month.

As I mentioned, the exact timing of the supplemental draft, and whether or not there would be injunctions against it, is a subject of debate. The Brady v. the NFL case -- the players' antitrust suit against the league -- already claims the draft, free agency, and franchise tags are illegal; at the time of its filing, no one had yet applied for the supplemental draft but it would be only natural for the players' council to object to that as well given its opposition to the NFL draft itself.

The one potential Pryor agent wondered if the quarterback would then be asked to be a part of Brady v. NFL? Could the NFL Players Association file a brief against the supplemental draft even without Pryor's consent? And would Pryor's best interests be served by any of that?

For a kid already with so much to juggle and already caught up in maelstrom in Columbus, Ohio, entering the NFL in the middle of another controversy would be less than ideal.

Furthermore, would Pryor, at a time when all other players are locked out, be able to spend hours talking to coaches and general managers and have private workouts for teams? Because all of that would be essential and imperative for all parties given this unique situation.

If you're looking at a potential 1-3 round pick -- maybe. But for a kid with a fifth-round grade, and for one as raw as Pryor, I say it's not worth the risk, not with options like the UFL and CFL there.

NFL teams could be trying to sign draft picks, fill out rosters, reschedule preseason games, tender players and conduct shortened training camps all at once. Teaching the playbook to a fifth-round supplemental draft pick and getting him meaningful reps isn't going to be a priority. Not close.

In the CFL or UFL, he is a much more prized asset. The money would be about the same. The chance to put up quality game film in a true pro environment? Priceless. In the CFL, he would likely end up spending at least two years in the league given the nature of their contracts; in the UFL his deal could be up by November. Maybe someone squats on his draft rights next April, in this hypothetical. Or, who knows, maybe Pryor ends up joining the NFL as a free agent down the road and gets to pick his team.

Time will tell, but in the short term I'd have Pryor give Warren Moon and Joe Theismann a call and ask them how the CFL worked out for them. I'd maybe give Dolphins linebacker Cameron Wake a call as well. Especially at a time like this, those are the more viable alternatives for this particular player.

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Saints RB Bush says he's clear to test leg that was broken

Reggie Bush expressed optimism Monday that he can practice this week on his healing right leg and possibly play Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The New Orleans Saints' star running back, who has missed five games since fracturing his right fibula in Week 2, said team doctors have told him he has healed enough to test his leg at full-speed.

Bush said he plans to try that when the Saints return to practice Wednesday.

"I expect to go out there and see what I can do," Bush said. "I don't know if I can practice, if I'm going to be 100 percent. I'm just going to go out there and give it my best shot. I feel good, but I haven't gone out there."

Bush said his leg has responded well to strength and conditioning exercises with the training staff during the past few weeks. However, he cautioned that he isn't sure how he'll feel when he tries to make sharp, lateral cuts typically required of him during games. Bush said doctors have told him he'll know he's ready to play when he can tolerate those types of football moves.

"I'm an explosive player, so it's different doing things in the training room than getting out there on the football field and making those hard cuts and routes and all those things," Bush said. "I've got to play a whole football game, not just an hour in the training room."

Bush's injury occurred when players piled on him while he recovered his muffed punt during the fourth quarter of the Saints' 25-22 victory at San Francisco.

Before his injury, Bush had been most effective in the passing and punt-return games. He had a 6-yard touchdown catch and 43-yard punt return against the 49ers. He was off to a slow start as a rusher, gaining just 18 yards on seven carries.

The Saints (4-3) have gone 2-3 in the five games that Bush has missed. Although Bush isn't always prolific, the Saints consider him a threat to score at any time and value his versatility.

"It's going to be wait and see this week," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We're optimistic, yet we're guarded. I think we just have to pay attention to how this work week goes."

Bush said he is eager to return, but he must be cautious.

"It's all about being safe and being 100 percent and being sure that you're ready to go out there and contribute without having any lingering pain or nagging injuries or anything like that," he said.

Payton also addressed speculation of tension between the team and injured starting running back Pierre Thomas, who has been slow to recover from an ankle injury.

"There hasn't been any tiff," Payton said. "Certainly we're all frustrated with the progress of Pierre's rehab. Anything specific in that matter would be between Pierre and I, and the club."

Pressed further on the matter, Payton continued: "Like I said, anything that takes place with Pierre and myself in those meetings is certainly not for you. Listen. You're asking me a question, I'm telling you the answer. All right? I'm telling you we're all frustrated. ... We're all frustrated with the injury, all right? We're disappointed it's taken this long. And any communication -- and certainly Pierre and I are on the same page -- is for us, the club, the player, and it's simple."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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