The idea of a franchise quarterback is someone that doesn’t only lead a team but also a community. It’s the kind of person that the fans can get behind, and get excited about. While many people doubt that Tim Tebow can be a traditional “franchise quarterback”, that is what the Denver Broncos were hoping when they drafted him with their 25th pick in the 2010 draft. People expected Tebow to go in the later rounds, but the Broncos picked him, along with his supposed “professional flaws”, with the hope that he could lead him back to the promised land.

The thing is, the Broncos’ picking of Tebow was just as much a “love letter”, for the lack of a better term, to their fans as it was a statement of winning. While they did think that Tebow would have a future in the NFL, picking a popular player to galvanize a suffering fan base was not out of their minds either. Though they have had decent years, the Broncos have been searching for a franchise QB to take over ever since Elway left. While Tebow may not have been the best quarterback in the draft, the Bronco’s fans were certainly happy to have them. And with the playoffs out of research last season, the fans were clamoring for a taste of Tebow in the last couple of games, which they got in the final three. Going 1-2, he did show some promise, though didn’t exactly light the world on fire.

With the NFL Strike now a reality, Tebow is using his time wisely promising to practice on his own to become a better professional quarterback. While he’s the fan’s choice to start, the Broncos are unsure about where Tebow fits in with the future of the team. Though Kyle Orton did not have a great 2010 season, they did trade for him to be their starting quarterback, which does mean something, in terms of money. While it may come down to a last minute decision on Tebow vs. Orton (if there is a season in 2011), the Broncos could also trade for one of the quarterbacks on the market, such as Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb. If Tebow can get a lot out of his “lockout workouts” and show that he has the guff to be an everyday starting QB, you may see him as their number one when the season does start. You also have to remember, he is beloved in Denver, which means that season ticket holders are going to be calling for him to play, which means a lot as well.