GM Xanders denies that Tebow lacks support

Denver Broncos general manager Brian Xandres took issue Friday with a report the NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi published Monday implying that quarterback Tim Tebow was slowly being pushed out of Mile High.

“Most members of the Broncos who were there when the Tebow pick was made are looking to distance themselves from the choice, which is a classic way for things to operate in the NFL,” Lombardi wrote. “So Tebow is a man without much support in Denver, making quarterback a huge need.”

Xanders denied that was true.

“First of all, I think that report was false. I think there’s a lot of people in our building that are behind Tim Tebow,” Xanders told Pro Football Talk during an interview Friday. “[Tebow] is someone the franchise invested a lot into in terms of draft picks, the contract, but he’s going to create his role. But he’s done a good job so far with his limited opportunities. So that report was false.”

It is important to note that, while Xanders disagrees with Lombardi’s report, it is not necessarily entirely untrue. There very well could be a large faction of people in Denver’s front office who do not believe in Tebow long-term. Then again, the new coaching staff has only watched him on video and may not see him step on the field for months.

With head coach John Fox speaking out Thursday in support of veteran QB Kyle Orton, unnecessarily naming him the starter during the 2011 NFL Combine, Tebow will once again have plenty to prove if/when practice begins for next season.

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