[ESPN.com] ESPN is reporting that the Chiefs have claimed former Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton off waivers.
This means they now will take over his contractual rights for the remainder of this season and the Broncos are free of the $2.5 million they would have owed Orton. The Bears and Cowboys also put in a waiver claim for Orton, but the Chiefs had the higher priority under the waiver system.
The Chiefs are in desperate need of a veteran quarterback, starter Matt Cassel was injured two weeks ago against the Broncos and was placed on the injured reserve list on Monday and his backup Tyler Palko, threw three interceptions in his first start, a 34-3 loss at New England on Monday night.
Orton was released by Denver on Tuesday, six weeks after he was benched following a 1-4 start. The former Chicago Bears starter, who passed for 3,000 yards each of his first two seasons in Denver, became expendable when the Broncos opted to go with Tim Tebow as their starter.
He’s expected to report to the Chiefs on Thursday, though it’s unlikely that he’ll be up to speed in time for Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh.
Orton’s career numbers bear a striking resemblance to those of Cassel, who was hurt near the end of the Chiefs’ 17-10 loss to Denver two weeks ago. Orton’s completed about 58 percent of his passes while making 66 career starts, with 79 touchdowns and 55 interceptions.
Cassel has started 54 games, completing 59 percent of his throws with 76 TDs and 46 picks.
Thank god.
Comment by Chris C — November 23, 2011 @ 5:42 pm
keep Cassel as a backup, Orton becomes the starter for the next two or three years if we can sign him, draft either Matt Barkley, Landry Jones, or RG3 in the draft and let them sit and learn for a few years. Future would look bright in that scenario I think
Comment by aj58soad — November 23, 2011 @ 5:55 pm
I think this was a good idea, since we had salary cap room. Although a lot of people have ruled us out of the playoffs, we are only 2 games behind. You never know what might happen.
Orton has similar numbers (percentage complete, TDs and INTs) to Cassel, only, I think his winning percentage is lower than Cassel.
We will be too high in the draft to get one of the top two QBs, so everyone hoping for a Hall of Fame QB from the draft is just fantasizing. The stars have to line up for that to happen.
Comment by Jeff in VA — November 23, 2011 @ 8:04 pm
yea…. right… ok…. wow…. whats next….. is Jim Harbough still available???
Comment by dave — November 23, 2011 @ 9:15 pm
Orton didnt have the plethora of WRs that Cassel had, so yes his numbers might be weaker. I just hope we can pull out the upset sunday so we dont fall too far behind the playoff race until Orton is ready to go. Also, i’m glad to see us on sportscenter without being made fun of.
Comment by Bernard — November 24, 2011 @ 12:26 am
To aj58soad, there is no way Cassel stays as a backup. Now, he wants to start and we are paying him way too much to be on the bench. If Orton looks good, we have to shop Cassel and hope we get a little something. If not, we release him and start the season with Orton next year. Next, Jeff in VA, you are probably right about getting a big time QB in the draft but we may get a little lucky. Washington, Seattle and Miami are the three tams picking in front of us that definitely need QB’s. Washington may move up to get Luck with Indy and Moore is coming on strong which may take the Dolphins out of the QB race. If none of the big QB’s are left when we pick in the first, I like Geno Smith from WVU in the 3rd round. He is huge, mobile, hard to bring down, played in a pro set and won a big number of games with no running game. Finally, Bernard may be right. Orton has played on a lot of bad teams with no good wideouts (Brandon Lloyd probably his best between Chic and Denv). He may light it up in K.C.
Comment by DC Chief — November 24, 2011 @ 2:20 am
I think picking up Orton was the best pickup possible for the Chiefs. Kyle Orton was an absolute stud at Purdue, when he threw 50-60 times a game so we all know that he can make the throws. “BUT” its not going to matter who the chiefs have at QB if they don’t figure out the offensive cluster F*CK that we have with play selection and execution and do something creative with all the talent. (Bowe Baldwin Breaston Mccluster). Next season Orton Starting QB + Bowe Baldwin Moeaki Breaston Mccluster = PLAYOFFS
Comment by golfer — November 24, 2011 @ 10:16 am
yes, Orton will have the best receivers he’s ever had. Hopefully, we can pass block for him. We thought we were a running team, but that isn’t working out too well without Brian Waters. So we may have to become a passing team the rest of the way, since that is where our playmakers are. I hope Muir retires this year, his play selection has been the most disappointing thing to me this season.
Comment by Jeff in VA — November 24, 2011 @ 11:56 am
My worse nightmare just came true. When I saw that the Donkeys cut him I said that we would get him and sure enough we did. Why would we want a qb that cant keep a starting job with the Bears then gets cut by the Donkeys for Tebow, please we are better than this! We should have just let Palko and Stanzi finish the season,save some money reevaluate the season then get a good qb in the draft like Griffin III. We need to start developing our own superstar quarterback instead of getting somebodey elses washed up players!!
Comment by DONKEY SLAYER — November 24, 2011 @ 12:11 pm
Were not out of the playoffs yet. Your crazy if you think Tyler Palko has a better chance of winning football games in the NFL than Kyle Orton. Do you even watch football Donkey Slayer? Kyle Orton lead the NFL in passing yards through 9 games last year, he can throw the ball and at this moment he’s our best option. If Stanzi was ready i dont think Pioli would’ve pulled the trigger on Orton.
Comment by golfer — November 24, 2011 @ 12:29 pm
Makes no difference….. KC still needs major help to get things rolling
Comment by dave — November 24, 2011 @ 2:51 pm
I think Chiefs management just made a statement that they want to win the division this year. It’s the last year on Orton’s contract, if it doesn’t work he will walk after this year. We were going to get another QB anyway since Cassel was placed on IR. Why not get a QB that has started in this league and knows the AFC West. We could have brought back Brodie Croyle, LOL. I think it was a smart move. I guess Donkey slayer has given up on the season. I haven’t, not yet anyway.
Comment by Jeff in VA — November 24, 2011 @ 9:11 pm
First of all golfer, that was last year this is this year. What did he do with Denver? Must not be that good if he loses his job to a qb that cant even throw the ball to save his life. The Chiefs need to live in the present and build on to the future not live in the past, which is last season. I never said Palko was that good of a qb but he could get us through the year without getting a qb that lost his job to Tebow that realy should be a rb. But oh well there is noting we can do about it now. Don’t get me wrong I hope Ortin proves me wrong because I hate it when the Chiefs lose but until then I still say he s just not that good. So instead of asking me if I even watch football maybe you should spend less time golfing and more time watching football.
Comment by DONKEY SLAYER — November 24, 2011 @ 9:29 pm
To Donkey Slayer, you are right that we have to build towards the future and that’s what we have done. Also, we have not given up on the rest of the season which is important for us fans too. Orton allows us to build for the future because he is the perfect guy to start next season while we hopefully develop a young QB. Cassel is not getting it done and his paycheck is nearly 5x the amount of Orton’s. Also, Orton did not loose his job in Denver. The fans and team did not support him and booed him until management gave in to the fans and let Tebow start. Finally, it may fail and we may not be able to sign him for next year but I bet he has two awesome games against the Bears and Donkeys!!!
Comment by DC Chief — November 25, 2011 @ 1:20 am
Well said DC Chief. What really do we have to lose. We are way under the cap this year and if Orton plays good maybe we will resign him for next year.
Comment by golfer — November 25, 2011 @ 11:28 am
So who should KC draft (Position wise) for thed next draft?
Comment by Dave — November 25, 2011 @ 9:37 pm