National Football League

Broncos coach Vance Joseph gives cold shoulder to Tony Romo talk

Published Mar. 1, 2017 10:35 a.m. ET

Sam Gardner

INDIANAPOLIS — Vance Joseph inherited one of the NFL’s most intriguing and fluid quarterback competitions when he was hired by Denver in January, but the Broncos head coach says he doesn’t feel pressure to make a quick decision when it comes to whether Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch will start under center this season.

He also doesn’t seem inclined to complicate matters by bringing in Tony Romo, a rumored target of the team in recent weeks.

“We’ve got two young guys that combined to win nine games last year as starters, probably should have won two more games,” Joseph said Wednesday at the NFL Combine. “So we’re fine there, with those two kids.”

Last season, under since-retired head coach Gary Kubiak, Denver went 9-7 as Siemian, a seventh-round pick out of Northwestern in 2015, started 14 games, winning eight. Lynch, the No. 26 overall pick in last year’s draft, also went 1-1 in one-off starts in October and December, when Siemian missed time with shoulder and foot injuries, respectively.

Joseph said Wednesday that Siemian should be ready for OTAs after undergoing left shoulder surgery in January and put the onus on new offensive coordinator Mike McCoy to create an atmosphere that gives both young quarterbacks an opportunity to thrive.

“I think the problem with Paxton and Trevor (is) they’re so different.” Joseph said. “Paxton is a tall, big-armed guy, Trevor is fundamentally sound, great footwork, great with the ball — he can really spin the ball as far as throwing the football. So they’re different. And I think Mike’s challenge is finding an offense that fits both guys so they can compete equally.”

Still, regardless of the system, there will be an expectation among some that Lynch, the 2016 first-rounder, should get the job. But Joseph was adamant that he won’t make his decision based on where a player was selected.

“It’s going to be an open competition,” Joseph said. “Whoever wins the job, that’s who’s going to play. That’s as fair as it can be."

And if that takes until the end of the preseason to name a No. 1, as it did last season, that’s just fine.

“Whenever it happens, it happens,” Joseph said. “The best guy will play.”

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