Predictably and understandably, Kyle Orton is not pleased with his benching in Denver. After playing at a Pro Bowl-level for much of the season, Orton has been replaced by rookie Tim Tebow. Tebow is expected to start in the final two games of the season.

Orton is stuck in a bad situation. He has done nothing to earn his benching. Tebow is playing because the Broncos want to see what he can do for the future and they want to give fans a reason to come out and watch the 3-11 team in the final two games. Orton, who missed the Oakland game because of a rib injury, is healthy and disappointed he has been pulled.

"I said I'd like to finish the season. That wasn't the option that was presented," Orton told reporters this week. "I don't know if I'll be here next year. We'll just have to wait and see what shakes out with the organization."

Conceivably, Orton could end up in the rare position of going to the Pro Bowl despite being benched. Orton certainly put up Pro Bowl-worthy numbers for much of the season. He was on pace to toss for 5,000 yards (that has been accomplished twice in NFL history) as of late November. Orton has thrown for 3,653 yards, the fifth most in the NFL.

I don’t expect Orton to be one of the three AFC quarterbacks voted to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday. But quarterbacks usually drop out of the Pro Bowl at a rapid pace, so I could see Orton ending up in there as an alternate. You don’t see benched players ending up in the Pro Bowl on a regular basis. But it’s been one of those years in Denver.