Not anymore.
On Saturday night, August 20, Denver lost 31-24 to the woeful San Francisco 49ers. And while that in itself is no big deal (since these games don't count), the spotty performances of the squad's three QBs were dispiriting.
Trevor Siemian, who got the start, looked terrific in an opening drive for a touchdown but then threw the kind of what-the-hell-are-you-doing interception that suggests he's not ready for prime time. Then, veteran Mark Sanchez lived up to his butt-fumbler reputation by coughing up the ball twice in about a minute. And while rookie Paxton Lynch, the designated quarterback of the future, had his moments, he, too, hurled a pick at the end of the game, and he displayed plenty of other tendencies associated with NFL novices — such as focusing on the receiver to whom he wants to throw with the sort of laser-eyed intensity that will have defensive backs licking their chops.
During and after the game, Twitter Nation reacted with varying degrees of hatred and derision for the various quarterbacks — and though plenty called for Lynch to start the next pre-season game (August 27 versus the Los Angeles Rams) and perhaps the season opener (against the fearsome Carolina Panthers), others suggested that making such a move would be a sign of panic.
Granted, plenty of folks appear to feel that panic is appropriate about now — a weird turn of events regarding a team that just won the Super Bowl. A countdown of our picks for the twenty most memorable tweets below.
Number 20:
@Broncos, Trevor Siemian sucks, put @Mark_Sanchez in the game already. This is stupid. #SFvsDEN #BroncosCountry #Broncos #NFLPreseason #NFL
— Jonathan Manalo (@manalo_jonathan) August 21, 2016
Number 19:
Broncos defense is playing like SH---T. Mark "Dirty" Sanchez can throw worth a damn. Trevor Siemian sucks! https://t.co/AZmI8EvWF4
— Scoop Nemeth (@Scoop719) August 21, 2016
Number 18:
@PaxtonLynch u suck and i want u to sit on the bench for the duration of ur career with the Broncos
— Alexus (@alexusgulsvig) August 21, 2016
Number 17:
@Mark_Sanchez you suck ass!!! Get the fuck outta BRONCOS COUNTRY!!! It's @PaxtonLynch time at least time baby!! pic.twitter.com/okraTVpl7L
— The Winner (@quiggs94) August 21, 2016
Number 16:
Mark Sanchez sucks nice puck up Elway this guy freaking puts the ass in suckass https://t.co/0nLWPK1sat
— Michael Southgate (@mikesouthgater) August 21, 2016
Number 15:
Mark Sanchez just flat out sucks. Broncos better sign a veteran QB fast for Paxton Lynch to learn under for a few seasons
— Gordon Sommers (@GordonSommers) August 21, 2016
Number 14:
@deeanna_wahl Paxton played with 3rd stringers off line still sucks
— Matt Holton (@JE7TD30) August 21, 2016
Number 13:
Broncos broadcast team talking like Paxton Lynch is leading a Jr High team against the 85 Bears. #49wz #49ers
— Aaron Erickson (@EricksonAaron44) August 21, 2016
Number 12:
Wow. The Broncos QBs suck right now.
— Carlos Illescas (@CarlosIllescas) August 21, 2016
Number 11:
"Not to give Paxton Lynch too much benefit of the doubt, but it was another great throw" - Broncos announcer on a bad, intercepted overthrow
— Fred Smith (@porsche914yr74) August 22, 2016
Continue to keep counting down our most memorable tweets about the Broncos quarterbacks after the team's preseason loss to San Francisco.
Number 10:
I'm watching the Broncos game from last night and I'm specifically looking at Paxton Lynch. What I see: overthrown balls, needs time.
— Tinder Fingers (@Snvtchsquvtch) August 22, 2016
Number 9:
Number 8:One #Broncos player said to me about Lynch starting, "He would have 2 weeks to get ready."
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) August 21, 2016
Me: "is that enough time?"
Him: "Probably not."
Mark Sanchez makes Kaepernick look like a good QB...ya he sucks that bad
— Nate Nelson (@GodlyFatality) August 21, 2016
Number 7:
Number 6:Mark Sanchez fucking sucks
— YoungDony (@DonyFresh24) August 21, 2016
This just in Mark Sanchez still SUCKS. Glad I'm not a @Broncos fan
— Nick saraceni (@nick_saraceni) August 22, 2016
Number 5:
Lynch very self-depricating about how he played vs Auburn. Broncos would be wise to give him time, whether you feel he is a project or not
— Ryan Booher (@bootang25) August 21, 2016
Number 4:
I'm done with the Sanchez project but Siemian sucks too.
— Young Ragnar (@MarcellusESQ) August 21, 2016
I hate our QBs.
Number 3:
Come back from camping trip and everyone wants Lynch to start haha...patience....
— Kickers are people (@BroncosOface) August 21, 2016
Number 2:
Haven't been impressed at all by @Broncos this preseason. Paxton Lynch looked decent. Siemian is terrible and Mark Sanchez is dirty Sanch
— El Chapo Jr (@Vidanske) August 21, 2016
Number 1:
YAY Lynch!!! Who's the 4th stringer? #Broncos #BroncosCamp #BroncosCountry
— ShoulderToShoulder (@WynTheDay) August 21, 2016