If Tim Tebow has any chance of regaining status as the NFL’s most interesting story, he would be well-served by looking for No. 86 on Saturday.

Denver’s Broncos (8-8) made the playoffs as the AFC West champions. They play Pittsburgh (1:30 p.m., Channel 13).

The Broncos made this game because of incredible defense over an eight-game stretch — not because of the Chosen One II.

To wit, Tebow has put together a consecutive trio of clunkers (passing for just 60 yards last week). But for the grace of You Know Who, Denver should be watching the playoffs on TV (oh, and thanks to the Sacramento Kings of the NFL — Oakland’s Raydahs).

But everything now is even. Tebow can become The Great Redeemer. But he needs to pay closer attention to that emerging tight end he has, No. 86 — former UC Davis standout Daniel Fells.

We already know, the closer someone is to Tebow, the more likely he’ll complete a pass to you.

Fells doesn’t venture far from his QB, since the tight ends in the Bronco scheme have primary blocking responsibilities. That’s great news for Tebow and Company.

Block down, flare out, let Timmy roll out and hit Fells for a bunch of 11-yard gains and two eventual touchdowns.

Fells, with 19 catches for 256 yards, is the fifth-most prolific receiver on this Tin Lizzy Offense. He has three touchdowns and has caught four passes for more than 20 yards.

Way back in summer camp, when now-Chief QB Kyle Orton and Fells were getting used to each other, Orton told The Denver Post he was pleased with the chemistry he and Fells were developing. But four games into 2011, Orton was waived and Fells had to reacclimate — to a guy whose passes are once again looking like punts.

Fells, 28, has come a long way since his playing days at Fullerton High in Southern California.

Although maintaining a 3.86 prep GPA, Fells encountered academic problems early at UCD. After that, he suffered through several injuries. After Davis, Fells bounced around pro camps before a real career took hold with lowly St. Louis (2008-10).

Now he’s in the playoffs.

He’s been under the radar all season. It’s time for coach John Fox to recognize this ex-Aggie’s worth and use him as the offensive threat he often was for UCD quarterback Jon Grant a few years back.

Fells is 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, so from 10 yards away, Tebow certainly should be able to see him. Now the trick is to throw the ball in his vicinity.

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Paul Westphal is gone.

His firing represents everything that is wrong with more than half of the NBA teams: little comparative talent, lack of respect for the team concept, egotism (money for nothing will do that to you).

Westphal knows basketball. He was brilliant with a veteran team of Phoenix Suns (.685 winning percentage and the 1991 NBA finals). He was mediocre with an underachieving Seattle club, but the SuperSonics still won more than half their games.

In Sacramento, there was hope early on, but a 51-120 record doesn’t get it. Westphal knew that. At the end, he was clearly a man tired of dealing with a needy group of overpaid youngsters.

When DeMarcus Cousins — documented as bad news everywhere he’s been — continued being DeMarcus Cousins, Westphal tried tough love.

The Family Kings Court of Judge Geoff Petrie sided with the kids and fired the parent.

I haven’t talked to Paul Westphal in 25 years, but knowing what a reasonable, funny guy he used to be, I’m positive he’s off somewhere having a good chuckle.

Foster parent Keith Smart has been appointed by the court to baby-sit. Good luck, Keith. I think I hear someone crying again.

Replacing Westphal was a Band-Aid to the real problem here.

No chemistry whatsoever. Individuals playing for themselves. And DeMarcus should have been a distant Cousins in the offseason. Now, no team will consider a balanced trade.

Michael Wilbon of ESPN and ABC mentioned earlier this fall that the Kings should be one of the franchises the NBA considers contracting.

I wouldn’t go that far, as long as the Kings remain in Sacramento. Reason? Given the lack of pro sports entertainment around the capital, the Kings enjoy The Ticket status.

I believe the Maloof family should be relieved that their guys are not in Anaheim — in Southern California, where there’s plenty of other stuff to do.

Besides, our Kings are Mickey Mouse enough.

— Bruce Gallaudet is a staff writer for The Davis Enterprise. Reach him at [email protected] or (530) 747-8047.

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