The Broncos quarterback battle is already leaning in one direction

It’s supposed to be a fair race. It’s supposed to be 50/50 odds for each candidate. It’s supposed to start evenly, with a flip of a coin determining who gets the first shot.

That’s how it’s supposed to be. But it’s not going to happen that way.

The training camp battle between Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater already has a leader. The media is already leaning toward one quarterback over the other.

They want Bridgewater. Tuesday’s OTAs practice proved it.

On that day, the QBs spent most of their time throwing against air. They were tossing it to receivers who were running routes against no defense.

Lock never had a pass hit the ground. Bridgewater was high, low, long and short.

The quarterbacks also took part in some 7-on-7 passing drills. In those periods, both had their moments.

Lock threw a big-time pass, connecting on a 15-yard out route that is the definition of an NFL-caliber throw. Bridgewater connected with Jerry Jeudy on a highlight-reel touchdown, hitting the second-year wideout in stride.

Both were great moments. Both drew oohs and ahhs.

Which throw was talked about after practice? Bridgewater’s pass earned more air time than the Beatles arrival at Kennedy Airport in 1964.

Both QBs also had some stinkers. Lock and Bridgewater each threw passes that should’ve been intercepted.

Which one wasn’t talked about yesterday? The one that Bridgewater tossed right to Patrick Surtain.

Overall, the practice was pretty even. Maybe Bridgewater had a slight edge. Maybe.

Yes, he hit Noah Fant for a touchdown pass. But every high school QB in Colorado could’ve completed, as there wasn’t a defender within 15 yards of the tight end.

That’s not to diminish what Bridgewater did. He looked good.

But he didn’t look better than Lock. He certainly wasn’t “head and shoulders” above his younger competitor.

That’s what the folks covering the team do in these situations, however. They pick a favorite and then view everything through a lens that supports that choice.

It happened with Tim Tebow. For weeks, the throng told Broncos Country that Kyle Orton gave the team the “best chance to win.” He didn’t. Clearly.

It also happened with Trevor Siemian. The media loved the seventh-rounder trying to beat out the first-round pick, so they graded both him and Paxton Lynch on a curve.

In the end, neither could play. But every Siemian highlight was touted, while his blunders were conveniently omitted. The opposite was true for Lynch.

Siemian never “outplayed” Lynch in camp. It didn’t happen. Just like he didn’t “beat out” Mark Sanchez during the preseason a year before.

But that’s what everyone reported. They saw what they wanted. They viewed what was happening on the field through a lens that supported their guy.

In essence, they were a Little League dad keeping the scorebook. Somehow, all of those bobbled balls by the shortstop turned into infield singles for their kid.

It’s going to happen again this year. It’s coming.

Bridgewater will have to fall on his face to not be hyped as the “winner” of the QB competition. Lock will have to clearly be the best option to be declared the choice.

Why does this matter? Because the narrative has an impact on what ultimately transpires.

Questions and headlines that constantly push one player looking good and another struggling will have an impact. Coaches will be affected, as will teammates. And eventually, the quarterbacks will feel it.

That’ll be the biggest challenge for Lock come late July. He will have to tune out the noise. He will have to ignore the negativity. He will have to block out the praise heading Bridgewater’s way.

They’ll ignore his 12-for-12 day. They’ll repeatedly retweet his wobbly throw.

It’s coming. Tuesday proved it.

The Broncos QB battle isn’t a fair fight. The tables are already tilted in one direction.

If Drew Lock wins the starting job, he won’t just have beat out Teddy Bridgewater. He’ll also have overcome the swell of negativity that is heading his way.

The local media has a new favorite son. Get ready to hear all about him.

Follow @jamesmerilatt