Mike Shanahan was branded as the Mastermind. Josh McDaniels is trying to become the Master Manipulator/Motivator.

That stage management, or staged management, is manifested especially in McDaniels’ relationship with quarterback Kyle Orton.

Two Sundays ago, in the Broncos’ loss to the Colts, the quarterback threw for 476 yards. However, in the aftermath, the coach said of Orton: “He’s being productive, but I tend to think about the quarterback relative to wins and losses, third down and red zone (but) we weren’t very good on third down; we weren’t very good in the red zone, and we lost the game. . . . Our quarterback has to play well in those situations for us to have a chance to win games against good teams.”

Last Sunday, the Broncos beat the Titans, and McDaniels commended Orton, who passed for 341 yards and afterward chastised the Titans for being cheap-shot artists. The following day McDaniels had Orton’s back, saying the “comments are accurate.”

Before this Sunday’s game against the Ravens, McDaniels, whose team is 2-2, and Orton, who has thrown for 1,419 yards and six touchdowns through a quarter of the season, have peace and harmony.

But it wasn’t always so.

In the offseason, there was very little mutual love and respect. Contrary to public statements, they stewed privately.

Orton believed that, because of his personal-best statistics a year ago in what he termed “a good season,” he deserved a new, long-term contract and assurances about his future in Denver. When McDaniels traded for Brady Quinn, apparently to compete with Orton for the starting job, and maneuvered to draft Tim Tebow in the first round and praised him to, well, the high heavens, Orton obviously was offended.

Accusations seeped out of Dove Valley that the quarterback was lacking in leadership qualities, wasn’t working out before the minicamps with his receivers and failed to regularly attend offseason training activities. Rumors circulated from NFL sources that Orton had been or could be the subject of a trade. And McDaniels said in interviews that Tebow could play in the league “much earlier than people think” and there were reports the Broncos intended to use Tebow in a “wild horse” formation and replace Orton in some short-yardage and red-zone situations.

On June 5, McDaniels said there were “no guarantees” Orton would start at quarterback.

Orton’s close friends and past and present teammates have said he had proven himself as a locker-room and huddle leader with the Bears and the Broncos, had thrown daily on his own with receiver Brandon Stokley, received his offseason bonus for OTA participation and felt insulted by McDaniels.

Instead of demanding a trade (as Jay Cutler had) or expressing his displeasure (as Brandon Marshall had), Orton developed a “I’ll show you, Josh” attitude.

Orton worked harder, to earn his starting job again, earn a contract extension and earn McDaniel’s esteem.

The analytical, calculating McDaniels had been a quarterback and a math major, and he was tutored by two extremely successful coaches — his father Thom and the Patriots’ Bill Belichick. McDaniels got exactly the response he sought from Orton.

The coach had manipulated, motivated, managed (and provoked) the quarterback.

McDaniels’ Plan A clearly was for Orton to raise his game. If Orton didn’t, Plan B was to trade him and let Quinn and Tebow knock helmets.

Orton outperformed the disappointing Quinn and the raw Tebow in the team’s full minicamp in June and in the early days of training camp. He was in control of the offense, threw crisper short passes and attempted and completed more downfield passes, a rarity last season. He obviously had improved command of McDaniels’ complicated playbook and system.

In the first quarter of the opening exhibition at Cincinnati on Aug. 15 Orton threw for two touchdowns.

Four days later, the Broncos announced that Orton had been given a contract extension — $8.8 million, $5 million guaranteed, for the 2011 season.

The Broncos dropped two of their first three games and were in danger of losing at Tennessee on Sunday before Orton, who received absolutely no help from the running backs (he outgained them 11-8) and not enough help from the offensive line (six sacks), threw the winning touchdown pass with 1:33 remaining.

Orton is on pace to become the third 5,000-yard passer in NFL history.

Without all the offseason tension between the coach and the quarterback, would Orton have progressed as he has, anyway? Did McDaniels’ manipulations make the difference? Can Orton and McDaniels co-exist as Dan Reeves and John Elway did — even after Reeves wanted to trade Elway and drafted a quarterback in the first round?

How will it play out?

Not even a mastermind would know.

Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com