BROOKLYN, N.Y. — To get their first win of the season, the Nuggets almost had to sacrifice their second.
Michael Malone knew the risk he was taking. It narrowly paid off Monday night in Toronto with an overtime breakthrough. But the physical strain on his starters was visible 24 hours later as they instantly struggled to defend the perimeter against a team widely projected to be the worst in the NBA.
The Nuggets allowed 40 first-quarter points and fell behind by as many as 17 in the second before they revived themselves again for a 144-139 win over the Nets on Tuesday — again, in overtime.
Nikola Jokic lifted his team with another masterpiece: 29 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists on 9-of-16 shooting. In a deja vu sequence down by three at the end of regulation, the Nuggets opted to go for two points with 33.8 seconds left. Malone called for a Jokic post-up, like Monday, which Jokic easily executed, like Monday. Then, like Monday, the Nuggets’ opponent missed a free throw, allowing them a chance to tie it in the final seconds without needing a three. Again, Denver dialed up a Jokic post-up.
“We are trying to get there to see, are they gonna double?” the center said.
Brooklyn didn’t. The three-time MVP backed his way to an effortless baby hook with nine ticks left.
“They doubled him a lot tonight,” Malone said. “This was more, they waited for him to dribble the ball and then the double came. I’m so happy I get to coach Nikola because I can’t imagine game-planning for guarding that guy.”
The only difference between their back-to-back magic acts: This time, the Nuggets left enough time to give up a wide-open corner three as time expired. Dorian Finney-Smith clanked it.
And again, the starting lineup found itself logging extra hours at the office. Malone had already gone to an eight-man rotation in the second half of the Toronto game.
“Obviously we found ourselves in a game last night that we kind of shortened our rotation up a little bit in the second half, feeling the pressure of trying to get the first win of the season,” he said before opening tip at Barclays Center. “And when you look at the box score after the game, especially going into the second night of a back-to-back in Brooklyn, you have your starters all at or near 40 minutes. And that’s not sustainable. We can’t do that. Game three, it was cool, man. Let’s get our first win, kind of take a deep breath. But that’s not sustainable.”
His foresight was probably more immediate than he hoped. The Nets shot 12 of 24 from beyond the arc in the first half. When they weren’t launching, Denver’s defenders took the bait anyway, allowing drivers to get behind them and playing catch-up on rotations. After another rough bench stint, Brooklyn led 47-30 with 9:42 remaining in the half.
The Nuggets’ collective redemption arrived in the form of a snarling, sharpshooting Russell Westbrook about an hour later. He had already been the best version of himself in the first half, zipping brilliant entry passes to Jokic and bullying his way to the foul line with the second unit (then converting the free throws). But on the last possession of the third quarter, with Denver trailing 99-93, he stepped into just his second 3-point make of the season. On the first possession of the fourth, he drove and kicked to Peyton Watson for a corner three. Tie game.
His next pull-up 3-point attempt, ill-advised or not, gave him 22 points on 12 shots and capped a 13-2 run. It was 106-101, Denver.
Russ giveth and Russ taketh. He shanked an uncontested dunk with his left hand during a quick 5-0 answer from Brooklyn, setting the stage for Denver’s second consecutive suspenseful finish.
“It’s hard to win in this league,” the backup point guard said. “People think it’s easy, man. It’s hard. Especially when you’re a team that’s won year after year and always been in the running for NBA championships. It’s hard. We’ll get everybody’s best shot. We’ve gotta be prepared for it. However we’ve gotta get wins right now, we’ll take them.”
Michael Porter Jr. bounced back from his inefficient first week of the season, shooting 4 for 7 from 3-point range. Jamal Murray added 24 points. Aaron Gordon contributed 22. Denver quickly pulled away in the extra period after Jokic scored or assisted on its first six points.
“I’m glad we had the momentum going in, and I think we controlled the overtime, so that is a good thing,” Jokic said. “We found baskets when we needed it.”
Initial observations from the CU Buffs’ 34-7 win over the Arizona Wildcats in Big 12 play at Arizona Stadium.
Paging Sean Payton: An onside kick attempt to start the game? Did Arizona head coach Brent Brennan consult the Broncos’ Sean Payton earlier this week? Bold move, to say the least — if not a very bright one. It was almost as if Brennan knew exactly what was coming down the pike. There was no way the Wildcats’ leaky secondary was coming up with enough stops to win this game … unless special teams could steal an extra possession or two. A weird message to send your team before a ball is even snapped. But at least Brennan is a realist.
Weapons to spare: Who needs a run game when you have Shedeur Sanders and an endless stream of pass-catchers? Certainly not CU against a defense like Arizona’s. Can’t rush the passer? Have problems covering receivers one-on-one or tackling in space? Shedeur and the Buffs will eat you alive, whether it’s third-and-long, third-and-short, or, in the case of the QB’s 14-yard strike to Travis Hunter in the first half, fourth-and-10. So even if the Buffs average 2.3 yards on 22 attempts, as they did in the first half, it’s plenty. They still converted 8 of 11 third downs and put 28 points on the board. By the time everything was said and done, LaJohntay Wester had eight catches for 127 yards. And he’s, what, CU’s third- or fourth-best receiver? Yikes!
Livingston’s stock on rise: Stats may not be kind to the Buffs defense — CU entered Saturday 94th in FBS in yards allowed and 73rd in points allowed — but the eye test says Robert Livingston’s unit is trending up. And it’s happening at the line of scrimmage — an area that was a notable issue last season. In two of the last three games, CU has bottled up one of the nation’s top rushing attacks (UCF, 177 yards) and harassed one of its most productive passers (Arizona’s Noah Fifita) to the tune of seven sacks, CU’s most since posting eight against Iowa State in 2010. The Buffs now have 16 sacks in their last three games.
Heisman watch: This was not a day to worry about Travis Hunter’s Heisman Trophy campaign. With CU’s two-way star clearly not 100% after getting dinged in the Kansas State loss last week, Coach Prime did the smart thing, holding Hunter out over the final two quarters as “preventative measures.” CU already had a 28-7 lead, and Hunter’s mortal stat line (54 snaps, two receptions for 15 yards, one tackle) will soon be a mere footnote as long as he delivers a few more superhuman performances down the stretch. (Spoiler alert: He probably will.)
Extra point
Road warriors: The Buffs have now gone on the road twice in conference and delivered easily the two most complete performances of the Deion Sanders Era. The combined score in those wins at UCF at Arizona? 82-28. Not. Too. Shabby. This is what title contenders do against inferior opponents: They take the crowd out of the game early and never let up. Sure, there were mistakes, including a botched snap in Wildcats territory and a Shedeur Sanders pick inside Arizona’s 20. But unlike last year’s Buffs, those turnovers didn’t even come close to sinking them. A B.J. Green strip-sack erased the former, and a Wildcats three-and-out the latter. With five very winnable games left on the schedule — Cincinnati, at Texas Tech, Utah, at Kansas and Oklahoma State — there is a very real path to the College Football Playoff.
The Nuggets remain winless in preseason play with one game remaining after a 124-94 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at Ball Arena. The last chance to earn a win is Thursday in Minnesota.
Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook were out this time for the Nuggets, leaving them with a cast of role players to fend off Oklahoma City’s full starting lineup — an inverse of Sunday’s game, when Denver ran the starters for three quarters against Phoenix’s bench.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone said he had planned to rest Murray for this game even before his knee started bothering him Sunday while warming up.
What awaits Strawther after outstanding preseason?
Denver’s clear standout performers this preseason (other than the three-time MVP) have been Michael Porter Jr. and Julian Strawther, both of whom continued to carry the offense during the first-half minutes Tuesday. Strawther made his first five shots, including 3-pointers in rhythm, a driving floater and a couple of buckets in the lane, where he used his footwork or body to go up strong through traffic. He finished with 12 points.
Most importantly in these four games, he is 8 for 18 from distance, where his teammates have struggled. Christian Braun, who’s expected to start at shooting guard over Strawther, is 1 for 13. That probably won’t change how the rotation will shake out, though.
“Obviously it’s never going to be just about who’s playing better in a vacuum,” Malone said when asked about the position battle. “It’s always going to be about, yes, who’s playing well, but also who complements that unit. And right now to be honest, I think C.B. and Jamal and Michael and Aaron (Gordon) and Nikola, that’s a group that really complements each other well. I think (Russell Westbrook), when we get Peyton Watson back — and that’s been really hard for us, not to have Peyton — but I think Russ, Julian, Peyton, Dario (Saric) and whoever else, I think that’s a really good complementary group as well. But I will give Julian some more chances to get out there and start and play with that (starting) group.”
Watson (hamstring) still hasn’t played this preseason, but Malone says the plan is to have him ready for the season opener next Thursday at Ball Arena.
Nnaji puts together consecutive good games
As frustrated as Malone was with his team’s collective performance against the Suns on Sunday, he pointed to Zeke Nnaji’s fourth-quarter minutes as one of the few positives.
Nnaji earned a starting nod Tuesday and built on his productive outing with 11 points, three rebounds, two steals and three blocks, including one against Jalen Williams in space. There were occasional lapses, too — a ball-screen miscommunication leading to an easy dunk in the first half, a ball fake getting him to leave his feet for a blow-by in the second half — but the highlights should be a welcomed confidence boost. Nnaji’s form has looked smoother, too. He buried a couple of 3s Tuesday.
Before opening tip, Malone gave a candid answer when asked if he believes Nnaji is better at the four or the five, speaking to the general skill set the coach wants to see from Nnaji.
“I don’t get into all that. I think that’s a bunch of malarkey,” Malone said. “‘Are you a four or are you a five?’ In today’s NBA, you’re a big, you’re a small. … This is not 1980s where it’s three-out, two-in. Zeke’s a big. So go out there and play your game. I mean, is Dario Saric a center in anybody’s eyes? Well, he is for us. So yeah, the whole four (or) five thing, I just don’t really understand.”
Two-way guard sneaks up depth chart
Without Murray and Westbrook, this exhibition offered a glimpse of other ways the Nuggets can initiate offense. They used a variety of players to bring the ball up, from Aaron Gordon to Strawther to Braun. And notably, in Malone’s nine-man rotation during the early stages of the game, two-way player Trey Alexander made an appearance over Jalen Pickett, who checked in during the third quarter and played most of the second half.
If there’s anything definitive from Denver’s 0-4 preseason start, it’s that the end of the bench just doesn’t have much to work with. Malone has turned red in the face during the second halves of every game so far. The Nuggets held up pretty well against a mismatch in the first half without Jokic — it was after halftime that they fell apart again.
The 2023 Kansas City Royals were embarrassed. A 106-loss season can — and should — do that to a major league team.
Royals owner John Sherman said something about it. Then he did something about it.
“It sucked,” Sherman told MLB.com at the end of spring training. “But that’s what motivates you. Sometimes, you need that slap upside the head, right? We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we cannot tolerate something like that again for our fans.”
So the Royals went big and bold.
Their aggressiveness stoked a remarkable 30-game about-face (56-106 last season to 86-76 this season), a two-game sweep of the Orioles in the American League wild-card series, and a berth in the ALDS before they fell in four games to the Yankees.
By beating the Orioles, Kansas City became just the second team to win a postseason series one year after losing at least 100 games. The other was the 2020 Marlins, who snuck into the playoffs in the pandemic-shortened 60-game season.
Rockies fans should hope owner Dick Monfort was paying attention.
Monfort’s club, which lost 103 games last season and 101 this season, is making some strides toward a turnaround with some young talent on the roster and in the system. But does the will and the wherewithal exist at 20th and Blake to put the Rockies in position for a playoff swing?
“Our talent base is getting better,” Schmidt said at the end of the season. “Our depth is getting better. I’m not going to say we’re going from this year to win 95 next year. Our record this year might be similar (to 2023), but we’re going to be a better club.”
Asked if Colorado can mimic the Royals and the Tigers (who went from 78-84 to 86-76 and the playoffs), Black answered: “Kansas City? Detroit? Anything is possible. When I got here in ’17 … what happened in ’16? (Colorado was 75-87 under Walt Weiss.) And then we made the playoffs. I’m going to say yes. I’m optimistic.”
But the Rockies aren’t the Royals and Monfort is not Sherman.
During the offseason, K.C. committed $109.5 million to free agents, the most money in any offseason in franchise history, including free-agent starting pitcher signees Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. They also signed their star shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr., to a contract extension that could add up to $377 million over 14 years.
The Royals’ first big roster move was signing free-agent pitcher Will Smith for the back end of their bullpen. Smith had been on the roster of the last three World Series champions, with the Rangers, Astros and Braves.
During the season, when they sensed success was on the horizon, they acquired closer Lucas Erceg and outfielder Tommy Pham.
The Royals, who had not been to the playoffs since winning the World Series in 2015, created an effective roster mix. Their postseason roster featured 12 homegrown players, including draftees and international signees. The other 14 players came from trades and free agency. Of those 14 players, 11 had previous postseason experience.
The Royals are far from a powerhouse franchise. Last season, they averaged just 16,136 fans per game at Kauffman Stadium, ranking 27th in the majors, ahead of only the Marlins and the A’s. This season, the Royals drew 20,473, ranking 26th.
According to Spotrac, Kansas City’s total payroll this season was $122.5 million, ranking 20th. Last year, it was $96.1 million (23rd).
After the 106-loss debacle, GM J.J. Picollo immediately began reshaping the front office. He hired Brian Bridges as the new scouting director, promoted Jim Cuthbert to director of pro personnel and strategy, and beefed up the preseason and development department by hiring six new people.
And so the seeds of a playoff team were planted.
The Rockies, meanwhile, have some distinct advantages over the Royals. They drew 31,360 fans per home game this season, ranking 15th. Their payroll was $147.4 million (17th).
The problem is not the Rockies’ failure to spend money; it’s how they’ve spent it. This season, $28 million (19%) of Colorado’s payroll went to the perennially injured Kris Bryant, who played in just 37 games with 155 plate appearances. For the record, that amounts to about $757,000 per game.
Giving former closer Daniel Bard a two-year, $19 million deal for the 2023-24 season was also a big misstep. Bard, derailed by injuries, did not pitch a game in ’24.
With pitching prospects Chase Dollander, Carson Palmquist, Sean Sullivan and Gabriel Hughes nearing their big-league debuts, the starting rotation has a chance to be better and deeper than it’s been since 2018. We know that free-agent starters aren’t going to come to Colorado, so the Rockies will need their youngsters to make the big-league grade.
But even if they do, as soon as next season, the Rockies’ tepid offense has a huge strikeout problem that must be solved. For all of the optimism about the bullpen during the season’s final month, it remains a huge question mark. Plus, the Rockies lack a middle-of-the-lineup slugger.
After their 106-loss season, the Royals faced similar dilemmas. Their offseason blueprint included finding two quality veteran starting pitchers, a trio of tested relievers, and a big bat. They acquired all of the pieces and more.
The Rockies, in the hole with a losing record for six consecutive seasons, believe they’ve moved into the on-deck circle. Now it’s time for them to prove they’re serious about stepping up to the plate.
Spoiler alert: Should the Diamondbacks fall out of the wild-card playoff race, they might point to this September series with the Rockies.
Last year’s surprise National League pennant winner has owned the Rockies for the last two seasons. But these September Rockies aren’t those Rockies.
They proved it again Tuesday night with an 8-2 romp over the D-backs at Coors Field. Colorado won Game 1 of the series, 3-2, on Monday night. The Rockies might still be roadkill away from LoDo, but they’re tough to beat at Coors, where they have a 19-12 record since July 4.
The victory was the 535th for manager Bud Black, who bypassed Clint Hurdle for the most in Rockies history.
“I’ve been a part of (milestones) before … it’s great,” Black said after veteran players Charlie Blackmon, Kyle Freeland, and German Marquez doused him with a celebratory beer-and-shaving-cream shower. “It’s great. It’s part of what makes us love the game. And when it’s over for all of us, it’s moments like this that you remember.”
Colorado’s formula Tuesday night included an excellent start from right-hander Ryan Feltner, home runs from Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman, and timely hitting up and down the order. Colorado hit 5 for 14 with runners in scoring position.
Arizona entered the night 8-3 in its last 11 games vs. the Rockies, and 18-6 in its last 24 dating back to the start of the 2023 season. But after losing two straight at Coors, they are now tied with the Mets for the NL’s final wild-card playoff spot.
Feltner, his fastball humming, pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up just one run on five hits. He struck out only two but got a lot of weak contact, and Colorado’s defense backed him up with stellar play.
“I was on the same page with ‘Stahls’ all night, and we had great defense all night,” said Feltner, referring to veteran catch Jacob Stallings. “Just being able to trust Stahlings back there, and trusting the defense, it just frees me up. All of my pitches were working tonight and I just kept trying to pound the zone.”
Second baseman Brendan Rodgers fed Tovar at short to turn a sweet double play to end the sixth, and center fielder Brenton Doyle, in the hunt for his second straight Gold Glove, made a running catch in center field to rob Eugenio Suarez of extra bases in the seventh.
“It’s incredible,” Feltner said. “He floated like 20 feet in the air, it looked like from the pitcher’s mound.”
Feltner is turning the corner. Since July 2, he’s posted a 3.25 ERA, with a 1.26 WHIP and a .230 batting average against. Plus, the Rockies have won in each of his last five starts.
“The conviction with the fastball is key,” Black said. “When a pitcher believes in his fastball, and you have a good fastball, it makes the fastball better.
“It’s still a fastball of 93-94-95-96, and he’s had it all year. But for whatever reason, his conviction with his fastball for the past month makes it better. He wills it to good spots. He wills it to get outs.”
Still, Feltner had not won a decision at Coors since Aug. 9, 2022, vs. the Cardinals, an unwanted franchise record of 21 consecutive starts without a win at home. He was aware of the history, but not concerned.
“It doesn’t matter to me, and I don’t look into that stuff,” he said. “I just go out there to try and win the game.”
Second baseman Brendan Rodgers and shortstop Tovar turned a sweet double play to end the sixth, and center fielder Brenton Doyle made a running catch in center field to rob Eugenio Suarez of extra bases in the seventh.
The D-backs scored their only run off Feltner in the fourth, combining a leadoff double by Pavin Smith, a sacrifice bunt by Jake McCarthy and a groundout by Suarez.
Tovar (3 for 5, two RBIs) continues to prove he’s one of baseball’s best shortstops. He led off the third with a homer off Jordan Montgomery for his team-leading 25th long ball of the season. Tovar has also hit 43 doubles, the most by a shortstop in franchise history, the second-most in the NL, and the most by a Rockie since Nolan Arenado swatted 43 in 2017. The last Rockies player who had more than 43 doubles in a season was Matt Holliday, who had 50 in 2007.
In the seventh, Goodman, serving as the designated hitter instead of catching, hit a two-out, 441-foot solo blast to center off lefty reliever Blake Walston. It was Goodman’s second straight game with a homer, his fourth of the current homestand, and 13th of the season.
Colorado strung together three hits off Montgomery to take a 2-0 lead in the third. Michael Toglia led off with a soft double into no man’s land in shallow right field and scored on Stallings’ double to left. Jordan Beck (2 for 3) drove in Stallings with a two-out double to left.
For Shedeur Sanders, last year stood as a convincing opening statement.
The quarterback started with a record-setting performance in an upset road win against TCU. A couple of weeks after that, he led a last-second, 98-yard TD drive to eventually beat rival CSU in double OT. And even when CU’s wheels fell off, he still showed mettle, flashed several well-timed watch-flexes and played hurt, until he couldn’t anymore.
Now, it’s time for Sanders’ closing arguments in black and gold starting with Thursday’s opener against North Dakota State at Folsom Field. And if the team plays better around the senior this fall, it could be historic.
“If (the offensive line) can protect him, this young man may put up one of the great seasons in college football history,” predicted CU play-by-play man Mark Johnson. “(Darian) Hagan is at the top as national champ, and Kordell (Stewart) is up there too, but Shedeur is going to put himself in the conversation as the greatest Colorado quarterback if he has another season like he did last year.”
Sanders, who missed the final six quarters of 2023 with a back fracture, is healthy again. The Buffs retooled their offensive line with transfers and the top high school left tackle in the nation, Jordan Seaton.
If the big men can block a year after the line allowed 56 sacks, the weapons are there on the outside. Two-way star Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., and transfers Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester give Sanders the chance to top last year.
And that’s saying something. Even as the Buffs stumbled to 4-8 and last in the Pac-12, Sanders set CU records for passing yards in a season (3,230), completion percentage (69.3), touchdown-to-interception ratio (9-to-1) and interception percentage (0.7).
Unsurprisingly, Sanders remains confident. Even before taking a snap this season, No. 2 is projected to be one of the top quarterbacks selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“That’s the difference, I’d say, between me and a lot of other players,” Sanders said at Big 12 media day. “I’m not close to my ceiling at all. I’ve got a long way to go.”
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders talks with media during the Big 12 Conference NCAA college football media days in Las Vegas, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)
Sanders’ performance could also be helped by consistency from the play-caller.
Last year, Sean Lewis called the Buffs offense for the first eight games before Pat Shurmur took over for the final four games. Now with Shurmur as the team’s offensive coordinator, the former Giants head coach and Broncos OC believes the Buffs will be able to establish a consistent run game his QB never had in 2023.
“It’s hard to cook in somebody else’s kitchen because you can’t really change anything at that point,” Shurmur said. “I don’t know if (the end of 2023) was a springboard, but what I do know, we were able to reset (the offense) the way we wanted to. We went out and got some new players, some more quality big men, then we installed an offense that works for us. I feel like it’s a new start moving forward.”
But will a revamped offensive line along with Shurmur’s now-permanent role be enough for Sanders to take his game to the next level? Head coach Deion Sanders believes so, especially after the work his son put in with his trainer over the summer.
“He’s worked on some of the little mechanical things with his quarterback coach (Darrell Colbert Jr) out of Houston,” Deion Sanders said on ESPN last month. “And it’s not just the mechanics of footwork and ball placement and releases, but also just getting to know his players and his receivers and where they want the ball. You can see after 7-on-7s and practice, him grabbing a guy, pulling him to the side and telling him what he wants and what he saw.”
Whether all of this will result in more wins, and even better stats for the quarterback, remains to be seen.
What is certain is that even with Sanders’ enormous popularity — he was recently ranked No. 1 on FOX Sports’ list of college football superstars — the QB needs to win to put himself in the discussion for end-of-season national honors such as the Davey O’Brien Award and Heisman Trophy.
“If he puts up the numbers and CU is winning a good amount of their football games, because of who Prime is and the attention he brings to CU, I think he’ll be in that conversation,” former CU quarterback Bobby Pesavento said. “Now, is he in New York (as a Heisman finalist) and does he truly have a chance to win? That would take the Buffs doing something really special, like playing for a Big 12 championship again.”
CBS Sports national college football writer Dennis Dodd agrees, noting that after Sanders “was almost a one-man team last year,” the Buffs must capture some magic in their first season back in the Big 12 for Sanders to be in the Heisman race.
“The Heisman winner almost exclusively plays for a 10-win team that competes for a national championship and does something dramatic in November — if not a Heisman moment, a series of Heisman moments,” Dodd said. “It’s going to be hard for a QB of a 6-6 team to win it.”
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) shows off his watch to fans before the Rocky Mountain Showdown against the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field on Sept. 16, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
CASTLE ROCK — Twenty years before they rekindled a friendship in Europe, the Euro step was a controversial subject between rivals Wyndham Clark and Derrick White.
They played for opposing youth basketball teams in the Denver area, first matching up around the third grade. Both were point guards. White guarded Clark. Clark guarded White. White was a little more advanced than his peers — little did they know, he was a future NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist — and at some point during the mid-2000s, he implemented an unfamiliar move to his game. It was just beginning to get popular in the pros.
“He was doing the Euro step at a young age,” Clark remembers, “and our whole team kept thinking it was traveling. So every time he would do the Euro step, all our dads and everyone was like, ‘That’s a travel!’ And they would never call it.
“Fast forward to next year, and we’re all doing the same thing.”
White was teaching Clark new tricks on the basketball court. Now it’s finally Clark’s turn to return the favor on the golf course. He’s the fifth-ranked golfer in the world, the winner of the 2023 U.S. Open and the fan favorite this weekend at the BMW Championship. Valor Christian High School, Class of 2012. White is a two-time All-Defensive Team honoree in the NBA, a glue guy for the Boston Celtics and Team USA, and a Clark groupie this weekend. Legend High School, Class of ’12.
White has never played golf or gotten invested in the sport, “but I’m gonna start,” he declared while walking the first fairway at Castle Pines Golf Club on Thursday. He walked all 18 holes in support of his former basketball foe, who was paired with Rory McIlroy.
“It’s fun because he’s kind of new to golf, and so (he) got his real first experience of pro golf at the Olympics, watching and walking with us,” Clark said. “And he really has the bug. We’ve been talking about it. He’s like, ‘I love it so much.’ It was really cool to have him out there.”
Clark finished his first round at even par, but that doesn’t even begin to tell the story. He endured a hectic back nine that included multiple shots into the water and multiple double-bogeys. And that was before a cartoonishly timed lightning delay forced him and McIlroy to wait more than three hours to complete their final putts on the 18th hole. Spectators (even White) had vacated the premises by the time they resumed.
“I was hoping it was going to be one of those quick Colorado 30-minute storms, but there was another one behind it,” Clark lamented. “Definitely a bummer being here for three hours.”
Before that awkward conclusion without a crowd, Clark had been treated to resounding applause throughout the afternoon. Coloradans who noticed White gave him some love, too. He was hard to miss during the first hole, cradling the Larry O’Brien Trophy as he strolled downhill. Whether it was Boston’s Larry or Denver’s from the previous year, though, is unclear. The trophy was also on display Wednesday during the pro-am event, which featured Nuggets president Josh Kroenke.
“I didn’t even know it was gonna be here,” a confused White said, starting to regret his decision to lug Larry along. “I’m really just here to support Wyndham and cheer him on. … I didn’t know it was gonna be here. I was walking in, and I see it on the ground, and I’m like, ‘Let me hold that.’”
His opportunity to reacquaint with Clark this summer was truly last-second. Kawhi Leonard’s withdrawal from Team USA opened a roster spot two weeks before the Paris Olympics. White was the first choice to fill in. He flew solo to Abu Dhabi, UAE, to join the team for its remaining exhibition games, and soon enough he was floating down the Seine with Clark at the opening ceremony.
“(We had) big battles. Big rivalry on the court,” White said. “And then obviously he went and did big things, so it was great reconnecting. And we ended up on the boat in the Olympics.”
“Hanging out in Paris was pretty cool,” Clark said, grinning.
They reminisced. Decades-old matchups on hardwood aged into shared laughs. Their youth teams always seemed to face off in the championship game. “Wyndham was good,” White says, but he insists that his squad, the Dolphins, won more. Clark even played some high school ball at Valor, where he was classmates with NFL star Christian McCaffrey.
“It’s really neat to see kind of Colorado sports coming on the map with Derrick, myself and Christian and some of the other Olympians,” Clark said earlier this week. “It’s a good thing for Colorado. I feel like the sports are in a good spot here.”
When the horn blared indicating a weather stoppage, McIlroy was frozen mid-backswing on the 18th green. (“I knew it was close, and I kind of wanted Rory to speed up,” the local weather expert Clark said later, laughing.) Patrons vacated the course for a nearby covered area outside the clubhouse, where White held court. Colorado golf fans approached him for photographs and autographs. He posed and signed graciously for about 20 minutes. Then a golf cart arrived and he shipped off, leaving his old rival to wait out the storm.
Brendan Rodgers had another hot August night, and the Rockies cooled off the sizzling Padres.
Rodgers’ three-run, first-inning homer sparked the Rockies’ 7-3 victory Friday at Coors Field. San Diego, trying to topple the Dodgers from the National League West throne, came into the game having won 19 of its previous 22 games.
Rodgers extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is hitting .392 this month, with six doubles, three homers and a 1.115 OPS.
His 10th homer of the season was the catalyst to Colorado’s four-run first. Rodgers blasted a 77.3 mph knuckleball from right-hander Matt Waldron 439 feet and deep into the left-field bleachers.
“It’s been fun,” Rodgers said. “I usually do struggle in August. But I talked to my hitter guy and some people I trust a lot with the developmental part of the game. So I decided to trust it and just keep going.”
Manager Bud Black is thrilled with Rodgers’ production and his ability to “go to the post” as the season heads into its final weeks.
“He’s driving the ball better, and we’re seeing him hit to the gaps and send the ball over the fence,” Black said. “His swing is crisp with some bat speed to it.
“And what’s good about it for me, and to the coaching staff, is that it’s happening in the dog days of August, and it’s happening when guys are tired. It’s happening at the time of year when you really have to fight through some things, physically and mentally. This is a tough time for all players. I’m proud of Brendan.”
Rodgers had plenty of help Friday night. Rookie Jordan Beck (3-for-4) singled in the second and waltzed home on Charlie Blackmon’s eighth homer of the season. In the sixth, Beck drove in Michael Toglia with a single to right. Toglia led off with a hustle double to right.
Blackmon’s homer was his first since July 22 vs. Boston. His 223 career home runs are four shy of tying Carlos Gonzalez for fifth in franchise history.
Colorado right-hander Cal Quantrill, making his first start since Aug. 4 because he was sidelined with forearm soreness, turned in a workmanlike, five-inning start.
“Early on, I was a little tentative and I made some bad pitches in the first and second,” Quantrill said. “But I think we settled in after that. I thought (catcher Jacob Stallings) called a good game, and we kept mixing it up just enough. We didn’t rely too heavily on the fastball or the splitter, we just had a nice change of pace.
“It probably won’t be my best start ever, but we’ve talked about the importance of winning at home. That’s a team that’s really hot right now and we beat them.”
Quantrill is 4-2 with a 3.47 ERA in 10 starts at Coors, the seventh pitcher in franchise history to post a sub-3.50 ERA through his first 10 starts in LoDo as a member of the Rockies. The others are Austin Gomber, Kyle Freeland, Tyler Anderson, Juan Nicasio, Jeff Francis and Denny Stark.
All three runs Quantrill gave up came on home runs — a two-run blast by Ha-Seong Kim in the second and a leadoff blast by Xander Bogaerts in the fourth.
Quantrill, who gave up six hits, walked two and struck out five, was inefficient, throwing 92 pitches (55 strikes) in his outing.
But the right-hander made big pitches in big moments.
San Diego loaded the bases in the first on a single by Luis Arraez, a hit-by-pitch by Jurickson Profar and a walk by Jake Cronenworth. But Quantrill escaped the jam by striking out Manny Machado and getting Bogaerts to ground into an inning-ending double play.
“You never know when a momentum-changer is coming … but that was dire,” Black said.
Quantrill also escaped trouble in the third with another double play, as well as a sensational catch against the center field wall by Brenton Doyle on Cronenworth’s line drive.
Colorado’s bullpen blanked the Padres for four innings, led by right-hander Tyler Kinley, who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless inning and struck out two. He came on for lefty Lucas Gilbreath, who made his first appearance since Aug. 26, 2022.
Rookie closer Victor Vodnik rebounded from his blown save in Tuesday night’s 4-3 loss at Arizona and blanked the Padres in the ninth, although he did give up a hit and a walk.
TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Freeland, who will likely pair up with rookie catcher Drew Romo in Romo’s debut, has made six quality starts in nine games since coming off the 60-day injured list, where he was mending from an elbow strain. He’s gone 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA over that span. However, Freeland was forced out of his last two starts because of blisters on the fingers of his pitching hand. Freeland has made 23 career appearances (21 starts) vs. the Padres, going 7-7 with a 4.37 ERA.
Cease, who no-hit the Nationals on July 26, can dominate any opposing lineup. But the veteran right-hander was not sharp last Sunday against Miami when he gave up five runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks over five innings. He fanned five. Cease, who took the loss, got off to a poor start, giving up four singles in the Marlins’ two-run first inning. A shaky San Diego defense didn’t help Cease. Sunday’s loss was Cease’s first since July 7, and it broke a streak of five consecutive appearances allowing no more than one run. In four career starts vs. the Rockies, Cease is 1-2 with a 4.43 ERA. He’s made two starts at Coors Field, going 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA.
Pitching probables
Sunday: Padres RHP Joe Musgrove (3-4, 5.20) at Rockies RHP Bradley Blalock (0-0, 4.05), 1:10 p.m.
Can we just get on with it? Please? Declaring Steady Stiddy as your starter, as Payton more or less did for Sunday’s preseason opener at Indianapolis, is just delaying the inevitable. It’s cute for cute’s sake. It’s either an epic troll job or a backdoor message to Nix, picked 12th in this past spring’s draft to be your franchise quarterback, that his present isn’t promised.
“I’m not ready for a depth chart, but I have to get (the league) a depth chart,” Payton said after Tuesday’s practice. “So it’s easy to push the (younger) players to the back of the line and then make sure it’s kind of where we sit right now.
“And that’s really it. No, it’s a good question, but I’m not trying to send messages at all.”
Whatever. No. 10 turns 25 in February. Start the meter or get a different cab.
This isn’t 2021. This isn’t about Drew vs. Teddy, about dividing the family and picking a side. This isn’t about an unproven coach who desperately needs to win now, the way Uncle Vic Fangio had to and didn’t.
Broncos Country should be united around Nix, until he gives them ample cause, gives them enough evidence, to cut bait and turn the page. Which might be never.
But dang it, there’s only one way to find out.
It’s about 2025. And 2026. And 2027. Until then, you’re thumb-wrestling with the Raiduhs for third in the AFC West.
It’s about the long game. The Chiefs are the new Patriots; Patrick Mahomes is the new Tom Brady. The Chargers are casting their mercurial lots with Jim Harbaugh — which history says will burn very hot, burn very fast, and, fairly quickly, burn itself out.
Ask yourself this: If Nix is more Josh Rosen than Kyler Murray, wouldn’t you prefer to figure that out sooner as opposed to later?
Sure, Stidham probably gives you the best chance to win now. If your idea of “winning now” is 6-11. Better to stink young.
First-round QBs are like a sports car. In the wrong hands, such as those belonging to Nathaniel Hackett, it’s a sexy wreck waiting to happen.
But there’s a fine line between careful and constipated. You spent the dough to make a show. What’s the point of letting that bad boy sit in the garage all weekend, gathering dust in the darkness?
“I didn’t realize how fast he was,” linebacker Jonas Griffith said Tuesday, eyes widening, when asked about the Broncos’ rookie signal-caller. “It’s kind of crazy because he had (an opening), he was running, I think it was a few days ago, and I was like, ‘Whoa, he’s kind of fast.’ And I consider myself a fast guy.”
Let’s see how fast this kid does 0 to 60. What’s the worst that can happen?
Say Nix gives into his inner Lock, becomes a turnover machine, and stinks up the joint. Congratulations! You’ve backpedaled your way into another top-12 pick, something the Broncos haven’t had in consecutive springs since 2008 and 2009.
The former turned into tackle Ryan Clady. The latter turned into Knowshon Moreno.
“Rookies are at the back of the line,” Payton said.
With most NFL coaches, it’s best to weigh podium proclamations with several grains of salt. With Payton, you take half a shaker. Sunshine Sean is begrudgingly honest in front of a microphone, selectively honest when circled by tape recorders. We are the jackals and hyenas he feeds the way a parent feeds an irresponsible child’s pet hamster. Not because he wants to. Because he has to.
When it comes to any depth chart on Aug. 6, Payton’s right, in theory. It’s too early, it’s too soon, and who cares?
But here’s the difference: When you’ve declared an open QB competition, every rep, every sound bite, is a potential lean, a potential tell.
Although with Payton, who knows? In his six preseason openers since 2016, only two of the coach’s eventual or presumed starters actually took the first snaps of the preseason. Those honors usually went to backups such as Chase Daniel (2017), Tom Savage (2018), Teddy Bridgewater (2019) and Taysom Hill (2021).
Daniel never threw a regular-season pass in ’17. Savage wound up getting cut on Sept. 1 of ’18 after losing the backup battle to our old pal Teddy B.
“Like I said, there wasn’t a lot of thought,” Payton continued. “I mean, we just got the depth chart out (Tuesday) and that’s it. And that’s where we’re at now.”
Some seasons are about winning at all costs. Some are about development. You can split the difference, of course. But six years of always trying to thread that particular needle has left the Broncos a little cross-eyed.
Payton would sooner share a booth at Subway with Russell Wilson than punt 20-24 months of a precious, ticking clock. But in this league, sometimes the surest path forward is by taking two steps back first.
Grounds tickets for the final two rounds of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club next month have sold out, tournament organizers announced Tuesday. Parking for those days is still available, but organizers expect it to sell out as well.
Fans who want to attend Colorado’s first PGA Tour event in a decade have options, though. Grounds tickets, which run from about $30 to $125, are available for the first two rounds of the tournament, Aug. 22 and 23. To watch the weekend rounds in person, fans will have to shell out a bit more money for upgraded options: Canyon Club tickets are $600, and Centennial Club tickets are $1,350.
When Cody Brundage steps into the Octagon on Saturday, he’ll carry his daughter’s fight with him.
Brundage, one of four locals on the UFC Fight Night card in the promotion’s return to Denver at Ball Arena, has gained strength from watching 3-year-old Kingsley battle ALG13-CDG — a rare disease caused by a genetic mutation.
“This (fighting) life is pretty hard in terms of balance because it demands everything of you, and a lot of times it doesn’t really give that much back,” Brundage said. “At one point fighting was the most important, biggest thing in my life. But with kids, that changes, and especially with Kingsley and the care she needs.
“I know as long as I’m being a good dad and good husband and partner, I’ll check the boxes with fighting and that will take care of itself. I didn’t really have that perspective before.”
Doctors initially told Brundage and his wife, ex-UFC fighter Amanda Bobby Brundage, that Kingsley would likely never be able to use her hands, sit up or feed herself. But Kingsley has already met those milestones, and though she remains nonverbal, the Brundages feel fortunate with where she is now.
That includes getting Kingsley’s seizures under control over the past couple of years. When she was an infant, she was having roughly 130 seizures a day.
“Imagine trying to go off to training when you know your baby at 6 months old is going through that many seizures a day,” Amanda Brundage said. “You’re trying to fight for your dreams, which is what Cody’s been doing, and that’s going on at home. It makes it hard (to focus).”
Amanda, who fought in the UFC from 2016 to ’18 and was on the cusp of returning to the promotion when she got pregnant with Kingsley, gave up her professional MMA career to be a mom. While Cody trains at Factory X in Englewood, she stays home with Kingsley and the couple’s other daughter, 1-year-old Millie.
“People can view living through someone else as kind of a negative thing, but for me, it’s a positive,” Amanda said. “I’m living through Cody. I’m supporting him, watching him train. I want him to go to the top, to reach all his dreams and potential. I still get to go to the gym to train. So I still get my feel for the sport, I still learn stuff, and he’s teaching me now.”
That latter part has been a role reversal for the couple, who initially met at an MMA gym in Michigan where Amanda was an instructor. She became the first MMA coach for Cody, an ex-college wrestler searching for his next step in life.
“She was in there doing private lessons and she came up to me and was like, ‘You have no idea what you’re doing,’” Cody recalled with a laugh. “I was like, ‘Thanks for that.’ And in my mind, I was like, ‘Who is this little woman telling me I don’t know what I’m doing?’ Turns out she’s in the UFC.
“She would always tell me, ‘You’re just going to owe me 2% (of future earnings). I’m not ever going to charge you anything now for coaching.’ I’ve been chasing that 2% deal ever since.”
On Saturday, Brundage (4-5 in the UFC) will look to get back into the win column after losing his last fight by submission to Bo Nickal in April.
Brundage’s middleweight opponent at Ball Arena is Ghanaian fighter Abdul Razak Alhassan. Brundage, a 30-year-old Parker resident, is expecting “chaos and fireworks” in a bout between two fighters capable of big finishes. All six of Alhassan’s UFC wins have come by KO/TKO.
“We know Razak is a tough opponent, and we also know that Cody’s skill set could be Razak’s kryptonite,” Factory X head coach Marc Montoya said. “We think this is a fight he can win. Now, he just needs to go prove it. … Cody’s skill set is very well-rounded. Razak’s obviously a good striker, super powerful and explosive. Can Cody’s well-roundedness on the feet and defensively negate what he’s doing?
“I don’t think Razak’s game plan is to come out and try to finish Cody on the ground. The hardest part for our opponent is figuring out what Cody is going to do because he’s very well-rounded.”
Anthony Hernandez grapples Josh Fremd in their middleweight fight during the UFC 273 event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on April 09, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Fremd’s “coming-out party.” Another 30-year-old Factory X middleweight on Saturday’s card is Josh Fremd, who will fight Andre Petroski in the evening’s second preliminary bout.
Fremd is 2-3 in the UFC and coming off a KO loss to Roman Kopylov via a body blow last September. The Connellsville, Pa., native and current Englewood resident said he’s underperformed in his five big-show bouts so far.
“This one’s going to be my coming-out party for the UFC,” Fremd said. “Coming up through the regional scene, I was having viral knockouts and performing great, and then when I got to the UFC it’s been a whirlwind. Even my two wins, they weren’t my best performances. I want to do better and show everyone what I’m actually capable of.”
Like a lot of fighters, Fremd’s road to the UFC was underscored by a rough upbringing. He was in and out of juvenile detention centers, halfway homes and foster care before his grandparents took him and his five siblings in.
But Fremd came out the other side, then developed his will to fight on the regional scene, where he dealt with various injuries and worked as a bartender/bouncer to make ends meet.
“There’s been so many times I could’ve quit, took the easy route out, got a (9-to-5) job, and said, ‘To hell with it.’ But I’ve fought through a lot and it’s taught me work ethic,” Fremd said. “… My boxing and my cardio are my strengths, but at the end of the day, I’m just a fighter. I’m not going to cave, give in or wilt under pressure. I’m okay to get beat up for a little bit just to turn it around and finish a fight.”
Montoya believes Petroski is going to want to capitalize on his grappling ability against Fremd.
“Josh and Cody are in a very similar spot where they’re young in the UFC and they have a high, high ceiling,” Montoya said. “Josh just needs to go out and perform. When you see a confident Josh Fremd, he is scary to fight. And what I’ve seen in the build-up to this fight is that it seems like Josh has found a lot of the swagger he had pre-UFC, and that’s a big deal.”
While Fremd and Brundage fight, Factory X’s top UFC fighter, flyweight Brandon Royval, will be in the stands watching. The Denver native and top-ranked contender in his division had an offer to take on an unranked fighter Saturday but turned it down.
Montoya said the fight didn’t make sense considering Royval is waiting for another shot at a title fight against Alexandre Pantoja, whom he lost to in December before beating then-No. 1 contender Brandon Moreno in February.
“That’s the man of the city right there,” Fremd said of Rovyal, “so in honor of him, I’m going to go out and knock this fool out.”
Rose Namajunas celebrates as the referee kneels over Zhang Weili during a UFC 261 mixed martial arts bout Saturday, April 24, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Main event preview. The night will conclude with one of the state’s all-time fighters in the main event.
Westminster resident Rose Namajunas, a former two-time strawweight champion, fights Tracy Cortez in Namajunas’ third flyweight bout since moving up a weight class. Namajunas was originally supposed to fight Greeley native Maycee Barber, but Barber withdrew a few weeks ago due to medical issues.
Namajunas is No. 6 in the UFC flyweight rankings, and Cortez is No. 11. A win will inch Namajunas closer to an eventual title shot and a chance to become a two-division champion. Alexa Grasso currently holds the belt and is the No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound female fighter.
“I’m feeling lots of excitement, nerves, gratitude for this chance to fight here,” said Namajunas, a Milwaukee native who moved to Colorado about a decade ago. “I’ve had such a great career so far, with some ups and downs, so to get to this point of my first time fighting in Denver, there’s a lot to take in and a lot to process.
“If my heart is right, and my spirit is right … I’m the best for a reason, and (Cortez) will have to find that out.”
Cortez is riding an 11-fight win streak coming into Saturday — with five of those triumphs coming in the UFC — and is eager to hold on to her status as one of the promotion’s intriguing up-and-comers.
“I know right now (Namajunas) is a veteran, and we’re in her home, we’re in her backyard,” Cortez said. “All of that doesn’t really intimidate me. She was an amazing champion at 115 (pounds), but I don’t think she’s yet to face a true 125er like myself in her career. This is going to put both of us to a good test to see if, one, if she belongs in the flyweight division, and two, if I’m really as talented as I believe I am.”
During Namajunas’ training leading into Saturday, she worked with other local UFC fighters, including reigning bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington as well as flyweights Miranda Maverick and JJ Aldrich.
With Namajunas headlining alongside the trio of local men — UFC veteran lightweight and Colorado resident Drew Dober faces Brazilian Jean Silva in the third-to-last bout — Brundage believes Saturday will be a marquee night for the Centennial State’s MMA scene. The last time the UFC held a card in Denver was Nov. 10, 2018, at the then-named Pepsi Center.
“Hopefully we make enough of a statement that it doesn’t take six years to come back,” Brundage said. “This is where the UFC started (with UFC 1 in 1993 at McNichols Sports Arena), and there’s a ton of great MMA culture here. The fans here are awesome, they understand the sport. There’s a ton of jiujitsu gyms here with a lot of high-level UFC fighters who have fought for world titles, won world titles.
“I feel like with the history of this place with MMA, especially UFC, it’s crazy they haven’t been back sooner. … (We local fighters) are all going to go out, push a hard pace and show them what’s up.”
Drew Dober, left, exchanges strikes with Rafael Alves of Brazil in their lightweight bout during UFC 277 at American Airlines Center on July 30, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
UFC Fight Night
Saturday at Ball Arena
Preliminaries — 5 p.m.
Evan Elder vs. Darrius Flowers (Welterweight)
Josh Fremd vs. Andre Petroski (Middleweight)
Luana Santos vs. Mariya Agapova (Flyweight)
Montel Jackson vs. Da’mon Blackshear (Bantamweight)
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Fatima Kline (Flyweight)
Joshua Van vs. Charles Johnson (Flyweight)
Main Card — 8 p.m.
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cody Brundage (Middleweight)
Julian Erosa vs. Christian Rodriguez (Featherweight)
Gabriel Bonfim vs. Ange Loosa (Welterweight)
Drew Dober vs. Jean Silva (Lightweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Muslim Salikhov (Welterweight)
Rose Namajunas vs. Tracy Cortez (Flyweight, Main Event)
As Sean Payton embarks on his second season as the Broncos head coach, he has felt rejuvenated.
Denver’s offense has been sprinkled with youth, sparking position battles — and not just at quarterback — as players are try to make their mark on a team that’s in the midst of a rebuild.
“I think it’s that challenge of working with a young team,” Payton said. “I think that’s the one thing I notice at least watching. I feel the competition.”
Courtland Sutton didn’t show up to the Broncos’ facility until mandatory minicamp, but for the two days the veteran wide receiver was on the practice field, he felt the same energy.
He said the offense is filled with hungry players who are determined to go on the field each week to prove themselves, which is one reason there’s excitement among the players and coaches about training camp.
Indeed, the battle between rookie Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the starting quarterback job will be the highlight of the summer. But the competition at center, wide receiver and running back could be just as heated. The current state of the organization has created opportunity for first- and second-year players to step into meaningful roles this fall.
“You have a lot of guys that are still on their rookie deal, just got drafted or (undrafted) free agents,” Sutton said. “(We have) a team full of hungry dogs.”
Denver’s wide receivers room is filled with young players who have the potential to make an impact. After the Broncos traded wideout Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns in March, Marvin Mims Jr. has a chance to be a second option in the passing game. Denver also has rookies Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele, both of whom could command significant playing time, depending on how they perform during training camp and preseason games.
At running back, the one-two punch of Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine might not be guaranteed. The Broncos drafted former Notre Dame standout Audric Estime — who has been sidelined due to a knee procedure — and is viewed by Payton as a first- and second-down running back. Meanwhile, Jaleel McLaughlin and undrafted rookie Blake Watson have spent the offseason program displaying the receiving traits that Payton desires from running backs.
With Greg Dulcich continuing to work his way back from injury, there’s an opportunity for tight end Lucas Krull to show the coaching staff that he can potentially be the pass-catching threat that the Broncos desperately need at the position.
“It felt different this year in a good way,” Payton said of the competition level within the team.
While there might be an emphasis on the Broncos developing their young talent, Sutton said the mid-career veterans have something to prove as well. Wide receiver Tim Patrick, who restructured the final year of his contract, is hoping to show that he can still be a reliable asset in Denver’s wide receivers room despite having back-to-back season-ending injuries — and despite the team drafting Vele, who has similar traits.
Perine and Williams, as well as left tackle Garett Bolles, will be unrestricted free agents in 2025.
“It’s been cool to see the desire and hunger,” Sutton said.
Another part of Denver’s hunger ahead of training camp is the lack of national recognition. The Broncos have two only prime-time games this season, and Sutton said the team has kept a mental note of that.
“You see teams with six to seven prime-time games, and we have two,” Sutton said. “I think that speaks a lot to where the respect level is for us. We will carry that chip on our shoulder.”
First things first: Adael Amador makes quite a first impression.
Called up from Double-A Hartford, Amador made his major league debut Sunday afternoon in St. Louis. The Rockies’ No. 1 prospect singled on his first swing on the first pitch he saw in his first at-bat. The second baseman’s forever-memory moment arrived when he led off the third inning with a looping single to right off Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante. Amador connected on Pallante’s 94.1 mph fastball.
In Colorado’s 5-1 loss, Amador hit 1 for 3 with one strikeout and stole his first base. At age 21 and 59 days, Amador became the second-youngest position player in Rockies franchise history to make his major league debut behind current starting shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (21 years, 53 days), who debuted on Sept. 23, 2022.
“He looked fine of defense,” manager Bud Black told reporters in St. Louis. “He was probably a little amped up. … He expanded (the zone) a little bit today, which is out of his norm. But I think that will probably quiet down a little bit as each day goes on. We didn’t see the expansion of the strike zone in spring training. I’m sure he was fired up today, but overall, he looked comfortable.”
Amador, the No. 32 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, was called up to replace veteran second baseman Brendan Rodgers, who is dealing with a left hamstring strain and was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday.
Unless Amador lights up major league pitching, his first stay with the Rockies will be short, and he’ll be optioned to the minors for more seasoning. But the Rockies thought the time was right to give Amador a test run.
“It’s going to give Amador a taste of the majors here for a short period of time until ‘B-Rod’ comes back,” Black told MLB.com. “We’re excited about that. It’ll give us a chance to look at him. He’ll be exposed to the pace of a major league game versus a Double-A game. He’s in good form at 21 years old.”
Even though Amador faced early failure at Double-A, that didn’t dissuade general manager Bill Schmidt from making the move.
“The thing that prompted this was the last 10 days, (Amador’s) been playing well,” Black said. “He’s hit some homers. Even though his batting average is below .200 and doesn’t look great, he’s been hitting well over .300 the last week or so. His defense has been fine. He’s leading the Eastern League in walks and stolen bases, so there are some things to be excited about.”
Amador was slashing just .194/.337/.329 over 209 plate appearances when he got his call to the majors. But since mashing his first home run of the season on May 21, he slashed .295/.389/.656 (1.045 OPS) with seven homers, one double, 18 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 15 games. During his hot streak, he led the Eastern League in home runs while ranking second in RBIs, stolen bases and total bases (40).
With Aaron Schunk and Coco Montes, the Rockies have older players at Triple-A Albuquerque who could have replaced Rodgers, but neither is on the 40-man roster, so Amador’s promotion made the most sense.
Heroes have been hard to find for the Rockies, but Friday night, there were plenty of them in LoDo.
Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar ripped an RBI single down the left-field line off Phillies left-hander Gregory Soto to score Brenton Doyle from third and lift Colorado to a thrilling 3-2 victory.
Tovar hit Soto’s 0-1 slider for the second walk-off hit of his career.
“Honestly, I was just thinking, ‘Get a good at-bat there because our bullpen did a hell of a job tonight,’ ” Tovar said, using bullpen catcher Aaron Munoz as his interpreter.
“Situations like that are extremely fun,” Tovar continued. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous in pregame or in any of those at-bats. But any situation, in any at-bat, I just try to get a hit up the middle, basically.”
Tovar, who went 4 for 6 and had the first four-hit game of his career, would not have had the chance to don Superman’s cape had it not been for backup catcher Jacob Stallings. Or a lockdown night by the bullpen.
In the ninth, with the Rockies trailing 2-1 and down to their final out, Stallings ripped a 427-foot, pinch-hit homer off Phillies closer Jose Alvarado to tie the game, 2-2. Stallings ambushed Alvarado’s first pitch, a 97 mph sinker, to send the game into extra innings.
“I know what a tough at-bat Alvarado is,” said Stallings, who hit the first pinch-hit homer of his nine-year career. “But that was a really cool moment and it ranks up there as one of my favorites. But contributing to the win was the most important thing.”
Stallings is the third player in Rockies history to launch a game-tying, pinch-hit home run with two outs in the ninth inning. The others were Larry Walker, on July 17, 1999, at Cincinnati, and Sam Hillard, on Sept. 28, 2019, vs. Milwaukee.
And Colorado’s much-maligned relief corps came through big time.
Reliever Nick Mears found himself against the ropes in the 10th. A one-out walk by Whit Merrifield, followed by a bloop single to center by pinch-hitter Kody Clemens, loaded the bases. But Mears struck out the dangerous Kyle Schwarber looking at a curveball and got J.T. Realmuto to ground out to first.
On a night when Colorado desperately needed a reliever to come through, Mears delivered two scoreless innings. And then Tyler Kinley delivered a scoreless 11th to notch the win.
The Rockies have become extra-inning warriors. They beat Oakland in 12 innings Wednesday night and lost to the A’s in 11 innings on Thursday. Friday marked just the second time the Rockies have played three consecutive extra-inning games. It last happened June 20-22, 2002, when the Rockies beat the Yankees in the 10th, followed by a win over Tampa in the 10th, then another win over Tampa in the 11th.
Before all of the late-game drama, Colorado left-hander Ty Blach pitched a terrific game.
The Phillies came to LoDo on a roll, having won 29 of their previous 35 games but Colorado went toe-to-toe with them.
The night’s fireworks came early when Phillies star first baseman Bryce Harper was ejected in the first inning for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Brian Walsh. Harper struck out on three pitches against Blach. Harper spiked his batting helmet and then continued to argue. It was Harper’s first ejection of the season and the 21st of his career.
“Bummed,” Harper told reporters in the Philadelphia clubhouse. “I wasn’t trying to get thrown out. I was just having a conversation. There are guys who are professionals in this league. They understand it. I guess 120 didn’t understand it.”
The “120” Harper reference is Walsh’s umpire jersey number.
Crew chief Vic Carapazza provided a pool report about Harper’s ejection after the game.
“What led to the ejection was that Bryce Harper was clearly upset about the pitches and Brian gave him a long leash,” Carapazza said. “He kept him in the game, and Bryce just kept arguing about balls and strikes and, at the end of the day, equipment violation is basically a big warning and, if you continue to talk about pitches, then Brian had to handle it. So that’s it, really.”
Besides striking out Harper, Blach set the stage for the Rockies’ victory. Following in the footsteps of Cal Quantrill, Austin Gomber and Ryan Feltner’s excellent starts in Oakland, Blach slowed down the Phillies for 6 2/3 innings.
The Phillies hurt him with two swings in the fifth inning. Nick Castellanos led off with a 445-foot blast to center, teeing off on Blach’s 1-0 cutter. Two batters later, Edmundo Sosa launched Blach’s 2-1 sinker into the left-field bleacher for a 2-0 Philly lead.
Blach allowed five hits, struck out two, and walked two. Of his 78 pitches, 58 were thrown for strikes. Most impressive, his only three-ball counts of the night came vs. the final two batters he faced.
“The key was to pitch down,” Blach said. “I know they like to do damage, so I tried to get some groundballs.
He threw 78 pitches, 58 for strikes, in his very efficient night.
“When I’m right, that’s how things are going,” he said. “I’m just attacking the zone and changing speeds, going in and out. The changeup was good tonight and I was able to keep those guys off-balance.”
Colorado sliced Philadelphia’s lead in half in the bottom of the fifth, combining a double by Hunter Goodman, a single up the middle for Alan Trejo, who was filling in at third base for Ryan McMahon, and an RBI single by Tovar. Tovar’s 23 RBIs rank are tied for second on the team with Elias Diaz and trail only McMahon (30).
Saturday’s pitching matchup
Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (6-2, 3.05 ERA) at Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (1-7, 5.89)
7:10 p.m. Saturday, Coors Field
TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
While right-hander Cal Quantrill and lefty Austin Gomber have been pitching like All-Stars this month, Hudson continues to struggle. But he has made some progress, even though he picked up his seventh loss on Sunday at San Francisco. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits over 4 2/3 innings. Lack of pitch efficiency has been a problem for the right-hander all season. And Hudson has struggled at Coors Field, going 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA, 15 walks and 11 strikeouts over four starts. In five career starts against the Phillies, he’s 1-2 with a 3.58 ERA, 16 walks and 15 strikeouts. As a member of the Cardinals last season, he made two starts against Philly, going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
Nola has pitched well against Colorado, going 4-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 10 starts, striking out 72 while walking only 11. He dominated the Rockies in Philadelphia last month, allowing one run on four hits over 7 1/3 innings. He fanned nine and walked one. Nola is coming off a strong performance vs. the Nationals last Sunday when he allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks across seven innings. He struck out five. In five career starts at Coors Field, he’s 2-2 with a 4.22 ERA.
Pitching probables
Sunday: Phillies LHP Ranger Suarez (9-0, 1.36) at Rockies RHP Cal Quantrill (3-3, 3.59), 1:10 p.m.
Kris Bryant is back. But will his injured back allow him to stick around?
For the first time in more than a month, the Rockies’ first baseman/right fielder was back in the starting lineup Tuesday as the Rockies took on the Athletics in Oakland.
Bryant started at first base and hit fifth.
“This last month … sometimes I think you take being on the field for granted,” Bryant told Rockies.TV before the game. “So, now that I’m feeling good again, I’m just ready to have some fun and not take anything for granted. I’m super excited to be back out there.”
To make room on the 26-man roster, outfielder Sean Bouchard was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Bryant, 32, was placed on the injured list on April 17 (retroactive to April 14) with a lower back strain. He missed 31 games, during which the Rockies were 11-20.
In five rehab games at Albuquerque, Bryant hit 3 for 20 (.150) with one double and one RBI. He struck out six times. He played two games at first base, two as the designated hitter and one in right field.
Bryant was in a slump when he went on the IL, hitting just .149 (7 for 47), tied for the ninth-lowest in the majors (minimum 45 at-bats). He hit one home run and drove in six runs.
During his stint on the IL, Bryant opened up about his back issues, explaining that his lower back is a chronic problem. He also described his frustration at being on the injured list six times in his two-plus seasons since signing a seven-year, $182 million free-agent deal with Colorado.
“It’s hard to put into words. It’s through the roof,” he told The Denver Post. “Some days, I just sit in bed and stare at the ceiling with the frustration. It’s hard.”
Bryant said he’s trying to play with the condition and find ways to avoid the IL.
“I guess it’s hard to speak on because I’m not a doctor, but the discs in my back are pretty much dried up, so there’s a couple of discs that … they don’t function like they did 10 years ago,” Bryant said earlier this month. “My facet joints are a little — not a little — they are pretty severely arthritic, and (there are) a lot of bone spurs and stuff like that. It’s just part of getting older. That’s the way the doctor explained it to me. So I just have to find a way to manage it the best I can.”
It’ll be an NBA Game 7 doubleheader to finish the weekend.
The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves will meet for their winner-take-all series finale Sunday at 6 p.m. MT, the league announced Friday night. The game at Ball Arena in downtown Denver will be broadcast on TNT and available for streaming on Max.
The start time was dependent on the result of Game 6 between the Knicks and Pacers. If the Knicks had finished off the Eastern Conference semifinal series Friday with a 3-2 lead, Denver and Minnesota would have been in the afternoon TV slot Sunday. Instead, Knicks vs. Pacers at Madison Square Garden takes that space, pushing the Western Conference clash to the evening.
This will be the Nuggets’ first elimination game in more than two calendar years and their first Game 7 since the bubble in 2020. Denver took a one-game lead over Minnesota for second place in the West on the last day of the regular season to earn home-court advantage for this series, including its grand conclusion. The winner will advance to the Western Conference Finals to face either Dallas or Oklahoma City.
The visiting team won the first four games of the series, with Denver erasing a 2-0 deficit. Since then, the Nuggets and Timberwolves have traded home wins. Minnesota staved off elimination Thursday at Target Center with a 115-70 blowout that holds the distinction of being the Nuggets’ worst playoff loss in franchise history by point margin.
A rundown of the CHSAA state track and field meet to be held Thursday through Saturday at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood:
10 things to watch
The team races: The Niwot girls track and field dynasty is likely in for yet another coronation, with the Cougars returning two state champions (Addison Ritzenhein and Jade West) and insane depth in the 4A meet. But after that? There’s plenty of mystery in Classes 5A and 4A. Cherokee Trail has a real shot at claiming a second straight 5A boys title but is by no means a lock, and the 5A girls meet is wide open. Northfield has the depth to claim its first team title in the 4A boys meet, but the Nighthawks will have to earn it.
Four for LaFore: A year after sweeping the throws in the 5A boys meet, Chatfield’s Charlie LaFore appears primed to repeat the feat. The Chargers senior set a new 5A record with his top throw in the shot put (65 feet, 4.25 inches) earlier this spring, which is also the 13th-longest prep personal best in the country this season, according to MileSplit.com. The Kansas State commit isn’t too shabby in the discus, either. His top mark there (190 feet) is also a top-30 throw nationally.
Hurdling ahead: Another senior looking for an event sweep? Grandview’s Gabriella Cunningham can cement her claim as the state’s top girls hurdler if she can match the effort she’s already put forth this spring. With national top-20 times in both the 100-meter hurdles (13.61 seconds) and 300 hurdles (42.15), Cunningham is an overwhelming favorite to defend her 5A titles in both races. Of course, this is also the hurdles, where absolutely nothing is guaranteed.
Vines family business: The track and field world is already well-acquainted with De Beque senior Scottie Vines. The reigning 1A boys high jump champion broke the state high jump record earlier this season with a 7-4.25 and already has a spot sewn up in next month’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Ore. But his sister, Ava, has a chance to make her own mark this weekend as one of the state’s best by defending her 1A girls high jump crown. With Scottie Vines also competing in the 1A boys 100 and 200, the family trophy case could be due a new collection of hardware.
Sprint sweep, Part I: Few athletes have burst onto the Colorado prep track scene quite like Windsor senior Mikey Munn this season. Last spring, the South Dakota football commit didn’t compete in a single individual race at the state meet (he was part of Windsor’s 400-meter relay). A year later, he has the state’s top times in the 200 and 400, according to MileSplit.com, and his 100 PR (10.51) is behind only Cherokee Trail’s Peyton Sommers. With Sommers competing in 5A, that makes Munn a strong candidate for a sprint sweep in the 4A boys meet.
Sprint sweep, Part II: Speaking of breakout stars, it’s time to get to know Ellie Londo. The Valor Christian sophomore is staring down a potential sweep of the 5A girls sprints with the top seed times in the 100 (11.94 seconds), 200 (24.46) and 400 (55.74) — the latter of which also happens to be the top time in the state, regardless of classification. Pull that off, and another strong Eagles team just might contend for the program’s fourth team championship in five state meets.
Going the distance: As is often the case, this weekend’s meet is bursting with distance-running talent on both the boys and girls sides. For the boys, there’s Navy commit Dane Eike, the reigning 5A boys 3200 champion and top seed in the 1600, and Battle Mountain teammates Porter Middaugh (Arizona State) and Will Brunner (Harvard) in the 4A meet. For the girls? Well, there are simply too many names to list. Just know that Gatorade national cross country runner of the year Addison Ritzenhein of Niwot, N.C. State commit Bethany Michalak of Air Academy and Notre Dame commit Isabel Allori of Liberty Common, who set a new Colorado prep record in the 3200 (10:04.16), are going to put on a show.
Pole vault face-off: The under-the-radar showdown of the meet? That has to be The Classical Academy’s Anna Willis vs. Peak to Peak’s Kourtney Rathke in the 3A girls pole vault. The two have gone toe-to-toe at the state meet each of the past three years, with Willis winning once and Rathke twice. Willis enters this weekend tied with Broomfield’s Lilly Nichols as the top-ranked vaulter across all girls classes, but there’s little doubt Rathke will push her once again. And even if she doesn’t, Rathke has a chance to be a three-time state champion in the long jump, too.
Chasing double digits: There is dominance, and then there is Dayspring Christian senior Eboselulu Omofoma — an eight-time state champion looking to four-peat in both the 2A girls 100 hurdles and high jump. Entered into three events this spring, including the triple jump, Omofoma has a shot at finishing her prep career with double-digit individual titles. If she wants to get 11, her biggest hurdle — outside of the actual hurdles, of course — just might be the high jump, where Hoehne freshman Braylee Foster will offer stiff competition.
Another face-off: A year after finishing second behind Grand Junction’s Miller Jones in the 4A long jump, Roosevelt junior Jayden Nohr gets another shot at a second state title. The Rough Riders junior enters the state meet with the 18th-best leap (23-9.5) among prep athletes in the nation this spring, but he’s got another top-notch leaper just behind him in Mesa Ridge’s Avant Wright (23-9). This one could be a back-and-forth battle.
Returning state champions
Class 5A boys
Athlete
School, year
Event
Winning mark
Peyton Sommers
Cherokee Trail, Jr.
200
21.10
Peyton Sommers
Cherokee Trail, Jr.
400
46.77
Dane Eike
Valor Christian, Sr.
3200
9:13.27
Kaleb Kimaita
Horizon, Sr.
High jump
6-6
Tyler Rowan
Monarch, Sr.
Pole vault
15-8
Charlie Lafore
Chatfield, Sr.
Shot put
55-8.75
Charlie Lafore
Chatfield, Sr.
Discus
178-6
Class 5A girls
Athlete
School, year
Event
Winning mark
Rosie Mucharsky
Denver East, Jr.
800
2:09.57
Gabriella Cunningham
Grandview, Sr.
100H
13.78
Gabriella Cunningham
Grandview, Sr.
300H
42.71
Farrah Eike
Valor Christian, Sr.
High jump
5-5
Mary Ella Brooks
Ralston Valley, Sr.
Shot put
37-3.75
Addison Edwards
Cherry Creek, Sr.
Discus
126-7
Bethany Michalak (’21)
Air Academy, Sr.
4A 1600
4:55.01
**Lilly Nichols (’22, ’21)
Broomfield, Sr.
Pole vault
12-9
Class 4A boys
Athlete
School, year
Event
Winning mark
Joseph Ciccio
Lutheran, Sr.
100
10.53
Will Brunner
Battle Mountain, Sr.
3200
9:26.76
Wyatt Turner
Canon City, Sr.
High jump
6-5
Jayden Nohr (’22)
Roosevelt, Jr.
3A Long jump
22-9
Class 4A girls
Athlete
School, year
Event
Winning mark
Ella Hagen
Summit, Jr.
1600
4:54.35
Addison Ritzenhein
Niwot, So.
3200
10:30.05
Eva Bellot
Green Mountain, Sr.
High jump
5-6
Ella Pears
Longmont, Sr.
Triple jump
37-3.50
Jade West
Niwot, Jr.
Shot put
40-8.25
Class 3A boys
Athlete
School, year
Event
Winning mark
Austin Tice
Estes Park, Sr.
800
1:54.49
Matthew Edwards
The Classical Academy, Sr.
3200
9:20.88
Jordan Wenger
The Classical Academy, Sr.
High jump
6-8
**Jordan Wenger
The Classical Academy, Sr.
Triple jump
45-7
Nicholas Rothe
University, Jr.
Pole vault
14-0
Johnny Whyrick
University, Sr.
Shot put
52-10.5
Johnny Whyrick
University, Sr.
Discus
149-5
Jackson Fagerlin (’22)
Resurrection Chr., Jr.
1600
4:22.79
Justin Bate (’22)
Liberty Common, Sr.
Pole vault
13-6
Class 3A girls
Athlete
School, year
Event
Winning mark
Andie Rasmussen
Eaton, Sr.
400
56.05
Jaycee Williams
Berthoud, Sr.
800
2:13.20
Sarah DeLaCerda
Alamosa, Sr.
1600
4:55.95
Sarah DeLaCerda
Alamosa, Sr.
3200
11:04.13
**Kourtney Rathke
Peak to Peak, Sr.
Pole vault
13-0
**Kourtney Rathke
Peak to Peak, Sr.
Long jump
18-2
Savanna Amack
Northridge, Sr.
Triple jump
37-3
Brilee Jensen
Coal Ridge, Jr.
Shot put
38-9.5
Jaedyn Kohn
Woodland Park, Sr.
Discus
125-7
Isabel Allori (’22)
Liberty Common, Sr.
1600
4:55.12
Isabel Allori (’22)
Liberty Common, Sr.
3200
10:57.69
Anna Willis (’21)
The Classical Academy, Sr.
Pole vault
12-6
Class 2A boys
Athlete
School, year
Event
Winning mark
Landon Hadley
Peyton, Sr.
100
11.11
Logan Tullis
Cedaredge, Sr.
110H
15.32
Logan Tullis
Cedaredge, Sr.
300H
40.19
Brady Mollendor
Sedgwick County, So.
Triple jump
44-3.5
Class 2A girls
Athlete
School, year
Event
Winning mark
Peighton Marrero
Strasburg, Jr.
400
57.11
Natalie Washburn
Tinmath, Jr.
800
2:19.04
Keira King
Lake County, Sr.
1600
5:20.36
Mikaela Kendall
Heritage Christian, So.
3200
11:46.99
***Eboselulu Omofoma
Dayspring Christian, Sr.
100H
14.81
***Eboselulu Omofoma
Dayspring Christian, Sr.
High jump
5-1
Eboselulu Omofoma
Dayspring Christian, Sr.
Triple jump
36-5
Taiya Carl
Buena Vista, Jr.
Pole vault
9-7
Kaitlyn Pearson
Swallows Charter, Sr.
Long jump
17-6
Elizabeth Brooks
Cedaredge, Sr.
Shot put
38-9.25
**Gemma Powell
Lyons, Sr.
Discus
131-4
Class 1A boys
Athlete
School, year
Event
Winning mark
Josh Snyder
Cheraw, Sr.
1600
4:40.40
Josh Snyder
Cheraw, Sr.
3200
10:28.64
**Scottie Vines
De Beque, Sr.
High jump
6-10
Konner Rowden-Stum
Genoa-Hugo/Karval, Sr.
Long jump
22-0.5
**Konner Rowden-Stum
Genoa-Hugo/Karval, Sr.
Triple jump
42-10
Ryan McCaffrey (’22)
Akron, Sr.
Pole vault
12-9
Class 1A girls
Athlete
School, year
Event
Winning mark
Roxy Unruh
Prairie, So.
100
12.38
Roxy Unruh
Prairie, So.
200
25.86
Erica Miller
Sanford, Jr.
800
2:23.01
Kya Piel
Merino, So.
1600
5:33.05
Kya Piel
Merino, So.
3200
12:18.61
Ava Vines
De Beque, Jr.
High jump
5-5
Jade Kuntz
North Star, So.
Pole vault
9-0
Emily Hume
Walsh, Jr.
Long jump
16-2
Mckenna Notter
Stratton, Sr.
Triple jump
34-0
**Zadie Mackey
Elbert, Sr.
Shot put
39-3.5
**Zadie Mackey
Elbert, Sr.
Discus
136-9
Krista Wieser (’22)
Idalia, Jr.
100
13.47
Paola Vidales (’22)
Kiowa, Sr.
1600
5:38.97
*** Three-time champion | ** Two-time champion | (’21) won in 2021 | (’22) won in 2022
When a governor is serving as your hype man and a mayor is volunteering himself as your aide for the afternoon, you’re having a pretty good day.
When the day itself is proclaimed in your honor, all the better.
That was Friday on the west steps of the state capitol for Randy Gradishar.
The Broncos legend and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee soaked in a sunny May 3 afternoon that Gov. Jared Polis named Randy Gradishar Day after the linebacker who wore No. 53 in the middle of Denver’s defense for one of its most dominant decades.
“Having this opportunity to come out and have Randy Gradishar Day with the governor and the mayor and just in Colorado people appreciating this, it’s just really humbling for me,” Gradishar said afterward. “Having the opportunity to be recognized this way and knowing that finally the Pro Football Hall of Fame is here is a real blessing.”
Polis spoke while wearing one of the Broncos’ new uniforms with the No. 24 and “Polis” on the back and said the only reason he didn’t wear his signed Gradishar jersey is because he’d had it framed and hung in his office.
He read the official proclamation, which included some of Gradishar’s career statistical highlights and nodded to many of Gradishar’s off-the-field pursuits, like decades of work with Colorado youth and military personnel.
A sizable group of Broncos fans and onlookers gathered in front of the orange-and-blue arc of balloons set up for the event, which also included Broncos cheerleaders, the drum line and, of course, “Miles” the mascot in addition to friends and former teammates of Gradishar’s and team executives.
“He’s someone I spent my entire childhood watching,” Denver mayor Mike Johnston said of Gradishar. “But as the governor said, the amazing thing about Randy is he’s not just a legend on the field, he’s been a legend off the field. He’s stayed in this city, he’s given back, he’s done everything he can to pull up the next generation of players but more than anything the next generation of young people and the next generation of fans.”
Gradishar will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame in August, the endpoint to a 35-year wait. Gradishar grew up in Ohio not far from Canton, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and recently went to the Hall for the first time since knowing he’d be joining its ranks this summer.
This day, Polis said, was meant to be a kickoff to the summer Gradishar’s been waiting on for so many years.
“It’s overwhelming to me right now,” Gradishar said.
The gut reaction to this pick is going to be almost entirely driven by the strength of trust in Sean Payton to pick a quarterback. The fact that Nix was the sixth of the perceived top six selected Thursday will either prove Payton and the Broncos’ evaluation process to be a terrific one or it will end up looking like desperation. That makes Nix, far from a sure bet to turn into an upper-echelon player at the NFL level, a fascinating case study going forward.
Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat writer
Grade: B-
Going into the draft, it felt like Denver couldn’t walk away without a quarterback. But taking Bo Nix at No. 12 seems like a reach. Unless the Broncos thought the Raiders would take him at No. 13, they could’ve tried to obtain more picks and still taken Nix after trading back. Nix fits Sean Payton’s offense, and his experience (61 college starts) gives him a chance to be a Week 1 starter. But Broncos Country will need to put its full trust in Payton that he knows something that others don’t.
Troy Renck, sports columnist
Grade: B
There was no way the Broncos could rationalize leaving the first round without a quarterback. The AFC demands it. In Nix, Sean Payton landed a quarterback with maturity, intelligence, a quick release and a talent for avoiding sacks. Is he Drew Brees? That’s not fair. But could an athletic game manager be capable of keeping the offense on schedule? Yes. The USC game film provides reason to believe. His Auburn career creates pause. But at some point, you have to trust Payton. And all he’s done is stake his legacy to Nix.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist
Grade: B+
Is the kid a reach at 12? Yup. Is Michael Penix Jr. better? Yup. Not every NFL braintrust loves Bo Nix as much as Sean Payton did, but that’s OK. Even if Nix is more Checkdown Charlie than Drew Brees II, this was a statement of intent. On Day 1, the Broncos didn’t come away from the best QB draft in ages empty-handed. You don’t get big victories in this league without making some small ones first.
Matt Schubert, sports editor
Grade: B
Oh, to be a fly on the wall in Broncos headquarters Thursday night. Was Bo Nix the Broncos’ guy all along? Or did Atlanta turn this thing upside down when it took Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8? It’ll be a long time before we get answers to those questions — if ever. Brock Bowers may very well spend the next eight years shredding the Broncos defense in silver and black. And he was right there for the taking at No. 12. Get ready for that to be one of the many measurements of success with this pick.
After Broncos general manager George Paton fielded nearly a dozen questions about the quarterback position during the team’s pre-draft news conference Thursday afternoon, he was asked about other areas of need.
Throughout the draft process, many experts have had Denver drafting an edge rusher or cornerback with the 12th pick. And though Paton is confident in the depth at both positions, he didn’t shy away from the possibility of adding to either spot.
“You are always looking at those types of positions,” Paton said. “If someone falls in your lap, you’re going to take them.”
It’s hard to find quality edge rushers and cornerbacks, Paton reasoned. Players like Von Miller don’t walk through the doors every day. But at the same time, the talent the Broncos have at both position groups is young with room to grow.
Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, who is entering his third season in the league, had eight sacks in 2023 after recording 1.5 as a rookie. Jonathon Cooper had a team-best 8.5 sacks, while Denver should benefit from having Baron Browning at full strength entering the new year.
At cornerback, Patrick Surtain II, 24, has established himself as one of the best in the league. Meanwhile, Ja’Quan McMillian played at a high level in the nickel spot during his sophomore campaign.
But questions remain. How will Drew Sanders fare if Denver switches him from inside linebacker to the edge? Can Damarri Mathis bounce back after getting benched in the middle of last season? Will Riley Moss be able to live up to the team’s expectations after playing three snaps at outside cornerback as a rookie?
In a division where the Broncos have to face two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year, they might not be able to afford to take that gamble, especially since they have the potential to draft a premier player at either position in the first round.
“Whether it’s quarterback, edge or cornerback, you know what they are. They are a premium,” Paton said.
When veteran Fabian Moreau took over as Denver’s starting cornerback, he held his own. But there were moments where he lacked the speed to keep up with certain wide receivers. Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell — who could be available at No. 12 — does, and he can make plays on the ball. He completed the 40-yard at the scouting combine in 4.33 seconds while recording 18 pass breakups in his final season with the Rockets.
Denver used its last first-round pick to draft Surtain in 2021, and it traded up to take Moss in the third round of last year’s draft. But the possibility of having two lockdown cornerbacks could be intriguing for a defense that finished 22nd in passing yards allowed (233.6 per game) last fall.
When it comes to edge rushers, NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said in a conference call on Thursday that he thinks Alabama’s Dallas Turner, Florida State’s Jared Verse and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu are the top three players. Depending on how the top of the draft shakes up, either one could fall into Denver’s lap.
Even though Bonitto and Cooper improved, the Broncos were 29th in pressure percentage (18.2%), 20th in sack percentage (6.8%) and tied for 21st in team sack totals (42), according to Pro Football Reference.
Latu — who medically retired due to a neck injury at Washington — didn’t have a problem getting to the quarterback during his time at UCLA, registering 23.5 sacks over the last two seasons. He also had 127 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
“I know there’s teams that have Latu as the No. 1 edge guy,” Jeremiah said. “There are varying degrees of concerns with Latu’s medical. But on the other side of it, he’s been healthy the last two years and productive at UCLA.”
There are so many directions the Broncos can go into with their top pick that Paton and coach Sean Payton won’t know what they’ll do until draft night. Whether Denver takes a quarterback, edge rusher, or cornerback, the organization is confident it can land an impact player.
“One thing we know is that we are going to get a really good player at 12,” Paton said.
