The matchup was determined almost two weeks ago. The Los Angeles Rams would be facing the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. The teams would have ample days to rest, strategize, and attend press conferences. The fans would have more than enough time to buy cheese dip, preview Super Bowl commercials, and upgrade their big screens. Two weeks can seem like an eternity, but if the Super Bowl is the main course, sports filled us with plenty of hors d’oeuvres while waiting. Tom Brady won’t be playing on Sunday, but he still dominated the news. We had the NBA trade deadline, the NHL All-Star... Read More

It was Couch Potato Heaven as the NFL put on a show during last weekend’s Divisional Playoffs. Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow survived being sacked nine times as the Bengals upset Tennessee 19-16. San Francisco blocked a Green Bay punt late in the game on their way to a 13-10 win in Lambeau. The Los Angeles Rams completed a deep pass to Cooper Kupp to avoid another Tom Brady comeback in winning 30-27 over Tampa Bay. And Pat Mahomes outdueled Josh Allen, 42-36 in overtime, with both a flip of the wrist, and a flip of the coin. A look at the crazy games from the past weekend and more. • The sample... Read More

The art of the NFL draft is subjective at best.  War rooms filled with billionaires, general managers, and coaches all searching for ways to improve the franchise.  Draft boards in dry erase markers list best players available, positions of need, and potential new faces of a franchise. For GM’s and head coaches on the hot seat, it is a final chance to save their jobs by selecting a savior quarterback, a much-needed tackle, or a tight end weapon with 4.3 speed. For Denver’s new general manager, George Paton, it is an opportunity to succeed where John Elway has failed for the last four seasons. ... Read More

At the time, signing Von Miller to a six-year/$114 million contract seemed like a brilliant move.  It was July of 2016, and the 27-year-old Miller had already won a Super Bowl MVP award, twice made the All-Pro team, while racking up double-digit sacks every year, including 18.5 sacks back in 2012. After signing the long-term extension, Miller continued to be the face of the Broncos making eight Pro Bowls, forcing 26 fumbles, and eventually becoming Denver’s all-time sack leader with 106. But contracts are tricky, especially in the NFL.  After many years of Hall-of-Fame like production, Miller... Read More

After a weekend of binge drinking and complaining about the Denver Broncos, a friend suggested that I look into a 12-Step program to try and solve my problems.  The program talked about being honest with yourself after years of denial, accepting character defects, and that recovery is a process. I told my friend that solving the Broncos’ issues would take way more than twelve steps, but I would give it a try. Hire a New General Manager – The first step of any successful program is admitting that you have a problem, and John Elway was a problem. The hiring of George Paton leaves Denver with... Read More

If you feel that the title was somehow misleading, I apologize.  The objective of a headline is to generate interest, tease with curiosity, and lure with creative word choice.  As a reader, you probably expected a synopsis of the year’s most powerful stories, not actual headlines. That reminds me of a story I wrote a few years ago ranking which NBA lineup had the best trio of players.  The article was titled, “Everybody Loves a Threesome”. Call it a reflection of the work created over the past year, a chance to smile thinking about the absurdity that was 2020, or simply just a way to recycle... Read More

On February 7, 2016, confetti poured from above the bleachers as the Denver Broncos celebrated their last Super Bowl victory.  Peyton Manning walked away from the game a living legend, and John Elway cemented his legacy as both a championship quarterback, as well as a general manager. The following summer, long after the confetti was swept away, Denver gave John Elway a 5-year/$30 million extension while proclaiming, In John we trust.  And why not?  Elway was the architect that replaced Tim Tebow with Peyton Manning, dismissed coach John Fox after a 12-4 Super Bowl appearance season, designed... Read More

With apologies to the Johnsonville Cornhole Championships that recently aired on The Ocho, Thursday night marks the return of live, meaningful sporting events.  The NFL Draft will commence as scheduled despite the lack of medical examinations, face-to-face interviews, and private workouts of year’s past.  The Denver Broncos have 10 picks in this year’s draft, including the 15th spot in the first round where many are guessing wide receiver. But unless John Elway gives up some equity and moves up the draft board in order to grab a CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy, I see an offensive lineman instead,... Read More

While the hungry sports fan has to settle for games of H.O.R.S.E, NBA2K, and replays of March Madness from 1992 as the world quarantines, there has been some optimism recently as many leagues start to brainstorm about returning to their games. The NHL has reported that cities across the country have shown interest in hosting playoff games at neutral-site locations. MLB has reportedly discussed the possibility of the rearrangement of leagues, increased double-headers, and reduction in games.  And the NBA has even toyed with the thought of moving the entire league to the Bahamas until COVID-19... Read More

As if things weren’t bad enough now that our lives have turned into quarantines, social-spacing, and toilet paper scavenger hunts, we have no sports to distract us for a few hours, no game to provide just a touch of normalcy, and no heroes to dazzle us with their athletic prowess. The seasons have all been canceled or postponed, leaving us with no NBA Playoffs, no March Madness, no race for Lord Stanley’s Cup, and no spring training.  The coronavirus is so cruel that it didn’t even leave us the XFL to watch in our isolated misery. But the virus didn’t take our movies.  And if the virus... Read More