Columnist Mark Kiszla answered questions about Denver sports in a live Lunch Special chat. Here are the highlights:
I know training camp just started, but who looks like they could rise up as the Broncos’ starting running back?
Kiszla: As camp starts, Royce Freeman has to be the favorite to start. We like to think sports is one big meritocracy, with the best man playing. But the Broncos invested a valuable draft pick on Freeman. And he will be given every chance to win the job. ? I’ve never been sold on him. My man Phillip Lindsay? has already proclaimed Lindsay could be the third-down back. High praise for an undrafted rookie. But as Lindsay says: Making the roster is a marathon not a sprint. He’s a smart man. De’Angelo Henderson can make some noise. And David Williams has skills, as they say. loves . But unless the Broncos are going to put a fullback to good use, why have one on the 53-man roster?
Do you think Matt Holliday will make any impact for the Rockies this year?
Kiszla: I hope Matt Holliday has gone out and bought a golden thong. Because, at this point in his career, it seems to me that Holliday could make an impact the same way Jason “Golden Thong” Giambi once did for the Rockies. Pinch-hitter in the clutch. Strong voice in the clubhouse. And hide the glove (please).
What’s the deal with Carlos Henderson?
Kiszla: Blown draft pick. Not worth worrying about. But duly note this: Every NFL team and its local media has a tendency to way over-hype every draft class. Fine by me. But I like to see if a guy can play before I declare him a steal … or a bust.
The Broncos had an amazing draft. Who from this rookie class do you think will make the most impact this year?
Kiszla: Amazing? I love your passion. But I thought the days of the two-martini lunch were gone. As the previous question on Carlos Henderson demonstrated, we all tend to get a little happy drunk on the potential of draft picks. Now did , after years of mediocre drafts, pick up his game this year? I think so. I hope so. Bradley Chubb is a player. And, what’s more, he impresses as a man who is very serious about his craft. But to be a three-down player in Denver’s 3-4 alignment, he’s going to have to stand up and be available for pass coverage on first down. That’s something he has the physical tools to do. But we’ve never seen him do it on a consistent basis. My point: Even a great college player faces challenges when moving to the NFL level. Courtland Sutton can go up and get that 50-50 ball as a wide receiver. No doubt. But how strong will he be with the playbook and adjusting when audibles at the line of scrimmage? Royce Freeman is a pick a whole lot of other folks are way more excited about than me. Maybe they know more than I do. I hope so. This draft class has legit promise. But there’s a long way to go before we declare it a smashing success.
Do you think CU kicker James Stefanou has a shot at being drafted once he graduates? He’s a 31-year-old sophomore now…
Kiszla: Stranger things have happened in the NFL draft. But not many.
Kiz, what are your thoughts on all these baseball players having their ancient tweets being dug up?
Kiszla: Excellent question. Too often, Twitter is a video game played by the angry, whether we’re talking about an adolescent athlete or the president of the United States. Can a tweet reveal character … or a disturbing lack thereof? Certainly. But what Twitter reveals far more often is somebody whose thoughts are hooked up to their machismo rather than their brain. Condemn an athlete for being racist or homophobic in a tweet from long ago? If that’s what your feel in your heart is a necessary reaction, I certainly understand. But when the president makes an all-caps threat of war? No matter your political slant, that seems like a more serious matter than an athlete spouting off.
Kiz, love your columns. Which city are you looking most forward to traveling to this NFL season?
Kiszla: Thanks much. I am blessed to have traveled around the world in my 35 years with The Denver Post. Thanks, Post. Travel is one of my passions. So I like to take advantage of flavors, sights and history of places I visit on work assignments. Loved going to Philadelphia with the Broncos last season. Looking forward to Washington DC again this year. And irked that the Chargers moved out of San Diego. But, believe it or not, I really want to go back to Oakland. Because the Raiders might be cool in Las Vegas. But I’m going to miss the Black Hole when it’s gone.
Kiz would you unblock me on Twitter, I am not a troll and have no idea why you blocked me? Go Broncos.
Kiszla: In the early days of my Twitter experience, I blocked for profanity, habitual crabbiness and folks that wanted to correct my speling, er, spelling. But the mute button, perhaps the greatest invention in Twitter’s history, changed my outlook. I try never to block now. Send me an email with your Twitter deets to mkiszla@denverpost and I will set you free.
Whatap your take on and on their current pay vs performance? How much will they earn next year? Basically, is it whoever has the better year this year will be back and the other one will be released?
Kiszla: One of the main questions as the Broncos opened camp was: Who will develop into the No. 3 passing target. My most optimistic answer: Emmanuel Sanders. Why? If Sanders is No. 3, then it means Courtland Sutton or Jake Butt has made enough of an impact to be No. 2. I think this is probably Sanders’ final season in Denver. What’s more, I think Sanders believes he’s probably moving on after this season. It might give Sanders enough motivation to produce a monster season. Or, if things go badly early for him, it might cause Sanders to begin looking for the exit door with a whole lot of football left on the regular-season schedule.
The Rockies need one more piece at the deadline. Who do you suggest?
Kiszla: pitcher Jacob deGrom. A guy can dream, can’t he? But deGrom ain’t happening. So I would suggest either one more arm for the bullpen or a pitcher to add to the backend of the rotation. Have the Orioles traded Kevin Gausman yet?
Any thoughts on the Rapids’ pick-up of Kellyn Acosta?
Kiszla: By his own admission Kellyn Acosta needed a fresh start. The Rapids should benefit from his renewed enthusiasm. But I also strongly suspect this: If Acosta gets back to top form, his eyes will drift toward Europe.
Do you expect the protests during the national anthem to continue to be an issue this NFL season or has the league successfully diffused the issue?
Kiszla: Strictly a guess: Players and NFL owners would like the anthem flap to move out of the spotlight, in the hope that social issues important to players can be addressed in a way that doesn’t do damage to the bottom line. But another guess: Donald Trump would like the anthem flap to remain a political football, because it riles up passion among many of his loyal supporters.
Hi Kiz! What is going on with this Rockies team? It seems like they completely turned around that lackluster start of theirs. Can they keep up this momentum for the next few months and, dare I say, even win their first NL West pennant?
Kiszla: In the month of July, pitchers in Colorado’s starting rotation posted an earned run average of 1.71, the best month in franchise history. That’s a pace impossible to maintain. But manager Bud Black believes this team will be in the race until the end … whether we’re talking about the race for a division title or a wild-card berth.
Kiz, the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters have been giving Denver no love. When are we going to see or Randi Gradishar or Rod Smith or in the hall?
Kiszla: I feel your pain, although I’m not as cranky about the lack of Hall love for the Broncos as many around here. I don’t think there’s a bias against the Broncos among Hall voters. Might be a bias against , because it seems to me voters think his stats are too good to be true. In my view, the Hall is for players, not owners. That being said, I do believe momentum is building to put Pat Bowlen in Canton, and I would be surprised — check that, shocked — if Mr. B isn’t enshrined very soon. Steve Atwater? He’s at the top of my list of Broncos that should be in the Hall. I’m not a voter, though. So my views count no more than the feelings of anyone in the South Stands.
This could be the first time ever that we could see all four major Denver sports teams in the playoffs. How would you rank them?
Kiszla: So let’s play the game this way. What are the chances that we will see each of Denver’s traditional big-four sports franchises in the playoffs during the next 12 months? I’m afraid you will be disappointed in my answers. But I would rather give you honest handicapping than pom-pom shaking. So here goes, with my most optimistic take on each team’s percentage chances of qualifying for the playoffs. Rockies? 45 percent. It’s a tough race. Might require 90 victories. Broncos? 35 percent. Improving by three victories would make them 8-8, but they have a shot, because 9-7 might win what I regard as an AFC West full of flawed teams. Avalanche? 65 percent. This is a team on the rise. But the rise for a young team is not always a straight line. Nuggets? 75 percent. And if they don’t make it, there’s going to be trouble.
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