Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla answered questions about Denver sports in a live Lunch Special chat on Monday. Here are the highlights:
First the Broncos sign Alexander Johnson, now Pacman Jones? Who’s next, Rae Carruth? We bring in all these rookies with strong character and then pick up a pair with a history of trouble? What says you, Kiz?
Kiszla: Knew we would go here. So let’s don’t avoid the subject. OK, first let’s dispense with the Rae Carruth snark. You might question the Broncos’ judgment on signing players, but they can’t be blamed for Carruth’s time in prison. Adam Jones was an iffy pick-up, at best, for the Broncos. Let’s start with the football aspect. Yes, he has been a quality player in the past. Jones, however, turns 35 years old in September. And his off-the-field trouble has been well-documented. Whether you view Jones with sympathy or scorn, he is a risk. I would have gone with a cornerback that was younger and had less baggage. There’s no holier-than-thou sentiment there, merely a belief that the risks associated with Jones outweigh the potential rewards. has a history with Jones, from the time they spent together in Cincinnati. signed Jones. But this one is on Joseph. If Pacman shines, bravo to Joseph. And if he doesn’t, well …
What’s your prediction for the Buffs this year?
Kiszla: The Buffs have slowly built momentum on the recruiting trail during Mike MacIntyre’s regime. The coach needs to show results on the field in 2018, as proof that the rousing success of 2016 was more than an aberration. At the very least, he needs to produce a team that’s worthy of a bowl bid. That’s certainly within the realm of possibility. But can the Buffs go beyond .500 to a winning record? I’d say the chances are below 50 percent.
Are you surprised the Broncos have shown no interest in safety Eric Reid?
Kiszla: Eric Reid and can’t find jobs in the NFL. But Pacman Jones can. Is this a great country, or what?
What’s your take on Rockies problem children in the rotation and bullpen? (Shaw, McGee, Rusin, Anderson, Bettis, Senzatela, etc.) Just some mechanics issues? Head issues? Or have some of them just lost it? It could be worse, right? We could have signed Yu Darvish for five years and Fort Knox.
Kiszla: The Rockies have been extremely patient with , confident that he will find a groove. It’s not essential he does, but Colorado’s chances of making the playoffs certainly drop if he doesn’t. is the pitcher on this staff that concerns me the most. He’s lost it. And he needs a breather from the rotation. The problem? There’s not an obvious answer waiting in the wings at the AAA level. Pitching is what has carried the Rockies to playoff contention. And pitching can be their undoing down the stretch. Manager Bud Black states repeatedly that getting pitcher’s right — whether the problem is mechanical or psychological — is his specialty. It looks as if the Rockies are going to need some good medicine from Mr. Black in September.
It’s beginning to look like the Rox will have to win 20 of their remaining games to win the West. Can they do it with Senzetela and Anderson faltering?
Kiszla: My fearless forecast: 90 victories wins the division; 88 victories earns a playoff berth. Colorado woke up Monday with a 71-59 record. So the Rockies don’t need to win 20, if you’re asking me. 19-13 takes the division, which will be very hard to do. But 17-15 should put Colorado in the playoffs for a repeat of the win-or-go-home drama of last season. If Bud Black can hold the pitching staff together, two games over .500 is certainly a reasonable goal, despite all the games remaining with NL West rivals.
Do they close Triple-A Albuquerque at the end of the month? It seems like Tyler Anderson could benefit from being sent down!
Kiszla: Tyler Anderson needs a break. He is 0-4 with an 11.39 earned run average in August. Ouch. But it’s too late for a tune-up in Triple A. So he will have to work out his mechanical issues on side sessions. might get the call to the majors before rosters expand in September, but here’s guessing The Hoff would more likely replace in the rotation.
Is looking like just a game manager or do you see flashes of top 10 QB skills?
Kiszla: Case Keenum had an outstanding season with Minnesota and earned himself a big payday with the Broncos. Bravo to him. Bravo, bravo, bravo. That being said, I view him as a game manager. He showed ability to find yards when the play called broke down a year ago, but what the Broncos want from Keenum is to avoid turnovers. He’s not . He understands his role. And that’s cool.
Which of these three seems more likely for the Broncos? gets traded, McKenzie doesn’t make the roster, or Adam Jones isn’t kept after a look?
Kiszla: Let’s go in order … Is the trade value for Shane Ray as high as Broncomaniacs dream it is? No. So I’d keep him as part of the rotation up front, in the hope he can contribute to what develops into one of the fiercer pass rushes in the NFL. Through three preseason games, my math says is on this roster. I’d play Adam Jones a ton in the final preseason game. If he looks good, he’s on the team. And if not … buh bye. So Jones getting a quick hook seems the most likely to me … although I wouldn’t be surprised if Ray, McKenzie and Jones are all on the 53-man roster.
Kiz, how would you fix the Rapids?
Kiszla: It appears to me the Rapids aren’t buying what first-year coach Anthony Hudson is selling. So team management must ask: Should the roster be reshaped to fit Hudson’s vision, or was it a mistake to hire Hudson?
Just joining Kiz, thoughts on Pacman signing?
Kiszla: I wouldn’t have signed Pacman. But Vance Joseph knows him well. This move, for better or worse, is on Joseph.
They have to cut at this point right?
Kiszla: Cutting Paxton Lynch makes football sense to me. Give him a chance at fresh start somewhere else and admit that sometimes a first-round draft choice doesn’t work out. That shouldn’t be hard for John Elway, who has a ring as GM to flash at anyone who blames him for Lynch. Letting Lynch go now, however, would require a $4.45 million hit against the salary cap, if I’m reading my book on caponics correctly. So maybe there’s a biz reason to wait a little longer and pray the light bulb goes on for Lynch.
Assuming they cut Lynch, and I think they should, have you grown enough on Kelly to have a comfort zone with him as the backup and sign a developmental guy to the practice squad or do you look for a veteran for that role?
Kiszla: Kudos to . His Swag has scored points with me. I’m not certain he’s the QB of the future, but I’ve seen enough to wonder if maybe the Broncos see enough potential to groom Kelly as a future starter. Should that be the case, it would make more sense to let him get the limited reps as the No. 2 guy during regular-season practices rather than standing to watch Case Keenum and a veteran back-up do all the work during the week.
What if anything can be done about the ridiculous security at stadiums? I’l so sick of waiting in these ridiculous lines to get in. It took over an hour to get into the CSU game last weekend. and Mile High aren’t much better. Is there any way to fight this or are we as a society so scared that nobody cares?
Kiszla: We have run scared as a society since 9/11. Of course, I know many intelligent people would tell me there’s good reason we have taken more precautions since 9/11. I think we’ve gone overboard. I think there are better solutions than the mag n bag lines. I’d be happy to share my ideas with anyone in authority, from the NFL commissioner to the Denver mayor to the CSU administration over coffee. Sharing it in this forum, however, would only prompt a whole lot of otherwise good-natured folks to scream: Stick to sports!
Richie Incognito is available if the Broncos can get ahead. Thoughts? Too soon?
Kiszla: Uh, no. Not now. Not ever.
Assuming Isaiah Thomas comes back to his old self this year for the Nuggets, any chance the Nuggets sign him to a multiyear deal? They can do that since we can cut Paul Millsap after this year, correct?
Kiszla: The Nuggets can part ways with Paul Millsap after this season. Regardless of the details in Millsap’s contract, Isaiah Thomas has a chance to make himself beaucoup bucks, in Denver or elsewhere, with a big comeback season.
Thanks for the reply. A.J. Johnson is a monster (special teams and what I saw in garbage time). Thoughts on making the 53? I think he’s a beast.
Kiszla: The Broncos gave A.J. Johnson a big signing bonus for a player that has been out of football. I’ve long stated this team is thin at linebacker. I’d be shocked if Johnson is not on the 53.
Are the Broncos happy or unhappy with having only a single roster cut-down day? Seems like it will be extremely chaotic.
Kiszla: Single cut-down day seems like a minor problem to any football team run by professionals. I’m happy with it. And guys that make the team will be happy with it. Even guys that get cut will know they had every chance to prove their case.
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