The New Year is just upon us. And with tradition come resolutions. Here are four we want to see from the four major pro teams in Denver:
Denver Broncos: Stop using Noah Fant as a run option.
The Broncos’ 2019 first-round pick led all rookie tight ends in catches (40) and yards receiving (562). He has shown glimpses of his potential as being a weapon in the offense. Just not in the run game. Seriously. The first time he was used, it was for minus-5 yards on a jet sweep against the Raiders in Week 1. On three carries in 2019, he has minus-12 yards. Stop it.
Also: Just name Drew Lock the starting quarterback for 2020 already.
Denver Nuggets: More Michael Porter Jr.
If Sunday night’s game is any indication of what the future could be, then Nuggets fans are in for a treat. The silky smooth Porter scored 19 points on 8 of 10 shooting against the Kings. He’s shooting 37% from beyond the arc and 49% from the floor this season. Hopefully coach Michael Malone continues to give the 21-year-old the minutes. The “sneak peek of whatap ahead” was quite nice.
By the way, check out Mike Singer’s five resolutions that could raise the Nuggets’ profile.
Colorado Rockies: No more big money contracts for pitching free agents.
Didn’t we go through this before? I feel like we went through this before. Remember Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle? Relievers Wade Davis, Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw signed major deals entering the 2018 season and the three have combined for a 13-26 record with a 5.69 ERA. That’s not good for $106 million.
And don’t trade Nolan Arenado.
Colorado Avalanche: Don’t deviate from the plan.
General manager Joe Sakic has done an incredible job rebuilding the Avs from a team that has struggled to find its way into the playoffs since his retirement to possibly the best young core in the NHL today. He has an MVP candidate in Nathan MacKinnon, a rookie of the year candidate in Cale Makar, an all-star (if he didn’t get hurt) in Mikko Rantanen. He found gems this offseason in Joonas Donskoi and Andre Burakovsky, who are both on pace for career years. Plus he might have another stellar rookie defenseman in Bowen Byram, an 18-year-old who’s in the juniors right now.
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What’s on Tap?
- Nuggets: At Houston Rockets, 5 p.m. Tuesday, ALT/NBA
- Avalanche: Winnipeg Jets, 6 p.m. Tuesday, ALT2
TV/RADIO: Here’s what sports are airing today
Scoreboard
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Must-Read
Kiszla: Broncos team president Joe Ellis’ ultimatum to Bowlen kids: Put Brittany in charge or sell
A line in the sand has been drawn, and as Broncos president Joe Ellis sees it, there are now only two reasonable choices to resolve the Bowlen family spat over control of an NFL team beloved in Denver as a civic treasure. Read more…
Broncos Analysis: John Elway’s free-agent strategy should shift toward keeping own players
“Late in the season, a veteran Broncos player was speculating about what moves general manager John Elway might make in the offseason. Out of nowhere, the player summed up the production of the Broncos’ 2019 free-agent/trade class. Read more…
Michael Porter Jr. shows “sneak peek” of Nuggets future in first pro start
Porter finished with a career-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, with six rebounds and an assist in 26 minutes. His sterling debut overshadowed what was almost another fourth-quarter meltdown, Mike Singer reports. Read more…
Quick Hits
+ Rating The Broncos: Defense overcomes train-wreck play to survive Raiders’ comeback.
+ Top 10 Colorado athletes of the 2010s.
+ The winner of the ultimate Colorado ski area championship is …
+ With his career on the ropes once again, Broncos’ Joe Flacco is open to options
+ Avalanche mixes up lines, power-play units in search for spark.
+ Broncos cornerback Chris Harris changes agents ahead of first trip to free agency
+ Pac-12 football: Christian McCaffrey, Marcus Mariota and Brandin Cooks lead the Hotline’s all-decade team.
+ Patriots OC — and former Broncos head coach — Josh McDaniels being eyed for available head coaching positions.
+ Broncos ownership: Even after Brittany Bowlen’s return to team, selling remains option
+ AP women’s college basketball poll: CU Buffs just outside Top 25, UConn at No. 1.
+ Broncos Briefs: John Elway says Von Miller’s 2020 contract option will be picked up
+ Colorado state parks switching to new camping reservation system in 2020.
+ NFL coaching carousel: Tracking the hirings, firings for 2020.
Ask The Experts
+ Broncos Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Nuggets Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Avs Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Rockies Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
By The Numbers
No. 26
Where the Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball team ranked in this week’s AP college basketball poll. Read more…
Parting Shot
Sports quirks in 2019: Golf balls, oddballs, watches, pants
Sometimes the general managers and player personnel directors on Mount Olympus look down on some lucky soul and declare: This is your moment. Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something thatap cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at dboniface@denverpost.com or tweet me .
