“You guys are really lucky to play for the Penners,” the former Broncos safety, enforcer for the Super Bowl 50 champions, told me recently. “You know your owners are personable when they come up (and say), ‘Here’s my email. If you need anything, hit us up.'”

So he did.

“I met them a few times, actually,” Ward said of Carrie Walton Penner and her husband, Greg Penner, the first family of ¶¶Ņõapountry. “They were great. Great couple. Great family.”

And you wonder why we want them to buy the Rockies?

Happy Week 1, kids. The Broncos’ defense of the 2025 AFC West title begins next Monday night in Kansas City. Bo Nix looks fine. Davis Webb is calling plays without Sean Payton calling him names (so far).

Thanks to Jonah Coleman, the orange and blue suddenly has more good tailbacks than carries to feed them. The Sack Pack is back, Jack, even if John Franklin-Myers isn’t. It’s Super Bo or bust.

Lombardi Trophies are usually won from the top down. Smart owners set the bar, then leave the football people alone to try and clear the blasted thing.

Look closely at the last 10 Super Bowl winners. Judy Allen in Seattle. The Hunts in Kansas City. Jeffrey Lurie in Philadelphia. The Kroenkes in Los Angeles. The Glazers in Tampa. Robert Kraft in New England.

With the Penners, the Broncos aspire to have the best of everything — team offices, training facilities, stadium–Ā  in order to be the best, every year. That stuff trickles down. It permeates.

“Oh, 1,000%,” ex-Broncos safety Justin Simmons noted by phone. “I came in, unfortunately, when Mr. B. (former Broncos owner Pat Bowlen) was declining in his health. But I could feel the family vibe. I felt included. I felt a sense of importance in 2016, and it wasn’t just because I was a draft pick.

“As the years went on and we were trying to figure out ownership, and all the things in between, it got messy at times. Some of those things got lost in the (ensuring years).”

Simmons, 32, retired this past spring after a nine-year NFL career, eight of which were spent with the Broncos (2016-2023). No. 31 was a darn good player, and an even better dude, stuck with trying to help carry some forgettable teams. During his Dove Valley tenure, Simmons was named an All-Pro four times and selected to the Pro Bowl twice. But until the Penners arrived in August 2022, what rested above him on the corporate chain of command, at times, really stunk.

The former Boston College star played for six different coaches, including interims, over his eight seasons here. What Simmons didn’t know when he was drafted in 2016 was that the Broncos were careening into The Wilderness Years. He didn’t know that winning a Super Bowl with an injured Peyton Manning and peak Von Miller in 2015-16 convinced management that anybody could quarterback the orange and blue as long as Miller and the No Fly Zone remained intact.

They were, to be kind, badly mistaken. A merry-go-round of “meh” signal-callers and blah coaches followed, and the Broncos averaged 9.9 losses per year during Simmons’ tenure with the franchise.

But No. 31 could also tell you exactly when that spinning slowed down and eventually came to a dead stop. Not long after the Walton-Penner Group purchased the Broncos four Augusts ago, the safety and Broncos punter Brandon McManus, two of the most tenured members of the locker room, were called into new CEO Penner’s office for a meeting.

“Hey, give me a rundown … you guys are longest-tenured players here,” Penner told Simmons and McManus in 2022. “Give me a list of things that people have complained about.'”

For starters? Small locker room. No family room. No individualized nutrition plans. No sauna.

“(Penner) said, ‘This is so helpful,’ didn’t give us any backlash,” Simmons recalled. “I’m super-appreciative of that conversation to this day.”

The proof is in the buildings. Broncos Park Powered by Common Spirit, the team’s brand-new HQ, features a state-of-the-art training room with pools, sleep pods, a hyperbaric chamber ā€” and a sauna.

“In their first year, (the Walton-Penner Group) put in a whole new grass field at the end of the season, and we weren’t even in the playoffs,” Simmons marveled.

“You could just tell the type of people they were. You always see success as an organization, in my opinion, when you have people who lead like that.”

The best NFL franchises almost always are the ones that get it right at quarterback and at head coach first. But the perennial contenders are also the ones that don’t skimp on the margins. Or to accountability.

From 2018 through 2022, the Broncos were an NFL club locked in a contentious custody battle, rotting at the summit. The Battlin’ Bowlens, heirs to Mr. B., schemed and leveraged against one another as if tussling for

Meanwhile, The Bowlen Trust ā€” a trio of former CEO Joe Ellis, team counsel Rich Silva and Denver attorney Mary Kelly ā€” ran the Broncos like a committee of substitute teachers. Underwhelming signal-callers came, failed, and went. Uninspired coaching hires did the same.

Most ownership groups come in and take big swings. Great ownership groups are the ones that can course-correct swiftly, and efficiently, when those swings are obvious misses.

Bad NFL clubs — the Browns of now, the Bengals before Marvin Lewis showed up — are reluctant to move off of whiffs at coach and QB. Not here. Nathaniel Hackett and Russell Wilson quickly gave way to Sean Payton and Bo Nix, despite the costs.

“You see how some of these owners deal with their players,” Ward continued. “As commodities. Or capital. (With the Broncos), you have owners that treat you like people, are empathetic to what you’re going through ā€” not only as a person, but maybe your family, all those type of things.

“Yeah, they want to win. Everybody wants to be successful. But there’s a certain way you treat your people, treat your employees. And I think that creates better business, at the end of the day, to get better players to want to come in and play for you.

“I grew up a Niners fan. And at the time (they were owned by) the DeBartolos, (and) they treated players completely different — and that’s why, at that time, they were winning. You start operating like that, providing the best resources for your players, the best training, the best facilities, travel — that stuff results in wins. If you try to shortcut everything and treat your players like items on the shelf, you’re not going to be very successful.”

°Ā³ó±š²Ō:Ģż2:25 p.m. Sunday

°Ā³ó±š°ł±š:ĢżEmpower Field at Mile High Stadium

°Õ³Õ/°ł²¹»å¾±“Ē:ĢżCBS, 850 AM/94.1 FM

Broncos-Packers series:Ā There’s not a long history of this inter-conference matchup, with the Broncos and Packers knotted at an even 7-7-1 in 15 total games in the franchises’ history. They last met in a 19-17 Broncos win in 2023, which was Sean Payton’s and Vance Joseph’s first real look at Packers quarterback Jordan Love in the post Aaron-Rodgers era in Green Bay.

In the spotlight: Micah Parsons, destroyer of worlds

In late August, when the Dallas Cowboys made Sean Payton just sort of … shrugged.

“When a trade happens ā€“- youā€™re focused on whatever youā€™re doing,” Payton recalled Wednesday. “So, two NFC teams make a trade, and it¶¶Ņõap news, but.”

Now, though, the Broncos’ chase for a No. 1 seed is made significantly more complicated by the presence of Micah Parsons on the opposing sidelines Sunday. After a lengthy contract dispute with the Cowboys that had ripple effects to most every corner of the NFL world — including Denver, where star pass-rusher Nik Bonitto was trying to negotiate his own extension — Dallas owner Jerry Jones decided to cut bait with one of the best pass-rushers in the league and sent Parsons to Green Bay just before the start of the season. The lack of a training camp hasn’t hurt the 2021 first-round pick; Parsons is on pace for a career-high sack total (12.5 in 13 games with the Packers).

The Broncos didn’t see him in October, then, in taking a buzzsaw to the Cowboys’ defense in a 44-24 win. They’ll see him in December, now, as Denver tries to keep a 10-game win streak alive against a Packers opponent that’s as complete a team that they’ve seen all season. Parsons was the cherry on top. Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley coaches a sixth-ranked defense that gets after opposing quarterbacks and doesn’t get beat over the top.

“Heā€™s extremely explosive,” Payton said of Parsons. “Heā€™s got unique bend and balance, for someone at that position. So heā€™s a handful. Heā€™s a rare-type player.”

And he’s rare in his utilization too, presenting a tougher challenge for the Broncos’ offensive line than they’ve seen all season. Next Gen Stats’ game-by-game charts of Parsons’ angles to the quarterback look they’re sketched by a child who has yet to master spatial awareness, as the Packers line the outside linebacker up at virtually every spot across their defensive line.

Micah Parsons generated 10 pressures and 2.5 sacks on Thanksgiving for a 38.5% pressure rate, his highest in a game since his rookie season.

Parsons created 4 pressures and recorded 1.5 sacks on just 6 pass rushes on third downs.

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— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats)

Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles is continuing a strong push for the NFL’s inaugural Protector of the Year award, and right tackle Mike McGlinchey did a bang-up job in warding off Raiders world-beater Maxx Crosby last week. But Denver’s entire front will be tested on Sunday, as Parsons is adept at rushing from the interior. This may well be the toughest game of guard Alex Palczewski’s career, who’s stabilized Denver’s offensive line in the wake of Ben Powers’ injury but has allowed nine pressures across his past three games, according to Pro Football Focus.

“He lines up to the right, to the left,” Payton said Wednesday. “You try to chart it, you try to track it. They do a good job looking at their own tendencies, self-scouting.”

Quietly, after a first-quarter start where they barely let anyone lay a finger on quarterback Bo Nix, the Broncos’ offensive line has been slightly more porous in recent months. Nix has been pressured on over 30% of his dropbacks in three of his past five games, and his numbers under duress remain unsightly in an up-and-down sophomore campaign: he ranks 33rd out of 34 qualified quarterbacks in passer rating (50.1) when under pressure this season.

Shut down Parsons, and the Broncos can continue to shut down national doubt about their true identity as a contender on Sunday. Let him roam free, and their hold on the AFC will slip.

Who has the edge?

When Broncos run:Ā The good news — rookie R.J. Harvey is hitting his three-down stride at the perfect point in the season, putting together a 100-yard performance on 23 touches against the Raiders last Sunday. The other good news — Payton experimented to general success with a three-back system in Vegas, with Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie both getting the occasional early-down touch. The Packers have one of the best overall defenses in the NFL, but they have surrendered some chunk yardage in recent weeks to backfield duos like the Bears’ D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai (a combined 120 rushing yards last Sunday) and the Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery (a combined 100 the week before).Ā Edge: Even

When Broncos pass:Ā The Packers don’t really get beat deep, allowing the eight-fewest yards per game on passes of 20-plus yards. They also definitely don’t get beat short, allowing the fewest yards per play on short passes of any NFL defense, according to Next Gen Stats. Quarterbacks have had the most success attacking Green Bay in the intermediate part of the field. On a related note, Bo Nix is 32nd out of 34 qualified quarterbacks in passer rating on passes between 10 and 19 yards downfield.Ā ·”»å²µ±š:ĢżPackers

When Packers run:Ā This depends entirely on running back Josh Jacobs’ status for Sunday. Few offensive weapons across the NFL have tortured the Broncos like Jacobs in recent years, the former Raider battering ram: he’s run for 769 yards and nine touchdowns in eight total games against Denver in his career. Jacobs has continued to buoy Green Bay’s rushing attack in 2025, with 12 total touchdowns in 13 games, . Regardless if he plays, though, the Broncos have surrendered the fewest yards per play on the ground in the league.Ā Slight edge: Broncos

When Packers pass:Ā There’s been warning signs in the Broncos’ pass defense for a couple of weeks now, as teams like the Commanders and Raiders — that don’t exactly have dynamic passing games — have gotten smart about attacking weaknesses on the back-end. Safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Alex Singleton have both gotten picked on, and Denver’s had some communication breakdowns. Packers quarterback Jordan Love is getting the ball out quickly and efficiently, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said Green Bay might have a better stable of weapons than any team the Broncos have seen this season. Slight edge: Packers

Special teams:Ā Hey, Brandon McManus is back! The former Broncos Super Bowl kicker has spent the past two seasons in Green Bay. McManus has struggled significantly in 2025, though, hitting just three of seven kicks from between 40 and 49 yards. The Packers also don’t have a particularly dynamic return game, and Broncos All-Pro Marvin Mims Jr. just got loose for the first punt-return TD of his career last week. Edge: Broncos

°ä“Ē²¹³¦³ó¾±²Ō²µ:ĢżThis is tight. Packers head man Matt LaFleur has done top-tier work in 2025 in continuing to oversee Love’s development and turn Green Bay into a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The Packers’ offense is efficient. Their defense is smothering. But Payton is clicking the offensive pieces into place in Denver, and Joseph’s ability to control a ballgame remains virtually unmatched across the NFL. Slight edge: Broncos

Tale of the tape

By the numbers

126.7: Packers quarterback Jordan Love’s QB rating when not under pressure, the best mark among all qualified NFL quarterbacks.

55.3:ĢżLove’s QB rating when under pressure, the 30th-best mark of 34 qualified NFL quarterbacks.

1.7:ĢżPackers receiver Christian Watson’s average yards per separation, the lowest mark of 138 qualified NFL receivers this season.

18.1:ĢżPackers receiver Christian Watson’s average yards per catch, the second-highest mark of 138 qualified NFL receivers this season.

2:ĢżThe number of touchdowns the Packers’ defense has allowed in 2025 on passes deeper than 20 air yards, according to Next Gen Stats.

28.1%:ĢżThe amount of snaps that Green Bay’s defense plays with a light box (seven or less defenders near the line of scrimmage), which ranks 25th out of 32 NFL teams in frequency.

X-factors

Broncos: OLB Jonathon Cooper.Ā Denver needs somebody to speed up Jordan Love and ruffle his feathers in the pocket, and Cooper’s due for a big game, as he hasn’t recorded a sack in his past three games.

Packers: S Xavier McKinney.Ā Here’s one of the NFL’s best safeties this year in coverage, as McKinney’s allowed just a 43.4 quarterback rating on 23 targets to the nearest defender in coverage this season, according to Next Gen Stats. It’s unlikely Nix stares down McKinney’s area of the field heavily on Sunday, and that could shape Denver’s offensive approach against Green Bay.

Post predictions

Parker Gabriel, Broncos writer: Broncos 21, Packers 20

Really, really considered going with the Vegas line and taking Green Bay. This one could go about 19 different ways. Except then I came across the Post’s preseason week-by-week preview, in which a certain beat reporter wondered if this might feel like a potential Super Bowl preview and also predicted a Brandon McManus miss from 55 yards to seal a Denver win. No way we can backtrack on that one now.

Luca Evans, Broncos writer:Ā Packers 24, Broncos 21

There’s no world in which this game isn’t close, one way or another. It’s a toss-up. But the Packers’ strengths as a team go toe-to-toe with the Broncos’ strengths, and the Packers’ defensive weaknesses — the intermediate passing game — aren’t the Broncos’ strengths. Going with simple logical processes here.

Troy Renck, sports columnist: Broncos 20, Packers 18

The Broncos and Packers are mirror images. The Packers are more explosive offensively, but the Broncos are better defensively. Teams that beat Green Bay drag them into the mud. With Green Bay coming off a euphoric win over the Bears, it is likely they will be flat early, especially if Pat Surtain II blankets Christian Watson, and in trouble late.

Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Broncos 22, Packers 21

Sean Payton is 6-1 with the Broncos against NFC opponents at home, and 6-0 in NFC home games played after Week 4. The only time Jordan Love faced a pass rush comparable to the Broncos’ Mile High Maulers, the Packers QB got sacked five times at Cleveland. Bo Nix wobbles but hangs in there, only to drive the Broncos down the field in the dying seconds for a game-winning, walk-off Wil Lutz field goal.

1. The Broncos defense did not have its finest day and could really have used ILB Dre Greenlaw

No two ways around it, this will go down as a bad day for defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and company.

The Colts threw it early, ran it late and racked up 473 total yards of offense in the process.

A week after Denver allowed 133 yards total to Tennessee, Indianapolis raced out to 162 in the first quarter alone.

It wasnā€™t all bad, of course. The Broncos stopped Indy twice on fourth down around midfield and they came up with four red zone stops, too.

The overarching issue: Indianapolis drove the ball into the red zone a half dozen times because Denver did little to slow down quarterback Daniel Jones (316 yards), running back Jonathan Taylor (215 total offensive yards), rookie tight end Tyler Warren (four catches for 79) and a fast, versatile set of receivers who gave the Broncosā€™ vaunted secondary a run for its money in man coverage.

Perhaps most concerning: Through two games, Denverā€™s defense looks susceptible to the same things it struggled with last year. Namely: Tight ends and running backs who can do damage in different ways.

Put another way: This would have been a really good week to have a healthy Dre Greenlaw (quad).

Perhaps Greenlaw will be back on the field for Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers. And perhaps heā€™ll stay healthy for a good, long run and will provide the kind of athletic presence the Broncos are currently missing in the middle of the field.

Until both of those things become a reality, though, Denverā€™s got warts it has to try to mask.

Taylor and Warren combined for three plays alone that accounted for 152 yards.

Taylorā€™s 68-yarder included some shoddy tackling and then his trademark breakaway speed, but the two big plays in the passing game are perhaps more indicative of Denverā€™s trouble spots.

Warren got open for a 41-yard completion early in the game when he ran up the field and split right between Denverā€™s linebacker pair of Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton. Both took steps forward like they were going to cover Taylor in the flat, and nobody bailed out to run with Warren. The No. 14 overall pick in Aprilā€™s draft out of Penn State, Warren galloped free and easy through the secondary before finally getting pushed out of bounds. Indy settled for a field goal on that first-quarter drive.

Taylor hauled in a 43-yard wheel route from Jones in the second quarter in which he found himself wide open. Singleton was hauling out to the flat to try to provide coverage, but he got caught up in the wash of a crossing receiver and defensive back en route. Whether heā€™d have got there in time to make the play anyway is an open question, but regardless Taylor found himself all alone. Jones punched in a 1-yard touchdown to cap that drive.

Overall the Broncosā€™ defense gave up four plays of 40-plus yards, a bad mark in general.

The fact that three of them came from players who operate in the middle of the field — the territory the Broncos thought they were hardening when they added Greenlaw on a three-year deal (though it¶¶Ņõap really a one-year, $11.5 million commitment) can be seen two ways.

Perhaps it¶¶Ņõap a limited-time worry until the former San Francisco enforcer is patrolling the middle next to Singleton.

Or perhaps it¶¶Ņõap more of a wish than a plan that Greenlaw gets healthy and provides a solution to an issue that¶¶Ņõap no longer a new one for Josephā€™s defense.

2. Outside of a dominant season-opener, this has become something dangerously resembling a trend for Josephā€™s group

Points and yardage totals for the Broncosā€™ past seven regular-season and postseason games, not including a Week 18 outing against Kansas Cityā€™s scout team:

Dec. 2 vs. Cleveland: 32 points, 552 yards

Dec. 15 vs. Indy: 13 points, 310 yards

Dec. 19 at L.A. Chargers: 34 points, 380 yards

Dec. 28 at Cincinnati: 30 points, 499 yards

Jan. 12 at Buffalo: 31 points, 477 yards

Sept. 7 vs. Tennessee: 12 points, 133 yards

Sept. 14 at Indy: 29 points, 473 yards

There are caveats, of course. The games are across two seasons. They featured some different personnel and different game situations. The Bengals game featured more than 100 yards in overtime — which could have been avoided one way or another had the Broncos gone for two after a miraculous last-second touchdown. Opposing quarterbacks on the list include Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.

Nonetheless, here are the averages for those seven games: 25.9 points and 403.4 yards. Those marks in 2024 would have been 29th and 31st, respectively, in the NFL.

So much of success in the NFL defensively is about takeaways, third downs and the red zone. The Broncos have been good across the board in those departments, particularly the red zone. Theyā€™ve allowed two touchdowns in eight tries for opponents so far this year. Continued success there will keep Denver in a lot of games. At the same time, though, this group needs a couple of overall stingy outings to keep from consistently being on the high wire.

3. Two games in, Darren Rizziā€™s special teams groups have a concerning level of critical mistakes

The Broncosā€™ special teams work so far under new coordinator Darren Rizzi has been a mixed bag at best.

In Week 1, Denver gave up a 71-yard kick return to Chimere Dike right before the half that allowed Tennessee to kick a field goal.

Sunday against the Colts, a 15-yard penalty on Dondrea Tillman turned a 60-yard prayer of a game-winner into a much more manageable 45-yarder, which Spencer Shrader made.

Even keeping Wil Lutzā€™s missed 42-yarder in the fourth quarter Sunday and Marvin Mims Jr.ā€™s muffed punt in Week 1 out of the equation — no play is solely on one player, but Lutz said the operation Sunday was clean and Mims flat-out dropped a punt for the first time as a pro ā€” that¶¶Ņõap too many high-profile errors.

Denver really only had one big gaffe last year — the blocked field goal against Kansas City — and it was a crusher. They had a systemic protection issue that finally got exposed, they fixed it and it wasnā€™t a problem again.

Still, Mike Westoff left the next week to address a health issue with his eyes and Ben Kotwica was fired after the season.

Rizzi, of course, has an impressive resume and a deep history with Payton.

For a team that prides itself on being superior in preparation and detailed work, though, the Tillman penalty is inexcusable.

Shrader, a 2024 undrafted free agent, entered Sunday 9 of 9 in his career but had never attempted a field goal longer than 48 yards in the NFL. That¶¶Ņõap not to say you shouldnā€™t put a rush on him at all. But drawing an over-aggressive, poor-technique personal foul on a 60-yard attempt for a guy trying a field goal 12 yards longer than any attempt in his career is akin to fouling a basketball player heaving a three-quarters court shot at the buzzer while trailing by two. If it goes in, you live with it.Ā  But you absolutely cannot foul the guy.

Tillman explained that he was just attempting to do what heā€™d been coached to do on the play. When pressed about his specific role in the call sent in from the sideline, Tillman said, ā€œJust try to make a play. That¶¶Ņõap really what it is at the end of the day.ā€

Tillman did put his left hand on the back of the Coltsā€™ right guard as he leaped, though he didnā€™t do so with much force. Below, Eyioma Uwazurikeā€™s arms got on the long-snapperā€™s back and appeared to push him down. That also can be a leverage penalty.

ā€œYou canā€™t do that to the long-snapper,ā€ Payton said after the game, adding that his understanding before seeing the video was that the officials had called the penalty on Uwazurike. That¶¶Ņõap how referee Craig Wrolstad announced the call on the field before telling a pool reporter later the call was, in fact, on Tillman.

Either way, there were two instances squarely in the middle of a very low-probability kick that invited scrutiny. That¶¶Ņõap coaching and situational awareness.

The Broncos special teams units have improved in a couple of ways on the fly under Rizzi. They covered kicks much better Sunday — no touchbacks for Lutz on five kickoffs, and the Broncos netted 25 yards of field position compared to taking touchbacks. Not only that, but rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw is off to a terrific start after an up-and-down preseason. His three punts Sunday pinned Indianapolis at its own 15, 7 and 8-yard lines, and all six of his punts so far have put the opponent inside the 20-yard line.

Overall, though, the Broncosā€™ special teams units have been a liability as often as an asset so far.

4. For a second week in a row, the coach on the opposing sideline provided a ā€œWTHā€ moment. This time, the Broncos couldnā€™t capitalize.

Never go full Hackett. Among many more alluring goals in the head coaching business, that should be a minimum.

Shane Steichen on Sunday called a great game for the Colts offensively, but man, what on Earth was he thinking down the stretch?

As already established, heā€™s got a young kicker whoā€™s never attempted a 50-yard field goal. On first-and-10 from the Denver 43-yard line with 1:44 to play, Steichen called three straight runs up the gut and burned the clock all the way down. The third-down run from Taylor lost two yards and turned a 58-yarder into a 60-yarder.

The kick, obviously, came up well short before the Broncos’ penalty. That, quite literally, is on par with Hackett opting to try a 64-yard field goal with Brandon McManus in Seattle in Week 1 of the 2022 season.

It came a week after, among other things, Tennessee coach Brian Callahan mismanaged the clock late in the first half and handed the Broncos a possession on which they promptly scored a touchdown. Later, he admitted he didnā€™t know that an elbow down inbounds counted as two feet and thus decided not to challenge a deep ball completion to Elic Ayomanor that likely would have been overturned to a catch.

Next up on the schedule: Jim Harbaugh. Betting he doesnā€™t make any egregious errors like those.

Among a lot of things the Broncos have control over in their own play, theyā€™ll rue that they only took advantage of one instance of an opposing coach handing them a gift in a big spot in the first two weeks.

5.Ā  Here’s one interesting note on the stadium announcement front from this past week.

Tuesday morning around 8 a.m., Broncos owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton-Penner, president Damani Leech and a couple of others set up shop in a conference room in the teamā€™s facility and started working through an extensive call list.

They called city council members, neighborhood group leaders, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, chamber of commerce types, officials from Lone Tree and Aurora and more.

The Penners have continued making calls in the days since the announcement as they set out into what is likely to be a year-plus of largely community and political conversations, processes and eventually city council votes.

ā€œWeā€™re going to be open and transparent about what weā€™re trying to do, and we want their input,ā€ Greg Penner told The Post on Tuesday. ā€œWe think weā€™ve got some interesting ideas to think about with access in that area and improving, in conjunction with the city and state, roads and trail access, obviously thereā€™s transit there. We think these conversations weā€™re going to have with these neighborhood groups, that theyā€™ll end up looking at this as a real positive for their area.ā€

Irwin Kishner is the co-chair of the sports law group at Herrick Feinstein law firm in New York and has overseen more than a dozen stadium projects throughout his career. He told The Post in recent days that how ownership groups start off with local constituent groups can set the tone for the whole process and that getting off to a good start can be beneficial when the inevitable wrinkles, twists and turns in the process arrive.

ā€œThe local political machine needs to be on board with this in a very meaningful and committed way,ā€ Kishner said. ā€œIf you donā€™t have that, that¶¶Ņõap when things get kind of wonky. If you do have that, things can go well. Thereā€™s always going to be lefts and rights and middle turns and so on and so forth as this process unfolds. You hit a dinosaur graveyard or something as you put shovels down or you notice some terrible pollution or whatever, thereā€™s always something.ā€

6. The top of the Broncos’ WR room is pretty set, but it’s possible Pat Bryant is going to work his way more into the picture

Sean Payton came out of the season-opener with a couple of notes for himself regarding playing time.

Namely: He didnā€™t like the fact that rookie Pat Bryant got only four offensive snaps in the opener.

Bryant, the third-round pick, got more run Sunday and took advantage.

The 6-foot-2 receiver out of Illinois caught two of his three targets for 18 yards and generated first downs on each.

They both came in the middle of the field and the second was a hard-nosed catch in traffic to get just enough for a first-down on third-and-6.

Bryant told The Post during the week that heā€™d heard Payton talk about his playing time and appreciated the vote of confidence.

ā€œIt means a lot, honestly, knowing heā€™s got faith in me to be ready and that I can come into the game and contribute,ā€ Bryant said. ā€œBut I wasnā€™t really stressinā€™ about it. First game of the season, I understand my role and theyā€™re coming off last year and trying to get things straight —Ā first game of the season, youā€™re trying to figure out your identity, who you are and trying to get the wrinkles out just a little bit.ā€

Veteran Trent Sherfield has taken Bryant under his wing and said recently heā€™s been imploring the young receiver to be ready to jump into the fray, even if playing time is scarce early in the season.

ā€œWhen my time comes — and it¶¶Ņõap going to come ā€” Iā€™m not a guy whoā€™s really going to pressure anybody into that,ā€ Bryant said. ā€œWhenever you feel like it¶¶Ņõap my time to go in, Iā€™m going to go out there and take advantage of it. ā€¦ God forbid somebody gets hurt, Iā€™ve got to be ready to step up. That¶¶Ņõap how I approach it: Always have to be ready. So Iā€™ve kept that mindset ā€“ studying the offense, keeping my head in the books and just waiting on my opportunities.ā€

Bryant was one of five pass-catchers with multiple receptions against Indianapolis. Conspicuously not on that list: Tight end Evan Engram (one catch for 12 yards) and receiver Courtland Sutton (one for 6).

7a. The Broncos got cooked by Daniel Jones in a way that very few quarterbacks have managed in the past two-plus seasons.

The Indianapolis quarterback averaged 12.4 yards per attempt in the first half and finished the game with 9.3. The Broncos not only havenā€™t been shredded like that often under Vance Joseph the past two seasons, but on the rare occasion it¶¶Ņõap happened the games have careened out of Denverā€™s reach. The only two times since the start of the 2023 season that the Broncos have allowed more than 10 yards per attempt over an entire game were the 70-20 debacle in Miami (13.4) and a 41-10 loss to Baltimore last fall (14.2). Instead of allowing that to continue after halftime Sunday, though, the Broncos limited Jones to 5.5Ā  in the second half.

Still, 9.3 per attempt for Jones represents the fourth-most in a game against Denver since Joseph took over as coordinator.

7b. Runninā€™ the dang ball still works. The Broncos kind of showed it. The Colts really showed it.

If you can run the ball, youā€™re likely to be in games. The Colts have proven better at running it against the Broncos the past two seasons than just about anybody. Indianapolis leaned on Taylor again Sunday and this time he didnā€™t fumble the game away at the goal line. Taylor rolled up 165 yards, the Indianapolis offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage for big swaths of the game and in the process the home team powered its way to 167 rushing yards Sunday against the Broncos.

The Broncos gave up 171 or more yards six times in the 2023 season but a year ago didnā€™t allow more than 149. That game? Indianapolis in Week 15 at Empower Field. That game would have felt much different had Taylor not let go of the ball at the goal line, leading to a turnover rather than a touchdown run. He was more sure-handed this time around, including on a 68-yard rumble that set up a Colts field goal in the fourth quarter.

7c. It¶¶Ņõap been an adventurous start to the season for running back J.K. Dobbins.

The back is a clear upgrade at the top of the Broncosā€™ room, but heā€™s had a couple of canā€™t-make-em mistakes, too. He had a miscommunication with Nix on what side to go to on Nixā€™s strip sack in the opener. Then Sunday, he got a delay-of-game penalty for spiking the ball and also wasnā€™t ready for a snap because he was pointing at the defense trying to implore the officials to call a neutral zone infraction. Both led to broken plays.

2:05 p.m., Sept. 7, FOX

This is like the Broncosā€™ 2024 opener at Seattle, but in reverse. The Titans have a rookie quarterback ā€” No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward ā€” and theyā€™re traveling to a hostile environment for his first game. Vance Josephā€™s group should be licking its chops and thereā€™s no reason to expect theyā€™ll come out anything other than flying. This is the kind of game playoff teams must win.

Prediction: Broncos 28, Titans 13

WEEK 2

AT

2:05 p.m., Sept. 14, CBS

Sean Paytonā€™s two teams in Denver have started 1-5 and 0-2. Yet even 1-1 would feel like a disappointment given the expectations on this group and also the daunting stretch that arrives after this game. The Broncos canā€™t bank on Jonathan Taylor fumbling the game away this time, but they should be well equipped to handle a Colts team trying to find its footing — and a quarterback.

Prediction: Broncos 24, Colts 20

WEEK 3

AT

2:05 p.m., Sept. 21, CBS

Jim Harbaughā€™s team swept Paytonā€™s in 2024 thanks to a powerful start in Week 6 and a dominant second half in Week 16. So much of the conversation about this fall is whether the Broncos can unseat Kansas City, but the Chargers should be pretty darn good, too. Winning there on the road is no easy task, even if SoFi Stadium will likely be half Broncos fans.

Prediction: Chargers 24, Broncos 23

WEEK 4

6:15 p.m., Sept. 29 (), ESPN

Chargers and Bengals back-to-back, just like last year’s stretch run. This time, Joe Burrowā€™s high-flying offense comes to Denver for a saucy Monday Night matchup. Pat Surtain II against Jaā€™Marr Chase lived up to the hype last year. Tee Higgins against Riley Moss was a mismatch. This is an early-season test of whether the Broncos are better equipped to handle the best offenses in football.

Prediction: Broncos 27, Bengals 24

WEEK 5

AT

11 a.m. Oct. 5, CBS

Before the Broncos jet off to Jolly Old England, they swing through the City of Brotherly Love to ring the Liberty Bell and take on the defending world champions. The Eagles are stacked, from Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts on offense to Jalen Carter, Zach Baun and a loaded secondary on defense. Denver can be a legitimate contender in 2025 and still not win this game.

Prediction: Eagles 30, Broncos 17

WEEK 6

VS. (LONDON)

7:30 a.m., Oct. 12, NFL Network

If it feels like the Broncos and Jets play every year, well, yeah. This marks six straight seasons, and they face off again in 2026. This is a different Jets team with new head coach Aaron Glenn and QB Justin Fields. Denver won as ugly a game as youā€™ll see in the Meadowlands rain last fall. What will October in London bring? Let¶¶Ņõap go out on a limb and say more than minus-7 passing yards for Bo Nix in the first half.

Prediction: Broncos 20, Jets 13

WEEK 7

2:05 p.m., Oct. 19., CBS

The Broncos donā€™t have a bye week after their international game. And while the Giants may be the worst team on their schedule, it¶¶Ņõap not ideal that they land in this post-London spot. These back-to-back home games after the international trip are a spot where the culture and toughness of this group will get tested — even if on paper this is a mismatch. Surtain vs. Malik Nabers should be awesome.

Prediction: Broncos 21, Giants 14

WEEK 8

2:25 p.m., Oct. 26, CBS

If the Cowboys are healthy — and havenā€™t somehow managed to make their star players too upset unnecessarily ā€” this is a really tough game. Theyā€™re talented and a healthy Dak Prescott makes a huge difference. By this time, itā€™ll be pretty clear how Nixā€™s second season is going. And that, obviously, will be a critical component to whether the Broncos can meet expectations.

Prediction: Broncos 31, Cowboys 30

WEEK 9

AT

11 a.m., Nov. 2, FOX

The Texans should have another of the NFLā€™s most disruptive defenses. They need to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud much better than they did in Year 2. If they succeed, heā€™s got a terrific set of weapons in Nico Collins, Christian Kirk and exciting rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Joe Mixonā€™s health is worth watching, but this is an explosive offense and a dynamite defense led by Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter and Derek Stingley, Jr.

Prediction: Texans 21, Broncos 17

WEEK 10

6:15 p.m., Nov. 6 (Thursday Night Football), Prime Video

The Broncos finally shook off the black and silver curse last fall and swept the Raiders. Vegas, though, cleaned house and now features head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith. Not to mention a pair of terrific young talents in TE Brock Bowers and rookie RB Ashton Jeanty. Denverā€™s got to continue its winning ways vs. the Raiders, but it¶¶Ņõap not going to be a cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination. Still, they should be able to take care of business at home.

Prediction: Broncos 27, Raiders 17

WEEK 11

2:25 p.m., Nov. 16, CBS

Ah yes, the nine-time defending AFC West champs. The Broncos have beaten the Chiefs at home two straight years — though Week 18 last year barely counts. In order for Denver to get where it wants to go, it must beat Patrick Mahomes and company at least once. One of the most impressive Vance Joseph stats: In four games since returning to Denver as DC, Josephā€™s defenses have yielded just two offensive touchdowns to Kansas City. Two might be too many in this one.

Prediction: Chiefs 20, Broncos 19

WEEK 12

BYE

The bye week comes in a pretty good spot for a team in contention. Not quite as late as a year ago, but potentially well situated to help get some guys healthy for the stretch run. If only it were just before playing the Chiefs.

WEEK 13

AT

6:20 p.m., Nov. 30 (Sunday Night Football), NBC

Bo Nix against Jayden Daniels. Von Miller against the Broncos. A team from each conference that enters 2025 squarely hoping to leap from 2024 upstart to full-on Super Bowl contender. This is a terrific matchup and it got Sunday Night Football billing because of it. Hopefully, it matches the hype even after Thanksgivingā€™s passed.

Prediction: Commanders 27, Broncos 20

WEEK 14

AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

2:05 p.m., Dec. 7, CBS

You know what would be fun? If an offensive rookie of the year campaign was brewing between the three AFC West running backs — Harvey in Denver, Jeanty in Las Vegas and Omarion Hampton in L.A. This game could pit two of them against each other to kick off December. Oh, and Bowers could be an offensive player of the year threat playing with a competent quarterback. Also, thereā€™s going to be a Wil Lutz walk-off attempt somewhere along the way. Maybe this is it.

Prediction: Broncos 24, Raiders 23

WEEK 15

2:25 p.m., Dec. 14, CBS

The Broncos and the Packers enter 2025 in pretty similar positions. They both view themselves as contenders despite coming off third-place finishes in their divisions. They also happen to play in the two toughest divisions in the NFL. So, will this end up being a game that draws thoughts like, ā€œWell, it¶¶Ņõap not impossible they meet again in February?ā€ Or will it end up being a tale of one or both seasons being on the line? In this one, Brandon McManus misses from 55 at the buzzer and Payton gives an extra big fist-pump.

Prediction: Broncos 21, Packers 20

WEEK 16

2:05 p.m., Dec. 21, FOX

Imagine Travis Hunter, reigning Heisman Trophy winner and former Colorado star, covering Courtland Sutton for part of the game and trying to get open against Pat Surtain II at other times. We can only hope. Hunter drew rave reviews from Surtain and many others over the course of last fall. Game recognize game. As far as the actual game, Paytonā€™s team canā€™t be losing this one and expect to get where it wants to go.

Prediction: Broncos 31, Jaguars 17

WEEK 17

AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

6:15 p.m., Dec. 25 (Thursday Night Football), Prime Video

The boom-or-bust potential here is massive. Christmas Night. Standalone game. The big, bad wolves of the division against the team whose coach essentially said theyā€™d have whooped Kansas City if theyā€™d met in the divisional round last year. So, is this a division title game? Or is it a dud? Somewhere in betweenā€™s fine, too. At the end, itā€™ll be a surprise if thereā€™s not some level of stakes here.

Prediction: Chiefs 23, Broncos 16

WEEK 18

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

TBD, Jan. 3 or 4

Win and in? Seeding on the line? Two seasons gone horribly awry? Finishing the season with Kansas City and the Chargers is a clear sign from the league schedulers that they expect a dogfight in the AFC West. Itā€™d be fun if that were the case when the calendar turns to 2026. We can all remember this prediction right here when Jahdae Barronā€™s covering Ladd McConkey on a decisive fourth-quarter red zone snap in ā€¦ well, four short months.

Prediction: Broncos 24, Chargers 20

What did you learn from your yearlong suspension for gambling?

“Everybody is human. Everybody makes their decisions. Everybody makes their mistakes. Nobody is perfect,” said Uwazurike, a reserve defensive lineman.Ā “… I do know that when situations like that come your way, you learn a lot from adversity. I know I did.

“As long as you are able to overcome it and be smarter, it will help you in the long run.”

Second chances work in different ways. We would like to believe we are all worthy of them. But in sports, that is just not the case, depending on the severity of the offense and the talent of the offender. The NFL banned Uwazurike for a calendar year in 2023 after determining he bet on NFL games, including five involving the Broncos.

He made peace with himself. But he was unsure if the organization would show grace. He was, after all, a fourth-round pick in 2022. He had yet to make an impact and was drafted before coach Sean Payton arrived.

Payton has shown no reluctance to move on from players he believes don’t fit the culture or his program, like Brandon McManus, Randy Gregory, Frank Clark, and, most notably, Russell Wilson. It left Uwazurike anxious as he counted down the days to his reinstatement on Aug. 5, 2024.

“I really had no idea what was going to happen,” Uwazurike said.

Payton believed a lot of NFL players were making mistakes in 2022 and 2023 as sports gambling became ubiquitous. However, of the 11 disciplined during that time, only Lions receiver Jameson Williams and Uwazurike remain with their original team.

Payton brought Uwazurike back. And continues to show faith in him.

“It¶¶Ņõap hard to be gone a year, and he was a young player. So to have him now — this is an important camp, training camp and season for him,” Payton said. “His size hits you, his athleticism. How he plays is infectious. So, him having a full year heading into this season will serve him well. It¶¶Ņõap hard for any player who sits a season, so heā€™s done a good job bouncing back.ā€

It is easy to judge others when you have never screwed up. But once you do, you don’t want to be forever judged by that mistake. Because the Broncos believed in his character, Uwazurike was given a shot at redemption.

“Sean is one of the most loyal, straight-up coaches I have ever had. It definitely means a lot to me to be playing for him, playing for this organization, same with ownership and everyone in the building. They have been great,” Uwazurike said. “Just knowing that I have this community around me is the best.”

Co-owner Greg Penner said there are gradations when it comes to making these decisions, but agreed with keeping Uwazurike on the team.

ā€œHe made a mistake. He was accountable for it. You don’t want to see another one,ā€ Penner said Wednesday. ā€œBut we felt like he deserved a second chance.”

Even if self-inflicted, the year away was brutal. Uwazurike, however, has long navigated a difficult path. He went from lightly recruited because of poor grades to making the Big 12’s all-academic team. Before facing Notre Dame in a bowl game in 2019, Uwazurike’s father, Roland, died in his sleep. He was 48.

“We were very tight. Like best friends,” said Uwazurike, who has a tattoo of his fatherā€™s face on his right forearm. “It was really tough.”

Football was always Uwazurike’s safe space, a place for joy. He struggled to reconcile how he jeopardized his career.

Growing up in Detroit, he was convinced he would reach the NFL after playing his first game as a 7-year-old. When he grew into a star athlete at Southfield-Lathrup High School, he accepted his first Division I offer from Toledo coach Matt Campbell. When Campbell took the Iowa State job, Uwazurike followed him.

He played five years for the Cyclones, morphing from a skinny defensive end into a sturdy run-stuffing tackle.

ā€œI just like the grittiness of it. When you have 600 pounds coming your way fast, and you can stand up to it, it¶¶Ņõap a different type of energy,ā€ Uwazurike said. ā€œYou feel like you are the toughest person on the field at that moment.ā€

That is the player the Broncos have witnessed during the first week of training camp. He has been stout at the point of attack, showing the type of urgency necessary for a player on the roster bubble.

“He’s doing really good. Last year, he got thrown into the fire coming off that suspension. That was hard. He showed up here in good shape,” teammate Malcolm Roach said. “He should be able to help us.”

Uwazurike remains thankful, but the truth is he wants to show it on the field, not through his words.

Second chances are not guaranteed. The Broncos have forgiven him. Now Uwazurike wants to repay them.

ā€œI did something. I had to take it on the chin. But I am focused on the future. I am part of a tight-knit group, a defensive line with stars. I see what greatness looks like,ā€ Uwazurike said. ā€œI want to show I belong. I know the player I am. I am confident in the coaches I have, the organization that I am in. I feel like when the opportunity shows up, I will be ready to take advantage of it.”

Hey Parker, with Courtland Sutton set as our No. 1 receiver, who’s our No. 2 guy? Marvin Mims Jr. seems to be the slot/joker weapon for us. Can Devaughn Vele make the next step? Or Troy Franklin? Or Pat Bryant?

— Mark, Arvada

Hey Mark, thanks for writing in and getting us going this week.

It¶¶Ņõap a really good question and one that to me is probably the single most interesting offensive storyline — maybe tied with how the running back room shakes out ā€” to watch in training camp. That¶¶Ņõap because, youā€™re right, there are several options.

From here, Mims looks like the best candidate. He really started to break out down the stretch last year and head coach Sean Payton found more and more ways to get the ball in his hands. Not just screens and reverses and handoffs out of the backfield, either. For the first time in his career, really, Mims was a central part of the offense and the Broncos made sure they got him the ball.

The numbers are well-known at this point but still striking. Mims had seven catches on 15 targets for 56 yards through nine games last year. Plus one carry for 17.

Over the final eight, he had 32 catches on 37 targets for 447 and six touchdowns, plus 12 carries for 25. His finishing kick was even more impressive, catching all 13 targets for 154 yards and four TDs in the final two weeks, including the heroics at Cincinnati in Week 17.

If he continues on that trajectory, Mims has a chance not only to be the second man in the pecking order, but perhaps to lead the Broncos in yards receiving. Heā€™s got that kind of game-breaking ability.

Vele, Franklin and Bryant all showed some positive signs during the offseason program, though obviously it¶¶Ņõap a step up to training camp and then to the preseason and the regular season.

Vele was second among receivers in targets last year behind Sutton with 55 followed in quick succession by Franklin (53) and Mims (52).

Two things to keep in mind here: It wouldnā€™t be a surprise to see Bo Nix throw the ball to his running backs more this year with J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey primed to potentially both serve as upgrades in that department. Javonte Williams was reliable (52 catches on 70 targets), but didnā€™t do much with the ball in his hands (346 yards receiving).

The other, of course, is that in reality tight end Evan Engram could end up being Nixā€™s defacto second target behind Sutton. In his last two healthy seasons, Engramā€™s had 98 targets (2022) and 143 (2023). In the nine games he played last year he averaged 7.1 targets per, which translates to 121 over 17 games.

Take the RBs out of the equation for now and Iā€™ll put in an early guess among the rest that the targets go Sutton first, Engram as a close second, then Mims third and Vele fourth. But that¶¶Ņõap a starting point only. Camp is going to have a lot to say about the pecking order among the young guys.

Hello Parker! In his first season, Bo Nix played primarily out of the shotgun because, or at least in part because, like many rookie quarterbacks, he didn’t have a lot of experience playing under center in college. Do you think that will change next season or is it something that Sean Payton also prefers? Do you believe that it could help the running game and play-action?

— Yoann, Beine-Nauroy, France

Hey Yoann, great question. It¶¶Ņõap a little bit of a ā€œtwo things can be true at the same timeā€ situation. The Broncos did play primarily out of the shotgun last year with Bo Nix. They also played from under center more than most teams in the NFL. That¶¶Ņõap just a nod to how thoroughly the NFL has become a league played from the gun.

Denver, per Next Gen Stats, ran 370 plays from under center, which was a 35.1% rate. Both of those marks ranked No. 9 in the NFL. For perspective, only 28.9% of all snaps in the regular season last year were from under center, per NGS.

The Broncos ran a higher percentage of their offense from under center than any of the other teams starting a rookie quarterback, too. In fact, Washington and Jayden Daniels checked in dead last under offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, running a miniscule 7.4% of snaps from under center.

Interestingly, however, the Broncos were among the most run-heavy teams from under center. Their 23.2% under center pass rate was tied for No. 24 in the NFL.

Also worth noting: Denverā€™s under center rate dropped from 41% in 2023 (mostly with Russell Wilson). You can frame this a couple ways: One is that perhaps Denver will be under center a bit more with Nix going forward as he gets a fuller command of Paytonā€™s system and they continue to diversify what they do offensively. The other is that Payton is clearly much more comfortable with Nix than he ever was with Wilson, so perhaps last year is closer to Paytonā€™s true North in terms of ideal usage.

One of the many interesting things to track as the 2025 season unfolds.

Great insight, Parker. Do Wil Lutz’s stats warrant as much confidence as Sean Payton has in him? And while he’s only been with Denver a couple years, how does he stack up compared to past kickers, like Jason Elam, Matt Prater and Brandon McManus?

— Rod, Tampa, Fla. (formerly Highlands Ranch)

Hey Rod, Lutz has definitely earned the very apparent trust that Payton has in him. Their history, of course, goes back to 2016 when they spent five seasons together in New Orleans. But for now let¶¶Ņõap just look at the Broncos stats.

Lutz has made 61 of 68 field goal attempts (and 75 of 77 extra points) in his two seasons in Denver and has been remarkably consistent in doing so. Lutz was 30 of 34 in 2023 and 31 of 34 last year. One miss in each of those season was a blocked kick by Kansas City (including the brutal, game-decider last year at Arrowhead Stadium).

If you want to look just purely at accuracy marks, Lutz is at 89.7% conversions over the past two years. Elam: 80.6%. Prater: 82.9%. McManus: 81.4%.

Of course, making field goals is the name of the game but judging kickers is not as simple as just looking at one number.

Lutz is 8 of 12 from 50-plus yards with the Broncos and his longest make in that span is 55 yards. Heā€™s tried a couple of real long ones — like a 60-yarder that came up well short at KC this past fall ā€” but overall Payton hasnā€™t used him too frequently as a guy to go out there and hit bombs. Lutzā€™s seven attempts from 50-plus in 2024 tied for 19th most in the NFL. Across the league, 24 kickers made field goals longer than Lutzā€™s season-best of 55.

Lutz from a percentage standpoint stacks up well from 50-plus with Elam (60.6%), Prater (77.7%) and McManus (55.5%) though each of those guys obviously had many more years kicking for Denver than Lutz. Each of those guys also hit from 60-plus in his career, which Lutz did once in New Orleans (his career-long is 60) but has not yet done in Denver.

All in all, two years isnā€™t enough to put yourself into the category of Elam or Prater, but Lutz has been accurate and reliable and will be counted on again in big spots this fall (with a new holder in rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw).

Which Broncos free agent signings and draft picks might not make the opening day roster? And why?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Hey Ed, great question. Will be a little clearer once we get going in camp, but right now there arenā€™t a ton of guys added this offseason that look like major roster risks from this point on the calendar. Especially if youā€™re taking injury conversation off the table.

Youā€™re probably talking about a guy like safety Sam Franklin, who doesnā€™t have a ton of guaranteed money and will have competition from younger players to make the roster as a special teams-first type of player. But Franklinā€™s played in 74 NFL games, so it¶¶Ņõap not going to be easy for an undrafted rookie or less experienced player to bump him off the bubble.

It¶¶Ņõap always possible thereā€™s some 53-man roster/practice squad maneuvering at the roster cutdown with a guy like, say, fullback Mike Burton. He was part of that process last year but still ended up active for all 17 games.

In terms of draft picks, you figure fourth-rounder Que Robinson is a safe bet and Crawshaw is a sixth-rounder but projects as Denverā€™s starting punter. That only leaves Lohner, who could end up being one of the more interesting roster decisions. He might need a year or partial year of development after playing only 53 collegiate snaps at Utah. At the same time, Lohner was going to have a bunch of free agent suitors if he didnā€™t get drafted, which could well make the Broncos leery of trying to get him through waivers to the practice squad at the end of August. Plenty of time before anybody has to worry about that.

Bottom line here: Denver was active in free agency and obviously in the draft this offseason, but the players they added they did so for very specific reasons and with roster roles pretty clearly in mind.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal hadnā€™t been announced. ESPN first reported the agreement.

McManus, 33, could have become an unrestricted free agent next week if he hadnā€™t agreed to terms. McManus stabilized the Packersā€™ kicking situation in October and took over for struggling rookie Brayden Narveson.

He went 20 of 21 on field goals and made all 30 of his extra-point attempts in 11 games. McManus converted game-winning kicks on the final play of each of his first two games with the Packers, making a 45-yarder in a over the Houston Texans and a 24-yarder in a at Jacksonville.

McManus also became the first kicker to make two field goals at Lambeau Field from at least 55 yards in the same season.

He missed a 38-yard field goal while also making a 26-yarder in the Packersā€™ 22-10 wild-card playoff loss at Philadelphia.

McManus has made 82.2% of his field-goal attempts (273 of 332) during a career that began with the Denver Broncos (2014-22) and included a one-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2023).

His 2024 performance for Green Bay represented a major comeback after a turbulent offseason.

and the Jaguars in May 2024, alleging he sexually assaulted them when they were working as flight attendants on the Jaguarsā€™ trip to London during the 2023 season. The women alleged that McManus tried to kiss one of them and rubbed up against both while they were working.

The McManus after the lawsuit was filed. The NFL investigated and didnā€™t find sufficient evidence that McManus had violated the leagueā€™s personal conduct policy, and the lawsuit was resolved by the time he signed with the Packers.

Heā€™s the second veteran to agree to terms with the Packers this week ahead of free agency. The Packers announced Monday they had who started all 17 games last season and ranked second on the team with a career-high 97 tackles.

Although the Packers didnā€™t announce terms of that deal, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that McDuffie agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract.

Kotwica was hired by Denver in 2023 after serving as an assistant special teams coach for Minnesota in 2022. Over the past two seasons, he and former assistant head coach Mike Westhoff, who stepped down earlier this season to monitor a potential health issue related to his vision, were instrumental in Denverā€™s special teams success.

Last year, Denver placed first in punt return average (16.3), second in punt return average against (6.3), eighth in kickoff return average (24.9) and ninth in kickoff return average against (21.5).

This season, the Broncos ranked first in punt return yards (15.7), 15th in kick return yards (28.0) and sixth in field goal percentage (91.2%). Denver was also seventh in punt attempts pinned inside the 20-yard line with 33.

Those numbers are night and day compared to the 2022 campaign. The Broncos were last in kick return average (17.5), tied for 20th in punt return average (8.3) and longtime kicker Brandon McManus made 77.8% of his field goals.

Denverā€™s struggles on special teams that season led to coordinator Dwayne Stukes’s firing on the same day as former coach Nathaniel Hackett. Former assistant special teams coach Mike Mallory took over the unit for the final two weeks of the 2022 season.

When head coach Sean Payton brought in Kotwica and Westhoff, he hoped the two could turn one of Denverā€™s weaknesses into a strength.

ā€œThat combination I like there,ā€ coach Sean Payton said last season. ā€œI mean, weā€™ve got experience there, and weā€™ve got (special teams assistant Chris Banjo) whoā€™s a great communicator. Certainly with Mike, I know him well. Ben has been outstanding. It¶¶Ņõap such an important part of turning around a teamā€™s fortune.ā€

In Denver, Kotwica oversaw Marvin Mims Jr.’s development into one of the league’s top returners. Mims was named a Pro Bowl starter and first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press after totaling 408 yards on 26 punt returns. The 2023 second-round pick’s 61-yard punt return set up Denverā€™s go-ahead touchdown in a win against the Colts in Week 15.Ā 

Despite the special teams success, the blocked field goal attempt in Week 10’s loss to the Chiefs left a major stain. Kansas City linebacker Leo Chenal stormed through the left side of Denverā€™s line as part of an overload rush and deflected Wil Lutz’s attempt in the closing seconds of a crushing 16-14 loss.

ā€œThat¶¶Ņõap on all of us as far as giving them some credit where there was some pressure on that side,ā€ Kotwica said after the loss to Kansas City. ā€œWeā€™ve made those corrections over the past two days. Iā€™m really excited about the energy and the resolve our guys have. Obviously, you bleed for a while and then you get up to fight again. That¶¶Ņõap what this league is.ā€

The Broncos special teams unit also didn’t have the cleanest performance in the wild-card round loss to the Bills last week. They perfectly executed a fake punt when punter Riley Dixon threw a 15-yard pass to Mims on fourth down in the second quarter. But Lutz missed a 50-yard field goal attempt. The punt unit also gave up 59 yards on two returns from Ty Johnson.

Before Kotwica coached special teams, he spent eight years in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot. Following his time in the military, Kotwica was a special teams coordinator for the Jets, Commanders and Falcons.

Looking ahead at replacements for Kotwica, the Broncos could promote assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo. The 34-year-old recently interviewed for the vacant special teams coordinator job in San Francisco.

Denver could also target Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi, who took over after Dennis Allen was fired in the middle of the season. Payton hired Rizzi to be a special teams coordinator in 2019, and was given the title of assistant head coach in 2022. He also spent 11 seasons as a special teams coach in Miami.

Rizzi interviewed for the Jetsā€™ head coaching vacancy last week.

That meant many changes to the roster, but two constants emerged over his first and second offseasons: Invest in the offensive line and donā€™t be afraid to get rid of the franchiseā€™s old guard or big names.

The Broncos went big in free agency in 2023, landing Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers right away. They went deep on cuts to those who had been around longest or made the most, from kicker Brandon McManus to guard Dalton Risner and eventually safety Justin Simmons, quarterback Russell Wilson and receiver Jerry Jeudy.

For most of that time, they left Garett Bolles in limbo.

The veteran left tackle and 2017 first-round draft pick played a premium position and did it well. But he also watched as many teammates were unceremoniously let go. He watched as some others earned contract extensions as Payton and general manager George Paton zeroed in on how ā€” and with whom ā€” they wanted to set the franchiseā€™s foundation.

Bolles appeared to be caught between the early cuts and the must-keeps.

He came within four regular-season games and a potential playoff run of free agency for the first time in his career.

But ultimately, he earned the tag heā€™d worked to convince Payton he was worthy of: Foundational player.

The Broncos made that official when they signed the 32-year-old Bolles to a four-year contract extension Thursday worth $82 million that comes with $42 million guaranteed and ties him to Denver through the 2028 season.

ā€œI had to prove myself,ā€ Bolles said Thursday. ā€œIt was a new coaching staff and I knew Coach Payton and he has a certain way about players and certain offensive schemes and I had to adjust some things over the years.

ā€œIt always takes a little bit for people to love me and to fall in love with me, but I just have to trust that process and the good Lord always had a plan for me and it was for me to be here in Denver.ā€

For most of Bollesā€™ tenure, it looked like this might not happen at all. Denver could have extended him in the spring or even added void years to soften his $20 million salary cap hit, but instead left him to play out the final year before free agency.

Talks finally ramped up after the Broncosā€™ Week 13 Monday night win against Cleveland, and perhaps fittingly so. Bolles controlled All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett for the second straight season.

ā€œMy agent was keeping me in the loop here and there but I knew I had to play good football to get it,ā€ Bolles said.

Heā€™s done that. And in the process, heā€™s put himself in position for something even rarer than working from the periphery into the core of Paytonā€™s vision for the future of this team. Heā€™s set himself up to potentially be a Bronco for life.

ā€œI didnā€™t want to go anywhere else,ā€ Bolles said. ā€œI could have. I could have hit free agency and earned more money or whatever it is. I never cared about money. I care about a legacy. I think legacy speaks volumes about the type of man. I wanted to create a legacy here.ā€

As the team finished practice Thursday, the group circled up as usual and Bollesā€™ extension was announced. The news drew roars.

In the locker room afterward, teammates spoke glowingly about his dedication and his level of play.

ā€œIā€™m so happy for GB and his family,ā€ right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. ā€œIt¶¶Ņõap so well deserved and obviously heā€™s having an unbelievable year. Youā€™ve seen his growth under this staff and under this new group here and the steps heā€™s taken to become the player he is have been awesome. And he got rewarded for it.ā€

Now the entire Broncos offensive line is under contract through the 2025 season and all but center Luke Wattenberg are through at least 2026. That doesnā€™t mean the group will necessarily remain intact the entire time, but it sets Denver up to have continuity on its front line.

ā€œI havenā€™t had consistency here,ā€ Bolles said Thursday. ā€œIt¶¶Ņõap new coach, new offensive line coach, new left guard, new quarterback. It¶¶Ņõap just gone on and on and on. You canā€™t win games doing that and I think Coach Payton understands that. Heā€™s been around this league a long time and it starts with the offensive line.

ā€œThe more consistency you have up front, the better you play.ā€

Denverā€™s got that now. The unit is playing at a high level. Bolles is seventh and McGlinchey 11th among tackles in Ā while center Luke Wattenberg (No. 2) and guards Quinn Meinerz (No. 7) and Ben Powers (No. 11) are all among the top 11 in the metric among interior offensive linemen.

As a group, they regularly top analytic models regarding pass blocking and in ESPN’s team win rates they check in No. 1 against the pass-rush and No. 5 in run blocking.

This is what Payton set out to build when he arrived. A team built from the inside out. He just didnā€™t know early on whether Bolles was part of the long-term solution.

The Broncos left tackle, like heā€™s done many times in his life and in his NFL career, worked until he had convinced anybody who needed convincing.

ā€œI continue to prove myself. Iā€™ve never been the guy ā€” my whole life Iā€™ve always had to prove people wrong,ā€ Bolles said. ā€œI think that¶¶Ņõap my attitude and I think that¶¶Ņõap what makes me successful is I have that extra edge to want to be great and work hard.ā€

Why is Davis Webb so well-regarded? I’m not trying to knock the guy, but he’s only been a quarterbacks coach for a year and it’s not like we were super amazing in the passing game. It just sounds like he’s the second coming of Adam Gase in terms of QB coaches.

— Mike, Denver

Hey Mike, totally fair question. I wrote a story over the weekend about Webb and the critical role heā€™s playing as Denverā€™s 29-year-old quarterbacks coach in a group full of guys that are either inexperienced (Bo Nix), have a lot to prove (Zach Wilson) or a combination of both (Jarrett Stidham).

It¶¶Ņõap maybe not a perfect comparison, but Webbā€™s kind of like a big-time prospect in baseball or an early draft pick in football, right? Heā€™s young, heā€™s got tools that teams around the NFL seem to covet and heā€™s in a job coaching quarterbacks that typically is where teams look when theyā€™re eyeing coordinators, head coaching candidates, etc.

Webb gets rave reviews from former teammates and coaches alike for his ability to teach. He did it even as a player with his ā€œDragon reports.ā€ But he did more than that, too. He told me a story last summer about how the Bills got Stefon Diggs during the COVID-19 pandemic and Diggs had to learn the offense.

“There were no coaches allowed so I was meeting with ‘Stef’ an hour (at a time), three days at a week,” Webb said last year. “No one asked me to do that. They said, ā€˜We got Stefon Diggs.ā€™ I said, ‘I got it. Iā€™ll get him up to speed.’ We were in year three or four of that system so he was playing catch-up, but boy he played catch-up quick.”

Webb has played in a bunch of different styles of offenseĀ and has figured out how to be fluent across each of them. Teaching is about relating to both the subject matter and the student and then finding the path that allows the student to connect it all. Webb apparently has a knack for it.

That does not mean heā€™s destined to be the next Kyle Shanahan or that heā€™s a sure-fire upper-echelon NFL position coach. The Broncos certainly had middling quarterback play last year from Wilson and Stidham and some of that falls on the quarterback coach, for sure.

But it says something about Webb that Buffalo tried to hire him as its quarterbacks coach even before the 2022 season when Webb was 27 years old and still playing.

This is part of what makes him a compelling figure in the Broncosā€™ story this year and beyond. They absolutely have to make strides in the quarterback department and theyā€™re tasking a guy whoā€™s undeniably really bright and well thought-of but also undeniably very young and inexperienced as an actual coach to help lead that charge.

Like last year, there are a lot of years of experience around Webb and the quarterbacks in Payton himself, coordinator Joe Lombardi, passing game coordinator John Morton and now senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael Jr., too.

Have the Broncos announced when they’re going to wear their throwback jerseys this season?

— Phillip B., Aurora

Hey Phillip, nothing official yet that Iā€™m aware of, though we can put a pretty good guess on at least one date.

The . Among those being honored are, of course, 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Randy Gradishar and 2024 Broncos Ring of Fame electees Steve Foley and Riley Odoms. They all played on the 1977 team. The Broncos throwback uniform is a near exact replica of the 1977 uniform. In the design process, club officials picked that year because of its significance — they broke through and made the franchiseā€™s first Super Bowl that season — and its place in the middle of the Orange Crush era. The throwback uniforms are designed to be just like that yearā€™s model down to the patterns of the stripes in the socks.

Iā€™m not a math major, but that seems like one plus one equals two.

The thing to keep in mind is that teams can wear alternates and throwbacks up to three times in a season. So if we figure that Oct. 6 is a good bet for the retro uniform, then there are two other times during the course of the season the Broncos can either wear that throwback or their navy alternate uniform.

Ja’Quan McMillian balled out last year. The dude just makes plays. He’s one of the best nickels in the league. We have to lock him into a long-term deal.

— Marvin Lee, Colorado Springs

He sure did, Marvin. One of the most impressive developments of the season, obviously, was McMillian going from barely making the roster to playing like one of the leagueā€™s top playmaking nickels in a few weeksā€™ time.

Nickel has become a premium position, too, in modern defenses. There arenā€™t many guys who can stay stout in the run game and make plays in the backfield while also covering some combination of backs, receivers and tight ends.

McMillianā€™s going to have to keep proving it, obviously, but heā€™s playing his way toward a lot of money. It just is possible it wonā€™t come for a while still.

At present, heā€™s under contract for 2024 at $915,000 base salary and then his contract expires. If I have my Collective Bargaining Agreement jargon translator working properly today, McMillian would then be in line to be an exclusive rights free agent since heā€™d have two credited seasons (2023 and 2024) to his name. He was on the practice squad for 17 of 18 weeks as a rookie in 2022 before starting Week 18, which isnā€™t enough to get a credited season.

ERFAs can be re-signed at the league minimum by their current team and other teams donā€™t get a chance to get into the mix.

So McMillianā€™s not likely going anywhere anytime soon. If he keeps playing at his 2023 level, though, youā€™re exactly right, Marvin. Heā€™ll be well worth considering for a long-term deal.

Will it be quiet and calm before training camp starts or might we see some madness and mayhem with Sean Payton and Broncos management?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Hey Ed, thanks for the question.

You never fully count out the possibility for madness and mayhem, but in general the Broncos have been in a relatively stable stretch here after the blockbusters of cutting Russell Wilson and Justin Simmons and trading Jerry Jeudy earlier this spring.

Famous last words, right?

Thereā€™s always the chance Denver will add another veteran or two as the summer goes along. Last year, remember, they cut kicker Brandon McManus after the draft and added Frank Clark on a one-year deal right about this time. The Clark move didnā€™t pan out the way Sean Payton and company hoped, but it was a move partially in response to Baron Browningā€™s offseason knee surgery. So something along those lines canā€™t be ruled out, especially if any injury issues beyond Drew Sandersā€™ Achilles tear come up. Neither can a surprise veteran cut after next weekā€™s mandatory minicamp, though at this point you might figure that most will start training camp and see what happens from there.

As far as anything major on the coaching staff or front office — management, as you put it ā€” never say never but that group also seems like it¶¶Ņõap landed in a stable spot for now. Emphasis, though, on “for now.” You just donā€™t typically see organizations make major changes this time of year. To be sure, some people will be under the microscope this fall. But that¶¶Ņõap every team in the NFL.

Otherwise, youā€™re talking about potential trades or long-term deals and those pictures havenā€™t changed all that much this spring.

We know receiver Courtland Sutton and left tackle Garett Bolles want new contracts — Sutton has two years remaining and Bolles is entering the final year of his deal ā€” and defensive tackle D.J. Jones is also heading into his contract year.

We know the club at some point will set about trying to come to long-term agreements with cornerback Pat Surtain II and right guard Quinn Meinerz, though neither of those has to be done by the time the season starts.

So yeah, there are plenty of ways the Broncos could make news in the next month-and-a-half before training camp gets here. The question is just how many of them hit.

First things first: It’s about time the Broncos honored Steve Foley and Riley Odoms and inducted them into the Ring of Fame. It’s been long overdue for both guys. But can we bring up a couple of other guys who should also be in already? How about Ed McCaffrey and Al Wilson? Ed was clutch during those ’90s Super Bowl teams and Al’s one of the greatest defensive players we’ve ever had. Do you think they may make it next year?

— Mark, Arvada

Hey Mark, thanks for writing in. Not quibbling with your choices, necessarily, but there will be others to consider, too.

Namely, youā€™d have to think it wonā€™t be long before the late, great receiver Demaryius Thomas is inducted. When that happens, will he be a standalone class?

Foley and Odoms are the first to be added to the Ring of Fame since 2021, which means theyā€™re the first since the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group bought the team in 2022. They wanted to take their time, tailor the committee and really get to know the process before the first additions of their tenure. Now going forward the question will be about the rate at which additions are made. As your question suggests — Foley mentioned this extensively, too, when he spoke to reporters last week ā€” there is no shortage of good candidates. But it¶¶Ņõap also not likely that there will be multiple additions per year every year.

Remember, before 2022 the club had inducted 13 Ring of Famers in 11 years. In the 11 years before that, it was just six.

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