He was a winning player on losing teams.

Through a cracking voice and watery eyes, Simmons retired from the NFL on Wednesday. At 32, he is done playing and no apologies are necessary for how his career played out with the Broncos.

Simmons experienced one season with a winning record, his first in 2016 as a probationary member of the No Fly Zone. He never reached the playoffs. He came close in 2021 before the Bengals’ Khalid Kareem stripped quarterback Drew Lock, a fumble that sent the Broncos into a predictable season-ending death spiral.

Understand one thing: Simmons excelled through adversity.

Take Super Bowls XXXII and XXIII off the loop, lose the violent vision of the safety position, separate the man from the ownership and coaching mayhem, and reality kicks you in the gut like Thunder’s hoof.

Justin Simmons is a Ring of Famer.

“I don’t know about all that,” Simmons said after a 40-minute press conference defined by gratitude and humility. “I didn’t deserve all of this.”

Simmons was referring to the classy exit provided by the Broncos with a press conference, farewell video and introduction by Hall of Famer Steve Atwater. Simmons reached out a few weeks ago and wanted to know if he could swing by headquarters and sign a one-day contract to retire as a Bronco.

The Broncos wisely told Simmons his departure was worth more than a photo op and social media post.

His eight seasons cemented his status as a franchise legend. Yes, it is hard for some to reach this conclusion because of all the losses.

His case demands nuance. It calls for an understanding of the period in which he played and how he overcame the dysfunction around him.

Simmons became a star when groans were the franchise soundtrack. He played for four coaches. He watched a floundering offense use 13 starting quarterbacks. And none were Bo Nix. The Broncos rarely won.

That was not because of him.

His teams didn’t dominate anything, but Simmons defined his position.

Despite revolving coordinators and a carousel of teammates, Simmons became the NFL’s finest ballhawk. No safety had more interceptions than Simmons from the time he entered the league through 2023, his final season in Denver.

He finished with 32 picks, 30 with the Broncos, including four from Patrick Mahomes.

“To me, he’s the best safety in the deep part of the field in his era,” said Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator and former Broncos assistant coach Christian Parker. “I think the interceptions speak to that.”

For those who do not believe Simmons’ play rises to the level of a pillar outside the stadium, consider his All-Pro honors.

All-Pro still means something. It is the best of the best. And when considering Ring of Fame status, franchise context is relevant.

Simmons earned second-team All-Pro four times. No other Broncos safety can match that. Atwater (two first team, one second) and Billy Thompson (one first team, one second) are the only other Broncos’ safeties to receive multiple All-Pro nods. They are Ring of Famers.

From 2012 to 2023, only five Denver players made All-Pro more than once. The list includes Von Miller, Peyton Manning, Chris Harris Jr.,  Demaryius Thomas and Simmons. Manning and Thomas are in the Ring of Fame. Miller will join them. And Harris has a strong case.

And consider this bullet point. When it comes to the most Broncos’ All-Pro honors, Simmons sits tied for sixth, behind only Miller, Rick Upchurch, Randy Grandishar, Shannon Sharpe and Champ Bailey. Simmons is knotted with Karl Mecklenburg and Riley Odoms.

Do I need to tell you what all those players, save for Miller and Simmons, share in common? They enjoy immortality outside the stadium.

Miller will go in after the five-year waiting period, if he ever retires. Simmons’ clock has started.

It would help him tremendously if the logjam loosened. That seems unlikely, as the Walton-Penner group prefers to make the Ring of Fame even more exclusive.

How much narrower does the funnel need to be? It is already as selective as Stanford’s admissions office, with only 33 players, three coaches and two owners honored in 65 seasons.

The hope is that over the next few years, Gary Kubiak, Joe Collier, and Al Wilson will gain entry. They are all deserving.

Simmons has no Super Bowl ring. He doesn’t even have an AFC West Championship cap. I get it. But he became the light during arguably the darkest period in Broncos history. They posted seven straight losing seasons, topped only by the nosedive from 1963-72. Those archaic teams did not have lofty expectations like the ones that featured Simmons.

Performing great with a stream of new coaches, coordinators and underwhelming quarterbacks is, in many ways, more difficult.

Simmons admitted Wednesday that he felt like he let ����apountry down, unable to lead the team to the postseason. It was not his fault that the team stunk.

He did his part on the field and in the locker room. No player was more accountable during this stretch than Simmons. Trying to articulate what went wrong during Nathaniel Hazmat’s abbreviated tenure alone is worthy of the Ring of Fame.

Then, there is the off-field involvement. Character and community work are not part of the Ring of Fame debate. But in Simmons’ case, an exception should be made.

If there is any doubt, Simmons’ impact should break the tie. He was a three-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.

Through his foundation, he mentors kids, supports their education, and provides hunger relief. That is the macro.

At the micro level, I have witnessed him surprise families with Christmas trees and maintain relationships with them. I have seen him walk around stores for hours picking out Christmas gifts for underprivileged kids. He supported teens NaShara Ellerbee and Naja’Ray West as they created the March for Peace, a 5K run/walk and community event in the Montbello neighborhood.

And he has been such a regular at the Broncos Boys & Girls club that the students don’t see him as a professional athlete, but just as Justin, a guy looking to shoot some hoops.

What does it say about Simmons that he was the team’s best player during its worst time and he never hid from a camera, never shied away from interacting with fans? It is a level of professionalism that must be weighed.

His case is complicated by the lack of team success. It is also strengthened by it.

That he posted his resume under these circumstances, not surrounded by great players, is exactly why he should be a Ring of Famer.

Like Wednesday’s ceremony, he deserves it.

Keeler: Hey, I’d love to see David Wooderson in the flesh at Empower. But let me ask you two things: First, other than that early Jones-to-Watkins connection in Santa Clara (and that was a heck of a throw), what exactly has McMillian done to lose his spot as the No. 1 slot corner? Second, and more to the point, what has Barron done — at camp or over two preseason games — to stake his claim? Yeah, Jahdae has been flying all over the place. He’s got a higher ceiling. And higher expectations. You’ve got to earn that path to the starting 11. It’ll come, but Barron’s not there yet.

Broncos podcast: Breaking down Denver’s toughest roster decisions

Renck: Sean Payton is fond of telling rookies that it doesn't matter how they got to Denver, it is what they do when here. It is a motivational reminder for longshots and late-round picks alike that their resumes will be considered. That is how McMillian worked his way into a starting spot. He represents a heck of a find as an undrafted free agent. McMillian is good, but his mistakes are costly. Barron is better. It is not on display every day. But it is there. Defensive boss Vance Joseph has given Barron reps at nickel and outside, and it should not surprise anyone if he comes on a safety blitz. Joseph raves about his football IQ. Moving Barron around has prevented linear progress on purpose. Joseph wants him to learn from mistakes in camp, not games. But given his length and tackling ability, there's no reason to delay moving him in with the 1s in Week 1.

Keeler: Love the idea of Barron as a defensive joker — a lengthy, fast, stealthy weapon who's just as dangerous crashing the box as he is dropping back. . He doesn't just make you better. Like Evan Engram and Marvin Mims on offense, he allows you to get creative with how you use his skill set. The only limit is your imagination.

Renck: The addition of Barron and progress of Kris Abrams-Draine give the Broncos' their deepest secondary since the 2015 No Fly Zone. The NFL is becoming a position-less league defensively. Barron represents the next wave. He is Bo Nix at quarterback: a terrific athlete with a bloated college resume known for his intelligence. McMillian will get snaps in packages, but Barron's future is now.

Keeler: Fair point, but you also don't have to force it, either. You know who had to wait until Week 2 of his rookie campaign to make his first NFL start? Only the best defensive player in the dang league. Pat Surtain II was "eased in" on nickel/dime packages during his pro debut at MetLife Stadium against the Giants in Week 1 of 2021. PS2 got 16 snaps, according to , as Uncle Vic Fangio doled out most of the cornerback snaps to Kyle Fuller, Ronald Darby and Bryce Callahan. We all know what happened next: Darby got hurt in Jersey, PS2 moved up, and the rest is Broncos history. Just because Barron might not start against the Titans doesn't mean he won't become a Front Range fixture. You've got time. Even better, you've got options. Darn good ones.

The Broncos locker room was wildly joyous late Sunday afternoon, shouts and laughter reverberating off the walls in Club Dub as the smoke machine, strobe lighting and music created quite the scene.

The Kansas City Chiefs turned the Broncos into reluctant organ donors, ripping out their hearts. And the Broncos rebounded like Dennis Rodman against the Atlanta Falcons.

Yeah, this team is different. And it is time to believe it.

For starters, the Broncos have their franchise quarterback in Bo Nix and they are going to the playoffs. The last time we said that around here Peyton Manning was under center and the No Fly Zone — guests at Sunday’s game — was making Cam Newton miserable.

The Broncos are back. The players know it. And they showed it.

One play encapsulated why a 6-5 record this season feels significantly better than 6-5 last season. All the talk about grit, toughness and selective amnesia coalesced into an unforgettable run. On second-and-4 from the 14-yard line with 7:03 remaining in the first half, Javonte Williams took the handoff and burst left.

He found a hole — Atlanta’s defense has more than Life Savers — and raced toward the end zone before colliding with safety Justin Simmons at the 5-yard line. If this team was not invested, if this team did not care, if this team was still burnt over the latest K.C. barbecue, how do you explain what happened next?

Williams leaned on Simmons — “It was a stalemate,” he admitted — and was joined by Lil’ Jordan Humphrey, Devaughn Vele, Quinn Meinerz, Ben Powers, Mike McGlinchey and Courtland Sutton. Did I miss anyone?

The touchdown shoved the Broncos ahead 14-3. Any doubt that this is Sean Payton’s team, his guys, was answered at this moment.

“That����ap a culture play right there. That����ap what culture is. You can’t draw up plays like that. It����ap organic. You can say that you have the right culture, but it is what the guys do,” explained defensive lineman Malcolm Roach, who played for Payton on the Saints. “When our offensive line got behind Javonte, it just turnt everybody up.”

The Broncos spent the previous six days telling us they were invested. But it rolls eyes without a deposit. Then comes a snapshot that demands playing to the whistle, and requires uncommon effort.

The Broncos’ fight or flight included both.

“My feet were no longer on the ground and I was still moving,” Williams said. “I was in the air.”

The Broncos’ response to their season threatening to collapse was to plant the Falcons and their good friend Simmons into the turf. A Bronco for life, Simmons rallied his new teammates before kickoff by declaring, “I want to go to the postseason. That����ap what this (bleep) means. In front of their home crowd, (Bleep)’ em.”

The Broncos dispatched Simmons with the kind of impersonal contempt that is totally welcome for a franchise that has been a welcome mat for muddy feet for far too long.

“Right when I saw it, I was was like, ‘Oh yeah, I am getting involved in this,’ ” said left guard Ben Powers, a smirk creasing his face. “Quinn and I watch film and judge others when they don’t get there. I was sprinting my tail off.”

Even better, this attitude is becoming a defining characteristic. When an Atlanta Falcons defender refused to let go of Nix’s legs after a third-quarter pass, Garett Bolles shoved him and provided a head butt for good measure. He drew an unnecessary roughness penalty, but this is the price of doing business. Just like Williams’ run, it sends a message: Don’t Screw With Us.

“I can’t get a penalty, right? I know that. But he wouldn’t get off him,” Bolles said. “And that����ap our quarterback.”

About Nix. He delivered his best game, completing 28 of 33 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns. He is not just the Broncos’ franchise quarterback — I told you all that last week — he has a strong argument as the NFL’s top rookie quarterback, his stats nearly mirroring those of Washington’s Jayden Daniels.

“That is definitely not an overreaction,” ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano said. “It is something we are going to be talking about.”

The Williams run, the Bo Show, the nastiness, it proved Payton’s point. The Broncos are no longer pushovers. They can take a haymaker and punch back. It does not hurt that Payton remained on a John Wick revenge tour against the NFC South, outscoring Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Carolina and Atlanta 88-23 in four wins.

“I could say something smart,” Payton said. “But I won’t.”

He did not have to. Sunday spoke volumes.

For once, it is easy to make sense of these Broncos, of their quarterback, of their gnarly defense. And if confused, just follow Williams’ path to the end zone with your feet off the ground and head in the clouds.

The Broncos are back. Get used to it.

“You look around and realize we finally have dawgs in here. We have developed that mentality and love for one another,” Bolles said. “We never wavered. We are a tight, tight team. Everybody wants to play for each other. And you combine that with a relentless attitude, it makes us hard to beat.”

The Broncos defense is not the 2015 Orange Rush. Let����ap get that straight.

“I love the way they are playing. I am proud of them. They are off to a great start,” said former All-Pro cornerback Chris Harris Jr. “But avoid comparisons with us until we get through the season.”

Harris is right. It is not fair to the 2024 Broncos. The 2015 group was vicious, proving a perfect antidote to the finesse image that saddled the franchise after a humiliating Super Bowl 48 loss. Those defenders played with confidence and excess, stealing chains and crushing dreams, melding with the masterful coaching of coordinator Wade Phillips.

“I don’t think people realized how good we were at the time, but I did. For me, it is a top-10 defense of all time,” said Phillips from his home in Houston on Thursday. “It may have been one of the greatest playoff runs ever.”

The current Broncos symbolize a resurgent team, awakening echoes of their bloody knuckles past when they punched first, celebrated second and asked questions later.

After seven straight losing seasons, the Broncos defense boasts numbers through seven weeks that demand attention. It leads the league in pressures, ranking second in sacks (28) and third in overall defense. Coordinator Vance Joseph inspires loyalty not seen since his mentor Phillips. Both coach with humility and accept responsibility for mistakes, allowing players to operate with freedom. Want to know how much they appreciate this and care? Stop the film and watch how many players are around the ball then and now.

“It is something you don’t normally get, but I see that with Vance’s group. It����ap a want-to thing,” Phillips said. “It����ap hard to teach that. You can tell how much pride they have in what they are doing.”

The Broncos’ most notable improvement has come up front with the additions of Malcolm Roach and John Franklin-Myers, who have thrown down spikes and punctured tires on runners. Through seven games last season, Denver allowed a league-worst 167.3 yards per game on the ground. That number has shrunk to 111.7 this season, ranking 10th. They have delivered 10 takeaways.

“The good thing about this defense, something I love, is that everyone eats. You don’t know whose day it is going to be,” said reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week Cody Barton. “Everyone makes plays and everyone has the chance to eat. It����ap a lot of fun.”

The 2015 defense made life miserable for opponents. Forget eat, this group devoured opponents, leaving knockouts and concussions in their wake. With apologies to the 1977 Orange Crush, no one stacks up against them.

There were three potential Hall of Famers — DeMarcus Ware is in, Von Miller will join him, and Aqib Talib has a case — menacing disruptors (Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe), athletic linebackers (Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall) and a No Fly Zone secondary that has forever set the standard. The 2015 Broncos began the season 7-0, and the defense ranked first in yards per game (261.1) and points per game (16.0), and fourth against the run (89.3). The current Broncos are 4-3 and allow 282.4 yards (third) and 15.1 points (third).

And after they maul the Panthers — Carolina quarterback Bryce Young is 0-9 on the road — the whispers about the defensive numbers will grow louder. The ’24 group does not sniff the ’15 unit����ap talent. It features one first-rounder (star cornerback Pat Surtain II) and a future All-Pro (defensive end Zach Allen), fueled instead by players who were overlooked and underappreciated.

But like the 2015 defense, the chemistry is palpable. Players are driven to prove critics wrong and not let their teammates down.

“We want to be good. We have a lot of guys, including young guys, who want to make a name for themselves. We give effort. We run to the ball,” Roach said. “At the end of the day, VJ is calling great plays and we are playing for each other.”

For this Denver defense to rank as one of the franchise’s best, it will have to move up in weight class. Through no fault of their own, the Broncos have faced forgettable quarterbacks, their most impressive wins over Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield and a washed Aaron Rodgers.

In their first seven weeks, the 2015 Broncos logged wins against Joe Flacco, Alex Smith, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr and prime Rodgers. By season’s end, the Broncos went 7-1 against potential Hall of Famers (Tom Brady twice, Philip Rivers twice, Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger and Stafford) and left MVP Cam Newton in the fetal position breathing through his nose during Super Bowl 50.

Want to start a barstool debate on where the ’24 group ranks? The Broncos have to show up and show out against Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and Joe Burrow.

“Sooner or later you have to go against a great offense and a great quarterback and make a statement,” Phillips said. “They will get that chance. I am pulling for my friends VJ and (linebackers coach Greg) Manusky. I really like the way they are playing. I like how aggressive they are. What I loved about the (’15 defense) is that it didn’t matter who we played.”

But this isn’t about what has happened or what might, but how it feels. And everything about this 2024 defense feels right.

“If you want to be talked about among the best, you have to be consistent and do it with more on the line against top quarterbacks. There’s no tricking them,” Harris said. “But I love their intensity and how VJ is creating pressure. You can definitely say right now that they have potential to do something special.”

The worst thing is the rock. Or in this case, the Rockies. They are playing baseball so poorly that there is a growing suspicion that they might do it worse than any team in the modern history of the sport. For 62 years that honor has belonged to the 1962 Mets.

With the Rockies, it is not some dramatic failure. They are mundane in their awfulness. They don’t pitch particularly well, they don’t hit particularly well, and if that doesn’t undermine them, they run the bases like they are being chased by bees.

The Rockies woke up Saturday with an 8-24 record. They are on pace for 40 wins. The Mets finished 40-120-1. That was an expansion team. What is the Rockies’ excuse? They consider themselves a draft-and-development organization, but they don’t draft or develop well. Brendan Rodgers is their best domestic player drafted since 2015. And he’s hitting .237 with one home run.

The Rockies make up for their lack of power by striking out too much, third most in the league. They average 10 Ks per game, making opponent pitchers look like a blend of Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson.

Colorado ranks last in ERA (5.79), hits allowed, and batting average against (.288). So, it should come as no surprise that the Rockies were the first team ever to trail in each of their first 31 games, a streak snapped Friday. Outfielder Jordan Beck and pitcher Chase Dollander, both terrific prospects, cannot be counted on to save them from the indignity of history.

The Rockies say things about playing with heart and working hard. These are phrases uttered by high school and college teams. As former manager Clint Hurdle was fond of saying, MLB is “not a try-hard league. It is a do-good league.” The Rockies are not good. How bad can it get? It����ap time to start tracking them with the ’62 Mets.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley needs a long suspension from the NBA for his actions Thursday night. Twice he threw a basketball into the stands, once hitting a fan. Then he declined to answer questions from a reporter postgame because she did not subscribe to his podcast. Maybe Beverly can translate his pod to Chinese because that’s where he should be playing until the All-Star break next season. …

Congratulations to former cornerback Chris Harris Jr. on his retirement. He was the charter member of the No Fly Zone. Next stop? How about the Broncos Ring of Fame? …

The Avs set a record for goals in a five-game series by grounding the Jets. They are more explosive than the Fourth of July. If Alexandar Georgiev remains viable, anything is possible. …

After the Nuggets dispatched the Lakers, Darvin Ham talked like a coach who knew he was going to get fired. He was right. Ham is not Erik Spoelstra, but does anyone look at the Lakers roster and believe they are better than a 47-win team? Former NBA 3-point whiz J.J. Redick is being floated as a possible replacement. I am sure it has nothing to do with him doing a podcast with LeBron James. Total coincidence.

The NFL schedule should be released late next week. Rooting for the Broncos to open the season vs. the Steelers. You know, just because.

MAIL TIME

So are we all just assuming that Javonte Williams is cooked (with the drafting of Audric Estime)?

— @esp1371, via Twitter

Running back Javonte Williams made an inspirational return from his knee surgery last season. But his early return and rehab took its toll, in my opinion. He averaged 3.2 yards per carry over the final 10 games. To form a one-two punch with Estime, Williams needs to regain the burst that allowed him to run with violent intentions.

Now, he feels like it’s time to look forward to better things. The former Broncos cornerback officially announced his retirement Tuesday after 12 seasons in the NFL.

“I just felt it����ap time to close that chapter,” Harris told The Denver Post. “I got a lot of opportunities coming up and I just wanted to focus on the next phase of my life.”

Harris spent nine seasons in Denver, where he played in 139 games, totaling 518 tackles, 86 pass breakups and 20 interceptions. Harris, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2010s All-Decade team, was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and named first-team All-Pro in 2016.

Harris was a prominent member of the “No Fly Zone,” which is considered one of the best secondary groups in league history. Harris, alongside Aqib Talib, Darian Stewart and T.J. Ward, frustrated offenses, especially in 2015 when the unit played an integral role in the Broncos winning Super Bowl 50.

“It was nothing like it, man,” Harris, 34, said. “We probably had the best chemistry for a secondary. You could’ve put us up there with the Legion of Boom. The only way we were going to win games was if the No Fly Zone was going to come out and make plays.”

Following Harris’ time with the Broncos, he spent two seasons with the Chargers and played in 10 games for the Saints in 2022. As a free agent for the last two years, Harris kept his options open in case a team needed a veteran cornerback or safety.

“I felt like I could still play (and) wanted to make sure I still gave myself a chance,” he said.

Harris said he has no regrets about what he accomplished during his time with the Broncos. He hopes the franchise can return to its glory days.

Harris believes head coach Sean Payton can get the Broncos back on track, calling him a coach players love to play for.

“I’m excited to see his plan going forward,” Harris said. “He’s a guy that you can put your trust in. We might not have instant success but I think he is going to build (the team) in the right way.”

Randy Gradishar Day: In the wake of former Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar being elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Gov. Jared Polis announced that May 3 has been declared “Randy Gradishar Day” in Colorado. There will be a special proclamation reading held at the State Capitol building’s west steps on Friday at 2 p.m. when Gradishar will be joined by Polis and Mayor Mike Johnston.

Broncos not expected to pick up Wilson’s fifth-year option: A source told The Denver Post that the Broncos are not expected to pick up newly-acquired quarterback Zach Wilson’s fifth-year option of $22.4 million, which would’ve kept him under contract through the 2025 season. Instead, he will hit free agency next offseason. Denver acquired Wilson in a trade with the New York Jets ahead of the NFL draft last week. Head coach Sean Payton said Wilson, Jarrett Stidham and Bo Nix will compete for the starting quarterback job.

Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.

In 2016, the Broncos safety was a rookie when members of the No Fly Zone — then consisting of Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., Darian Stewart and T.J. Ward — gave the youngin’ in the room an initiation.

First, they told Simmons not to cut his hair. Then, after Simmons grew out his hair to the point he had a mini Jackson Five afro, he had to get it cut in the same design as a Cincinnati Bengals helmet.

“It was like the black stripe was bald, and the orange stripe was my hair. Every other line (was) puff, bald, puff, bald,” Simmons told The Denver Post. “It was bad.”

Simmons had to sport the look for one week of practice. Once that time was up, he needed someone who could help get things back in order. So he reached out to Louie Romero, a local barber who had just started cutting hair for the Broncos at the training facility.

Simmons went to Romero’s shop and asked him to “salvage” the situation.

From that moment, the two hit it off. Simmons became one of Romero’s most consistent clients while developing a close friendship to the point where their families know each other.

While their friendship has grown, so have their respective careers. Simmons, a Pro Bowl selection in 2020, has become one of the top safeties in the NFL. Romero has been cutting hair for the Broncos for the past eight years and recently expanded to members of the Denver Nuggets, including point guard Jamal Murray.

“Clients become friends (and) friends become family. It’s more than just football (and) a haircut,” Romero, 38, told The Post.

Best ability is availability

Romero’s friendship with Simmons and the opportunity to cut hair for the Broncos happened by chance.

During Denver’s Super Bowl 50 run in 2015-16, he was just getting started in the barber game when former Broncos strength and conditioning coach Luke Richesson went to him for haircuts. Eventually, Romero’s name began to travel through Broncos HQ.

In the offseason ahead of the 2016 season, former quarterback Mark Sanchez, who had just signed with the Broncos, stopped by Romero and his brother Joey’s shop, Crisp, in Lakewood, for a haircut. Romero later branched out and started his own shop in Arvada called Fade.

Sanchez, who was released by the team after training camp, asked Romero to cut the entire offensive line as a way to build chemistry. Sanchez paid in advance, and Romero came to the Broncos facility for the job.

He hasn’t left since.

“Once you find consistency (with someone), you stick with it, and I think that’s how I’ve been able to keep my foot in the door for eight seasons,” Romero said.

Whenever the team calls, he packs up his equipment, hops in his truck and drives over to Dove Valley. Broncos vice president of player development Ray Jackson is Romero’s point of contact. Romero’s not on the team’s payroll, but he goes up to the facility at least twice a week, and players pay him individually for a cut.

If a player needs him at the last minute, he goes to their house. Romero recalled going to former Denver edge rusher Von Miller’s house at 11 p.m. once because the eight-time Pro Bowler needed an emergency cut after he lost a bet with his cousin.

“He calls me like, ‘I’ll double the pay. I just need you to show up. I don’t care what time it is,’” Romero recalled.

When quarterback Russell Wilson arrived in Denver after being traded from the Seattle Seahawks, he was looking for a barber in the area. Players referred Wilson to Romero, and he messaged him through Instagram.

As a lifelong Broncos fan who grew up five minutes from Empower Field at Mile High, Romero said it was hard not to be a fanboy when he arrived at Wilson’s house. Romero met Wilson, his kids and his wife, Ciara, who told him, “We don’t shake hands. I’m from Georgia,” then hugged him.

“It����ap still a surreal, pinch-me moment to be able to cut Russ and Von Miller’s hair,” Romero said. “(I’ve been) watching Broncos games for as long as I can remember. I still call it Mile High Stadium. I’m old school.”

Those sorts of “pinch-me” moments run in the family.

For about five years, Joey, 42, has had Colorado Rockies players like outfielder Charlie Blackmon and starting pitcher Kyle Freeland stop by his shop in Lakewood.

Inside an apartment, cutting Colorado prep legend and then-Stanford star Christian McCaffrey’s hair the night before the 2017 NFL Draft, he almost lost his mind when former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, Christian’s father, walked inside.

“Holy (bleep) that����ap Ed McCaffrey. And Christian (said), ‘Yeah, I know. That����ap my dad,’” Joey said. “I’m like ‘Dude, no offense, but that����ap Ed McCaffrey. I watched your dad win Super Bowls.'”

The “confidant”

Hair care is in Romero’s blood. In addition to Joey being a barber, their grandfather cut hair for his neighbors out of his garage. Even though Romero’s oldest brother, Manny, 48, isn’t a barber, he helps run the business side of Fade, making sure bills get paid and the lease is up to date.

Through his grandfather and his dad taking him to a barbershop as a kid, Romero learned the value of relationships. For Romero, the barbershop is the original social networking site. He sees it as a place where someone can meet new people, get advice and take a break from the world for 30 to 40 minutes. It’s where he learned how to treat people with respect, and that has translated into his career.

The moment a player sits in the chair, their status is thrown out the window. He tries to avoid talking about sports and focus more on the well-being of their families and lives.

“We become that confidant, and that’s the great part about it,” Joey said.

The two brothers credit their success to the snowball effect. Louie has been able to obtain high-profile clients through social media and word of mouth. He cuts hair for musical acts that come through Denver, such as rappers RZA, from the Wu-Tang Clan, and Machine Gun Kelly.

During the Nuggets’ 2022-23 season, he was cutting John Gault, the team’s player development associate. That led to him being asked to come to Ball Arena to give haircuts to Christian Braun, Collin Gillespie, Vlatko Cancar and Murray.

Romero cut Murray’s hair at the Nuggets star’s house ahead of Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Murray scored 35 points in a series-clinching win, and after the game, Romero was invited to celebrate.

“I got a call from a mutual friend after (the game) who said ‘Hey man, we are out and about,’” Romero said. “’I’ve been hanging with Jamal all day, and now I’m here enjoying a glass of wine.’ It����ap one of those nice moments, even if it����ap for an hour or two, where you can decompress and live in the moment.”

“We have a connection”

Inside Romero’s shop, there’s a wall near the entrance that former and current Broncos players have signed.

However, his friendship with Simmons is a true testament to his growth as a barber. They give Christmas gifts to each other’s kids, occasionally have dinner and have attended a Nuggets game together.

Last spring Romero’s 6-year-old, Vincent, a huge fan of Simmons, wanted the star safety to attend his flag football game. Simmons didn’t hesitate. While Vincent was on the sidelines, Romero told his son, “You got one of your biggest fans coming to watch you play.” Vincent turned around and saw Simmons walking toward the field, causing all the kids to rush toward him for pictures. Romero said he would cherish that moment forever.

“I think over time, when you start seeing people consistently, you develop a relationship with them,” Simmons said. “Then you start operating more than just friends … kind of like family. It started with haircuts, then getting to know his family, and he’s been a blessing to my family.”

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, Simmons stopped by Romero’s shop for a haircut before attending the Nuggets game against the Golden State Warriors later that evening. While Romero cut his hair into a low fade, the two talked about familiar topics — sneakers, their families and common friends — as they had so many times before. The monstrous rookie cut that first brought them together has long since been swept away, but the bond it created has endured.

“We all come from the same place, whether you are an athlete or a regular guy cutting hair. We have a connection some way or another,” Romero said.

Denver Post photographer AAron Ontiveroz contributed to this report.

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The Broncos could use some serious TLC. They’re worse than bad. They’re boring.

While swapping out Teddy Bridgewater for Drew Lock at quarterback, firing offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur or declaring coach Vic Fangio as another bad personnel decision by John Elway might momentarily quell the cries of disgust from ����apountry, nothing truly significant is going to change with this franchise until it finds a new owner.

I’m so very weary of looking for scapegoats for a team that appears doomed to miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season.

What this once-proud franchise needs is a scrape-off. Take it down to the studs and leave nothing but a rock-solid foundation that is one of the most loyal fan bases in sports. The Broncos need an owner with the money and vision to reinvent their greatness and maybe even build a stadium with one of those fancy retractable roofs.

That rousing victory in Super Bowl 50, which seems like a long time ago, was a final salute to the passion for excellence Pat Bowlen infused in his beloved team. But in retrospect, didn’t that championship feel like putting the band back together for one more rockin’ good time, with Elway enlisting old pals Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips, not to mention quarterback Peyton Manning, a Hall of Famer looking to go out in a blaze of glory.

Now? It����ap well past time for the Broncos to stop living in the past.

Maybe first-year general manager George Paton was correct to pick polished cornerback Pat Surtain II over raw quarterback Justin Fields with his first pick in his first draft. But can there be any denial that Paton borrowed a dog-eared template off Elway’s desk in the hope a world-class defense could carry a journeyman quarterback through the back door to a spot in the league’s playoff bracket?

If you don’t mind, allow me to shout what many disgruntled fans in ����apountry are thinking:

Enough already!

Bridgewater might be a righteous leader of men, but he was brought here as a vote of no confidence in Lock. After regressing toward the mean since a 3-0 start, Teddy B. has also revealed himself to be little more than a stop-gap QB.

Although there’s no cheering in the press box, I personally like Uncle Vic as well as any Broncos head coach since Wade Phillips briefly held the job during the early 1990s. But like Phillips, the skillset and personality of Fangio are better suited to being a defensive coordinator.

Some look at the current sorry state of the Broncos and ask: What would Mr. B do? So please forgive me for not bowing in worship of Saint Pat when I wonder: Why was Bowlen so terrible at estate planning? The disarray and dysfunction currently plaguing this franchise are in large part because he had no workable plan for succession.

Now here we are, with everyone from linebacker Von Miller to Fangio vowing to be better, as the Broncos pray to stop a four-game losing streak against sorry Washington, improve their record to 4-4 and pretend they are in a playoff hunt.

That might be well and good, but who are the Broncos kidding except themselves? This isn’t a legit championship contender.

Paton should be a seller at the Nov. 2 trade deadline. Send running back Melvin Gordon packing; let Javonte Williams carry the rock. Rather than No Fly Zone 2.0, the expensive secondary has been a major disappointment. Get a draft pick for cornerback Kyle Fuller.

The Broncos are going nowhere. This is a listless organization marking time until team president Joe Ellis and the trustees plant a “For Sale” sign in the front yard.

Yes, the team needs a new quarterback, a coach whose strength is 21st century offensive concepts and maybe even a roster architect more creative than Paton. But the mess the Broncos find themselves in is far bigger than the clock management skills of Uncle Vic or Bridgewater’s tendency to throw third-down passes five yards short of the sticks.

Before any of those football issues can be addressed in any meaningful way, the Broncos need a culture change, rather than a bunch of bickering kids Bowlen left us.

Denver has become a fly-over city on the NFL map. Our local team is no more relevant in the national football discussion than the Panthers or Colts.

The Broncos can’t get back in the game until they find a new owner.

Re: “Former Broncos Pro Bowler and Super Bowl 50 champion T.J. Ward announces retirement,” online sports story

On Wednesday, T.J. Ward announced his retirement from the NFL. Ward’s announcement served as the official conclusion to his eight-year career, which included two Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl 50 victory for Ward and his fellow Broncos.

T.J. Ward played an integral role in Denver’s infamous “No Fly Zone.” This legendary secondary, constructed as a result of the combined greatness of Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips, consisted of Chris Harris Jr., Bradley Roby, Darian Stewart, Aqib Talib, and T.J. Ward. This secondary, alongside Von Miller, Brandon Marshall, Derek Wolfe, and several other great defenders, proved to be one of the NFL’s most formidable defenses.

Under the guidance of Wade Phillips, this defense etched its name into the history books as one of the greatest units to have ever been assembled. As a young Broncos fan, I found myself mesmerized by the astounding playmaking abilities of this defense. From a shutdown secondary to a defensive line whose pressuring capabilities were without equal, Denver’s defense was a force to be reckoned with. I still find myself reflecting on the greatness of that defense from time to time.

I would like to thank T.J. Ward for everything he did as a member of the Denver Broncos. While he also played for the Browns and Buccaneers, I believe that he will be most remembered for his time in Denver. With that being said, congratulations on an incredible career, T.J.! Wear that Super Bowl 50 ring with pride!

Jeff Fields McCormack, Troup, Texas

Individual actions not enough to combat climate change

I try to do my part to combat climate change. At 7, after my parents told me about Colorado droughts, I challenged myself to shower in under three minutes, getting back to the TV just as the commercial break on the Disney Channel ended. I boycotted dryers — instead, I hung my sheets in haphazard forts dangling off open hallway doors.

The campaigns to reduce individual carbon footprints have touched me and inspired lasting behavioral change, but what many of these campaigns miss is that individuals alone are not the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Science Magazine, just 90 companies and government-funded industries worldwide were responsible for two-thirds of carbon emissions in 2016.

As consumers, we do create demand for what these companies are producing, but individual consumers changing habits will not stop
corporations from dumping waste into our
waterways. Not to mention being able to buy “green” and take some of these individual measures can be expensive and inaccessible to lower-income families.

I believe we should keep limiting our individual carbon emissions, but the climate crisis will continue to spiral if we don’t regulate corporate pollution practices.

To my fellow Coloradans, keep riding your
bike, hang your clothes out on a line every now and again, but I urge you to take your individual measures a step further– talk to our representatives to support corporate pollution regulations now.

Silen Wellington, Fort Collins

Making a difference

Re: “Carpenter builds tiny homes for homeless,” April 18 news story

The article shows the wealth of human generosity. Khaleel Seivwright — using his resources and efforts to house the homeless of Toronto — shines a beacon of hope onto the mountain of social despair.

It is unfortunate that instead of helping him and applauding his efforts, the local authorities seek to prevent his building of shelters to protect folks against subzero temperatures. It seems the government could do a little work, redirecting the law or his efforts instead of filing injunctions against him.

Mike Gallagher, Centennial

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“This period came fast, and yet it felt prolonged,” he said in a . “We each have our own journey in this life and in this sport, and I proudly followed mine until my football path was complete. Regardless of the ups and downs, I stayed the course. Football is in my blood. I would play as long as I was able. In the end, I wasn’t allowed to play anymore.”

Ward played in 107 games, 41 of which were with the Broncos.

Cleveland drafted him out of Oregon in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He spent four seasons with the Browns before signing a four-year deal with Denver ahead of the 2014 season.

“I am honored and blessed to have completed 8 NFL years! Second-round draft pick, all-rookie team, all-pro, pro-bowler and Super Bowl 50 champion,” he said. “The journey has been amazing!”

Ward recorded 607 tackles, 10 forced fumbles, 8.5 sacks and eight interceptions in his career.

He recorded seven tackles, a pass defended, a fumble recovery, and an interception in the Broncos’ Super Bowl win over the Panthers. He played a key role in Denver’s “No Fly Zone” secondary, which helped push Denver to its most recent championship.

“Thank you to the Cleveland Browns organization for drafting me and being my first NFL home,” he said. “Thank you to the Denver Broncos for an amazing three years. It was a pleasure playing for such an amazing organization! Winning the Lombardi Trophy was the highlight of my career. No Fly! Thank you, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Arizona Cardinals, for also giving me opportunities to be a part of your organizations.”

Ward last played with the Buccaneers in 2017 and auditioned for the Cardinals last season.