07-16-24 Hour 2 of Broncos Country Tonight

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to it, Broncos Country tonight. But with all Brian Dick, Ferguson,

(00:03):
Grant Smith, those that don't knoware talking about these show Suits,
which apparently has a whole new season. I guess it was so in demand
over the streams they created a wholenew season. They brought it back on
Netflix or whatever. I've not seenthe new season. I used to watch
the old show and back in theday, like way back when that show
first came out, people said thatI reminded him of the character Mike a
little bit, because I sort ofan idic memory and would remember things,

(00:24):
you know, that kind of stuff. And it's funny because somebody brought it
up. I think it was lastyear. Year before last night, I
watched this show that I never seenbefore, called Suits. I watched it
the streaming or whatever, and youremind me of Harvey. And I'm like,
man, it's funny how the worldturns when you know, fifteen years
ago I was reminding you of Mike, and now I remind you of the
character of Harvey. But anyway,Nick said, I reminded of somebody on

(00:45):
this show. And I said,if you say Louis, I'm coming over
there. I'm coming over. Hey, man, I didn't say anything.
You're the one that brought it up. You can tell us who I remind
you. I'm listening. I'll dothat. Go ahead. We have bigger
Fish, Mega Markel, we hadbigger If you're a potline to bring out
a guy who does remind you ofMike and that's Ryan Michael. Ryan.
How do you doing this evening?I'm doing well, Ben Nick? How

(01:06):
are you guys? Bill? Well, you ever seen the so suits?
I'm not okay, So you don'tunderstand the Lewis thing like nobody's getting the
joke here because you know anyway,Uh, it has been an interesting day.
Quinn Miners just signed a huge extension, making him tie for the third
highest paid guard in the NFL.For your eighty million dollar extension, Quorter
a five million guarantee twenty seven millionthrough the first year of the extension.

(01:30):
The Broncos offensive line is, allof a sudden, a pretty expensive line
outside the center position. You haveto figure that they're really hoping for results
this year. Well, I'm alwayson board for paying good players a lot
of money. So for pro footballfocus with a guy who's coming in as
I believe the second rank guard inpass blocking and the number one ring guard
in the league and run blocking.So you pair it with a quarterback in

(01:53):
bo Nicks who went down on onlyone point one percent of his drawbacks during
his final year of college football.On paper, it's a fantastic moves.
So let's be excited about it.I am. And this has been a
Sean Payton kind of thing. SeanPayton pays offensive lineman. Right, you
go back and you look at thehistory of how roster construction is under Sean
Payton. They pay offensive lineman.They really do, so not exactly a

(02:15):
surprise Sean Payton. You put itan interesting chart earlier about his winning percentage
and where that compares to previous DenverBroncos head coaches ONCED you walk us through
that a little bit. Yeah,So what I did is I think that
when we're making an effort to assesswhat XBAC pas should be, we really
have to take a look at whatour history has been. So what I

(02:35):
did was I put together a chartof the winning percentage amongst Bronco's head coaches
since the merger in year one versusyear two, and I wanted to see
how Sean Payton stacked up historically amongstthe great coaches that we've had here in
the franchise, and he really fallssomewhere towards the middle of the pack.
Red Miller won eighty five point sevenpercent of his games his first year,

(02:55):
Gary Kubiak seventy five percent, DanReeves a half percent. At the bottom,
you have Nathaniel Hackett dead last twentysix point six percent, Joseph thirty
one point two percent, rules thanthirty five point seven percent. So Peyton
at eight and nine won forty sevenpercent of his games. And while it
might be difficult to be excited abouta losing record, I think if you

(03:17):
compare him to the head coach andhires that preceded him, he's clearly the
best. Yet. Yary Kubiak,to his credit to a fantastic job,
helped us win the championship, buthe also inherited a very talented football team
on both sides of the ball.So after him, you know Vance Joseph
five and eleven his first year,Andrea seven to nine, and hack At

(03:38):
four and eleven before he was out. So I would say that Sean Payton
is exactly where he should be relativeto what their expectations would be. Typically,
when we talk about quarterbacks, wealways look at them and say,
okay, well what are they goingto do in their sophomore season? And
I know that Sean Payton has beenin the league a long time, but

(04:00):
what are your expectations for Kashan Paytonin his second year with the Denver Broncos.
I would say that a reasonable expectationand standard to hold him to would
be for the Denver Broncos to endto Golop in twenty four with a winning
record. We'd all love to winthe role, but I think that if
we can move the needle a bitand go from eight to nine to nine
and eight or better, I wouldview that as a success. And I

(04:24):
think there are a number of waysNick, specifically, given why we hired
John Payton, that we could reflectupon year two and look at it as
a success. So you certainly don'twant to take a step backwards. You
want the record to improve as muchas we can do that. He is
the man who walks around with theoffensive genius label, and given his history

(04:44):
in New Orleans, I think thatlabel is very well earned. One of
the other things I included in mystat chart was where offenses and defenses ranked
respectively in points per game scored andpoints per game surrendered. So in Denver
finished nineteenth last year. That's notthe standard of excellence that Sean Payton had
displayed in New Orleans, but itwas his first year with a with a

(05:09):
starting quarterback that didn't match his styleof offense. So we definitely want to
improved, especially offensively. And oneof my biggest criticisms of Sean Payton throughout
the years has been the fact thatthe defense is come to struggle on the
opposite end of the football. Andeven though that's not his calling, he
is the head coach and so heis in essence responsible for how the defense

(05:30):
performs as well. And we finishedtwenty seventh in points surrendered last year,
which is one of the worst marksin franchise history. We need improvement in
both categories and I want to seea winning record. Well I think those
are fair expectations. But you know, the never Broncos invested a lot in
acquiring Sean Payton. You know,they traded it first and a second rounder.
They're paying him eighteen million dollars ayear. Does that investment grant him

(05:57):
a longer leash, and at whatpoint, if it's not working, does
it become some cost fallacy. Ithink that's a personal decision for ownership,
but it would be ignorant to saythat that didn't play a factor, right,
And I would say to an extentthe situation and the struggles that we
faced last year, I think overallBroncos turn three is a community and just

(06:18):
the NFL world has been largely forgivingof what syltem could view as an underachievement.
But I try to be fair andsay, within the context of the
situation he stepped into last year wasaround where he should be. There were
a lot of barriers, and thingsdon't get better overnight. Rome wasn't build
overnight. So I do think thathe does have a bit of a longer

(06:39):
release. But I would say thatif we don't start to see a winning
record, if not in year two, certainly in year three, that's certainly
when you have to take a muchmore serious look at the situation. Is
it fair to look at twenty twentyfour and say, okay, well,
since last season, shall pay hedidn't really have his quarterback. He has

(07:01):
that guy now in bow Knicks,So we now look at this year as
being the start of the Sean Paytonera. I would say, Nick,
yes and no. I would sayyes in a sense that you make a
valid point, which is his firstyear with a quarterback that hits his system,
So in a sense, this maybe the first time that we truly

(07:24):
see a Sean Payton offense. He'salso going to be working with, inevitably
a rookie quarterback, so you shouldafford him some grace there. Not everybody
steps into the league and plays theway that Andrew Russell, Wilson and RG
three did in twenty twelve. Atthe same time, I would say that
Sean was fully aware of what situationhe was getting himself into when he made

(07:45):
the personal decision. That's not aretirement. So even though the situation was
an optimal for us last year,that is what he signed up for,
and the wins and the losses andthe way that situation was managed is a
testament to who he is as ahead coach. Again, I would say
that didn't exceed expectations, and inmy view it certainly wasn't a massive disappointment.
So I don't know if I answeredyour question there. I'd say,

(08:07):
there's some grace to give him,for sure, but I don't think that
we can ignore twenty twenty three.You know, I've positive that Sean Payton
is not a Hall of Famer asit personally stands. He's a head coach
who's only won one Super Bowl.He's had multiple scandals when he was there
at New Orleans with you talk aboutbounty gate, talk of pillgate, all
that kind of stuff. You know, we've got multi Super Bowl winners like

(08:28):
Tom Kauughlin who have done more withless that are not in the Hall of
Fame. What will it take forSean Payton to make the Hall of Fame?
And is it doing something no oneelse has ever done in winning a
Super Bowl with two different teams?Well, certainly, if he becomes the
first head coach in NFL history towin a Super Bowl with two different teams,
in my view, that slam dunkentry for a Football Hall of Fame.
That might even make him a firstballot Hall of Famer. He is

(08:50):
that a realistic expectation. I don'tthink that it is as much as I'm
hoping for it to and eventually endup being the case. I would say,
then exclude a Super Bowl in There'sa few things that I would like
to see out of him, andthe first would be how does he handle
the development of Bonicks, Because youare getting a guy who has taken twelve

(09:11):
overall in the draft, regardless ofwhere he landed amongst fellow quarterbacks in the
draft, he's a top twelve draftthing, and he's coming into the Denver
Broncos with one of the greatest collegefootball resumes in history. So if he
can help develop Bonicks into a topten NFL quarterback or better, I think
that that really adds a thick layerof excellence to his resume personally, because

(09:37):
Bonicks has his critics, so itwould be a great thing to see him
silence those. You know, outsideof Drew Brees, it's not a sparkling
resume at the quarterback position for SeanPayton. I had charted a few months
back where offenses have wand in termsof points per game scored with and without
Drew Brees, and with Drew Breesyou're seeing in two thousand and six,

(09:58):
fifth, seven, twelfth, numberone, number one, eleven, second,
tenth, ninety eighth, second,fourth, third, third, and
fifth. So that is first ballodstuff outside of Drew Brees. Two years
in Philadelphia they finished nineteenth and thirtiethwith the Giants, twentieth, fifteenth,
twenty second, twenty first, inDallas, twenty first, twenty fifth,
fifteenth, and then his only nonbreezier in New Orleans, they finished nineteenth,

(10:22):
which is exactly where the Broncos finishedlast year. So, in fairness
to Sean, he wasn't working witha collection of Pro Bowl quarterbacks in those
other situations outside of Russell Wilson.But at the same time, that's not
a sparkling resume without Drew Brees,and he has an opportunity to separate himself
from some of the other great coacheswho had success predominantly with one Hall of

(10:43):
Fame quarterback by developing bon Nicks intoa top ten caliber quarterback. With that
being said, in the Whole LifeAfter Drew Brees saga, does that put
more pressure on Sean Paige not justthe be successful with both Nicks this year,
but as long as he has acontract with with the Denver Broncos.

(11:07):
Do you see that as something thateveryone's paying attention to? Unquestionably, and
similar to the way that we talkabout this ballid check in Tom Brady,
and we view their success and lackerof with and without each other. Drew
brees to his credit as a guywho in San Diego led two top five
scoring offenses two thousand and four,the Chargers finished third two thousand and five,

(11:31):
his final year they finished, Sohe has that on the opposite side
of his New Orleans resume. SoSean Payton's always going to be tied to
Drew, whether that's stare or not. And given what the Broncos invested to
bring him here to town, theexpectations are going to be very high.
So you know, I'm not lookingto increase the pressure here. I think
it speaks for itself. But theBroncos have done what they could given the
reality of the situation and limitations thatwe're facing with salary cat Hell, to

(11:56):
provide Peyton with an opportunity to showus who he is as a head coach.
And I'm going to be because I'lltell you if he ends up developing
Bonis into an elite NFL quarterback,I think he silences a lot of critics.
Yeah, one thing I want tofollow up on with the Hall of
Fame, We've got three quarterback threecoaches out there that have won multiple Super
Bowls not and I mentioned Tom Cofflinobviously, Mike Shanahan and George Seaffert.

(12:18):
Especially, how are these three coachesnot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
and what really we would sort ofknow? I think what their requirements are
for the position players. But whenyou get to a head coach, if
multiple Super Bowls aren't enough to getyou in, what is the criterion for
coaches? Yah to be honest withevent And I don't think that I'm qualified
to answer that because there isn't anyone specific formula. I would hazard to

(12:41):
guess that the reason Tom Coughlin isnot in is because his two Super Bowl
wins, despite the fact they wereagainst Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the
Giants were not dominant football teams duringthose seasons. They became dominant in the
postseason. Seaffert inherited a golden situationin San Francisco, for sure, So
I do think that people take thatinto consideration when they view his record.

(13:03):
Mike Shanahan, I have no answersfor you, because in my view,
he is a slam dunk first ballotHall of Famer, unquestionably so as an
offensive coordinator and as a head coach. So I'm hoping as we reflect upon
the success that he had not justin Denver, but also in San Francisco,
that Mike Shanahan eventually is recognized bybeing honored in the Pro Football Hall

(13:24):
of Fame, because I can't thinkthat the Hall of Fame is complete from
a head coaching standpoint without Shanahan beinga part of it. How long of
the least do you think that theBroncos fan base will give Sean Payton if
this season doesn't I guess end withthe team is at least five hundred,
or they won more games than theywon't they won't last year. Yeah,

(13:48):
I think it's going to really dependon how far away from five hundred we
were. It's one of the reasonsin the chart that I posted earlier this
afternoon, I put anybody who wasunder or above five hundred by one game
just color coded in yellow, insteadof me being one game under or over.
Isn't a remarkable difference. If theBroncos in the season with five or
six wins, I think that thediscussion is going to ramp up immediately.

(14:11):
If we win another eight games,seven games, even if we finished nine
and eight. I think there's goingto be further discussion, but there will
be great supported him for sure enteringin year three. Ryan, we appreciate
it as always and look forward totalk to you next week. Sounds good.
Guys, appreciate having me on absolutely, Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael

(14:31):
on Twitter when we come back romyBean. Anyone asking whether Deon Sanders and
Colorado are close to the playoffs simplydoesn't understand the reality of the road.
They're not going to the playoffs thisyear, and I'm not sure Deon Sanders
is ever going to get them tothe playoffs because I don't think he has

(14:54):
the patience to stay at Colorado longenough. There's so many misconceps out there.
Deon Sanders is the best salesman I'veever seen. I personally love the
guy and for what he stands for, but the program looking out has a
ridiculously inflated view of itself. Iheard Shador Sanders, who's a fabulous quarterback,

(15:16):
say last week we are Everyone's SuperBowl shardor you are not. You
are an easy win nowadays. Yougot off to a phenomenal start last year,
beating a couple of mediocre teams thathad big names, and quite frankly,
you haven't done anything since other thancrash and burn. So I know
that the media loves this story.We follow all over ourselves, But Colorado

(15:39):
isn't important in college football. DionSanders is, he's a standalone person.
He's one of the most charismatic peoplewe've ever seen. But Colorado is nothing.
They don't matter. They're irrelevant inthe big picture of college football.
Welcome back to it, Broncos CountryTonight, Benjamin all Brightenison Grant Smith.

(16:00):
That was Paul Finebaum on ESPN,to which I immediately respond, if they're
rerelevant, why are you even talkingabout him to begin with? But I
it frustrates me because there's the semanticsthing there in addition to the larger thing.
First of all, they're not irrelevant. Colorado's the center of the college
football world. That's why they're alwayson on every talk show as far as
that goes. Now, are theyrelevant to the playoffs? Are they?

(16:22):
Are they going to be a winningfootball team? Now that's a question.
And for that we go out tothe ka Comma Sparrels Hotline and bring on
our friend Roby bean Romy, Howyou doing this evening? I'm doing good.
How are you doing pretty well?You know, Paul, A lot
of people think RBG stands for RuthBader Ginsberg, but I always said it
standard for Roby being gangster. Sowe are. We're happy to have you
on the show tonight. I Paulfine Baum. I respect Paul fine Baum

(16:45):
for what it is that he does. Don't often agree with his opinions.
I think he's I think he lovescollege football. I think he's passionate about
it, but he's an sec honkand I grew up in that country,
and I know what that sort ofmeans. I don't expect the Buffaloes to
make the playoffs this year. Ithink it's possible. I don't think it's
necessarily probable. But to call Coloradoirrelevant, given the fact that they are

(17:06):
constantly in the discussion, feels abit wrong to me. Oh a thousand
percent. It's I mean, yousaid it perfectly when when you open the
segment. If they're irrelevant, whyare you talking about them? Colorado football?
Since Deon Sanders has got there hasbeen the talk of college football,

(17:26):
the center of the college football universe. You can't name one other school,
one other program that won four games, and yet everybody's still talking about them.
Yet they go to their big twelvemedia days, first one in the
new conference, and they're the starof the show. And you know,
Paul's trying to, you know,say there's a discrepancy there between down Sanders
and Colorado, but right now DownSanders and Colorado football it's one of the

(17:48):
same. So to call it irrelevantis absolutely bananas. I think when you
look at Chador's statement, the SuperBowl statement, it's not so much in
the way of, oh, thisis going to be the toughest competition we've
ever faced. But teams want tocome out and they want to embarrass you,
they want to pumble them, theywant to beat them. If you
was irrelevant, they wouldn't care aboutcoming out. And all the schools this

(18:11):
year are going to come out andwant to make a statement. So in
that way, what Shador is sayingis correct about it being the Super Bowl.
Now as far as the level ofplay that's to be seen and that's
going to be really interesting, Butthey call them irrelevant is just agreeous,
Incorrect's right. I mean to befair, to be fair, wasn't it

(18:36):
that when we looked at last yearand all the hooplag coming in and everything
that's happened on social media, isn'tit fair to say that, I mean,
coach Sanders and Shador they kind ofbrought this on themselves with all the
attention. I think absolutely. ButI also think they like that. I
think they have no problem with that. The one thing that I will say,

(18:56):
even if you look at it thisyear, right, I think some
people were maybe expecting them to takea step back after last year, after
the six game slide to end theseason, et cetera, et cetera,
kind of you know, maybe theywould take a step back and say,
you know, we're just going intothis year quietly, not making noise.
But that's not who they are.They're completely true to who they are,

(19:17):
and this is who they are,and that's big and flashy, and they
know they're bringing it on themselves again. But I don't think that they mind.
I think that's who they are.I think they thrive off that,
and I think they have no problemwith that. I think they have no
problem with people wanting to come andbeat them as badly as they can and
wanting to talk trash on them,you know, and I think they love
that. I think they thrive onthat. I really do well why specifically

(19:40):
is Deon Sanders hated for it?When he's doing things that other people do
that they don't get the same amountof hatred. Sean Payton paided a target
on the Denver Broncos back last yearwith the Hacket comments and failed, miserably,
losing to a Hackett coached offense helmby Zach Wilson. Pete Carroll,
this is just Pete Carroll's playbook thatDion's using. It's the same thing.
Create a cultural center and you eata standard and put the target on your

(20:00):
back so that you have to meetor exceed it. This isn't new,
It's just Dion doing it and forwhatever reason, rubs people the wrong way.
I think you make an excellent point. I think from the beginning what
I've said that has fascinated me themost about this is that there's no in
between when it comes to to DeonSanders. People either love him and they're
fiercely loyal, or they just hatehim and they hate everything that he stands

(20:22):
for, and that there's no inbetween. He's such a polarizing figure.
But one way or another, youknow, people can't stop talking about him,
whether they love him or they hatehim, and he has that effect
on people. He's you know,one of the most you know, magnetic
captivating people, I think on thisplanet. But it is just it's so
interesting. I think that there's probablya big psychology experiment you could dive into

(20:45):
that and kind of look at why. But you know, he's just I
think I think some people it rubshim the wrong way that this man is
so you know, unapologetically himself andit's like we live in a society where
you're supposed to not be like that, right, or you're supposed to be
humble, or you're supposed to ohsay ooh sorry, I was wrong,

(21:07):
and he just doesn't do that,and I think it runs people the wrong
way. Well, the Broncos acouple of weeks before opening training camp and
those broke today by Quinn Miners,and the Broncos give him a deal that's
making him up the third highest paidguard in the NFL. And when you
look at the totality of the Broncosoffensive line as far as pay scale,

(21:29):
it's concerned they're pulling down some majorbank. Do you think now what Quinn
Minor is getting this big deal,more pressure is going to be on that
offensive line to perform this year,knowing as though they may have a starting
rookie at quarterback position. Well,I think Nick, you hit on it.
If they have a starting rookie,the pressure's on there and they have
put in a lot what Sean Dinge'sput in a lot of money onto that

(21:52):
offensive lines with powers and the Glencheyand now Quinn Miners, and I do
think that there's going to be alot of pressure because the end of the
day, the offensive line has beena weak shot for I mean how many
years, right, the right tackleis going to revolve indoor? For how
many years? There's just been nostability and so it's going to be one
of those things now where I thinkthat, especially with the young quarterback,

(22:15):
I'm going in with the full assumptionthat this is bone nixes. Seem sure
it could end up somebody else's,but I feel like he will end up
being the guy week one, andthe pressure is going to be on that
offensive line to protect him. Ithink Sean's going to put the pressure on
the line to protect him because Imean, if they don't, he's got
no shot. We've seen this.How many rookie quarterbacks have you seen get
ruined by a bad offensive line?So yeah, I do think the pressure's

(22:40):
on. But I think that QuinnMiners has certainly earned that contract and good
for him. I mean, whata story, right, And it's going
to be interesting too now you see, maybe the stability there with the competition
at center can help whoever wins thatcenter job to kind of just slide right
into the job. But yeah,there's a ton of pressure on the line,
and honestly there should be. Wellyeah, and I mean Broncos fans

(23:02):
over the last decade or so havelived through quite a few disappointments, you
know, whether it was Medelick Watsonor Jared Beldeer, who I fought played
admirably in the limited time that hegot to play. You had Juwan James
when he bothered to show up towork. It was you know, it
was a revolving door at right tackleand nothing ever seemed to work. Didn't

(23:23):
matter what they did, whether itwas draft people, sign people, trade
for whatever, it just didn't work. Mike McGlinchey is there. Now,
we'll see if he's able to playbetter than last year. But I think
you're right. I think there isa target sort of painted on this offensive
line and it's up to them tostep up to the plate and deliver.
This has been the way Sean Paytonhas constructed rosters throughout his career. Pay
the offensive line, you're paying oneguy in the receiver room, and it

(23:47):
looks like they're trying to sort ofshed some of those contracts and sort of
get this roster to a Sean Paytonconstructed roster. Yeah, And I think
as you look at it, it'sso interesting that because they think that this
year at OTA, you know,obviously kind of we all talked about how
Sean Payton seems so much more settledin and all of this, and it's
just, you know, this isclearly becoming so much more of his team,

(24:08):
and the vision is really starting tocome together, and you're getting a
very clear look at who is partof the future and who's not part of
Sean Payton's future. And you know, Sean Payton has always liked to play
volleyball, and you got to havean offensive line to do that. And
he's put his money now in theseguys and he's really building the team around
that. I think, well,the running back competition is going to be

(24:30):
really really interesting in training camp becausethat will feed into Bonix being successful and
to Sean Payton running the kind ofoffense it's that he wants to run and
he simply couldn't run that last yearfor a myriad of reasons. But it
is fascinating I think watching from lastyear to this offseason and even now how
this is. We're slowly seeing itkind of become his team and built in

(24:52):
the vein of what Sean Payton wantsand if you can put it together,
it does as you mentioned, itstarts with the offensive line want to be
able to help bo be successful.You got to play some volleyball with Trendy
camp only weeks away. Have youstarted your preparation into looking into one of
some of the most competitive position battlesfor this team, And if so,

(25:17):
which one do you have your mindset on? You know, I think
there's so many interesting ones. Ithink that ed Rusher is going to be
really really interesting. Obviously that Broncosjust have not had a superstar edg rusher
in a very long time. Ithink somebody maybe it was Ryan McAdden and
somebody put it out right, theyhaven't had a double digit sack guy leader

(25:37):
since what twenty eighteen something like that. Not my stat, that was his
stat. But I do think theed rusher is going to be really interesting.
You know, can make Benito stepup? Can Barren Browning step up?
Feels like we've kind of been waitingon the use in that room to
step up. So I am curiousto see and if a guy like Joan
Ellis can crack some significant playing timewhat he's going to do. So I

(26:00):
think the center competition is going tobe very interesting. Obviously, that's huge.
We keep talking about the offensive lineand the running back competition, you
know. I so we kind ofhave this long conversation I've been having with
people about like is there space ofa roster for Jolliamlegloughlin. I'm like,
you can't cut to Lamble Golfwain andthen we'll go back and forth. There's
a lot of running backs on thisroster. What is that going to look

(26:21):
like? I think that's really interesting, you know, especially oldric estimate.
I think he's got big potential.I think the running back competition is going
to be really really fascinating to seehow that one unfolds. Of course there's
quarterback, right, you know,you know, but I have I have
my opinion at least I think who'sgonna end up with that one? But
it'll be fun to watch, andI think defensive line as well, just

(26:41):
to see if. I don't knowif it's so much competition, But will
the new additions, will the improvementshelp them improve and be better than last
season? Talking with Roby Bean ofthe CBS for me switching gears here a
little bit to the Denver Nuggets,who have recently been linked to Russell Westbrook
as a possible addition to this basketballteam. Of all the people out there

(27:03):
that I think, I don't wantto say you have the most head scratching
fit, that seems to be one. But these rumors seem to be pretty
strong. Am I missing something herewith the possible edition of Russell Westbrook?
You know, I feel so conflictedon this one. This one feels very
like high risk, high reward tome because Russell Westbrook has never been a

(27:23):
locker room guy, right, He'salways been a me guy. I think
you can make the argument if there'sone guy that could get him to buy
in. That's Nicola jokicch and allthe rumors that have really got this thing
bubbling is that Joki is the onethat really wants him, and that Jokich
is the one that's pushing for it. And you know, if Yoki is
pushing for it, you think thatthey're just certainly going to listen. And

(27:45):
I think play wise, in termsof on the court, there's no doubt
he could make a significant, significantimpact coming off the bench. They need
a playmaker off the bench, Theyneed to score off the bench. You
know, a guy like that ifhe's out there with Jamal and Jokic,
right, and Jamal can play offball. I mean, the potential is
really limitless, But it's everything else. Does he sit in? The one

(28:07):
thing with the Nuggets is they've alwayshad this this culture, very specific culture
that has I think really helped themto the championship last year. Did he
fit in with that? He justhe's never been that kind of a guy.
But if they do sign him,then I would say, well,
I'm going to put my faith inNikoleokus that he can keep him kind of
under wraps, but that it's agamble i'd high risk ky reward. I'd

(28:30):
say I'm just waiting for the momentwhen both of them have have a double
double with nine assists each and theyjust keep throwing the ball back and forth
to each other hoping the other guywill score to fill out the triple double.
I think Russ will take it inthe score. That would be my
assumptions. Well, Romie, youknow, with Calvin Booth, he's made
some quality decision and I know alot of people question a whole situation with

(28:51):
Bruce Brown and this season CASEP.But then those articles that I read that
there was some consideration on possibly shipbeing Michael Porter Junior out to Los Angeles
for Paul George. Now, logisticallywe can discuss that, But when you
think about that as being a playerMichael Porter Jr. How do you think

(29:11):
Calvin Boog kind of mends that situationover knowing as though there possibly was some
talks, you know. I thinkthat's one of those things where it's just
like it's the business. Right atthe end of the day, You're getting
a lot of money, you knowto come play, you know, and
I think it's I think that's kindof how that unfolds I think Calvin Booth

(29:33):
is a very He's just a verylike down to business guys. You you
chat with that guy's nobs, He'sjust straight to business. He's like that
with his players, he's like thatwith you know, all the guys that
work for him. I think hejust shoots a lot of guys straight.
I think the one thing with Calvinis like you'll hear him say things like
said about kind of KCP, kindof indicating oh, they didn't really need

(29:53):
him anymore. That maybe he doesn'talways have the best bedside manner. But
I think he just shoots straight.He shoots from the hip, and I
think that's one of those things whereI just don't think there's that that much
trouble with it, because I thinkthat he just kind of says, nope,
you know, they'll they'll do.The thing know is do we want
you? We wanted you, youknow, you were in the talks because

(30:15):
you were valuable, blah blah blah. But I don't think that's an incredibly
hard risk to mend roby. I'lllet you out of here on this.
I asked his cosmight of the samequestion last night. Who's more likely to
finish above five hundred, the ColoradoBuffalo's football or the never Broncos. Oh
what a great question. Oh whata great question. I'm gonna go with
that, boss, all right.I will. I will absolutely take it,

(30:38):
and we'll hold you to that.And of course, if that does
not happen, we will we willexpect to have you back on to answer
for that. So see, yousee I will answer to that. Me
and Paul. Fine, mom,we'll answer together. Yeah, Nick,
Nick kind of dodged that a littlebit. He didn't really he didn't really
put anything on that. I thinkhe went with the Broncos ultimately, but
he was doing a little bit ofthe tap dance there. I'm accessible,

(31:00):
So yeah, I'm just saying thatI was I was old. I was
like, look, I just typedyou up as twenty twenty three broadcast or
the Colorado Broadcaster of the Year atColorado News right of the year and your
tap dancing on an answer here.I don't know how to analyst cosmiter,
so we'll see how it works out. To Robie, we appreciate you joining
this as always. I appreciate youguys, thanks for having me. Absolutely
take care. Roll with Bean CBSSports programming notes. Coming up here at

(31:23):
eight o'clock on KOA will be ABCNews coverage of the Republican National Convention,
which we'll be running Tomorrow night andThursday night as well right here on KOWAY.
So if you are expecting that that'llbe coming up here in just a
few minutes. Tomorrow night's uh mysteryguests. We got an in studio mystery

(31:45):
guest, so that'll be fun jobaganoI said, an in studio guest.
Okay, well, who knows,maybe not going. This is kind of
an fun although I do need tosee that tattoo, yes exactly. I'm
just saying. This is Bronco Countrytonight right here on KOA. ABC News
covered with the Rethulican National Convention comingup next here on eight fifty am,

(32:05):
ninet four one AFM News Talk Sports. Yeah in my Balat diabetes