Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'm welcome to a Tuesday night edition of Broncos Country.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Tonight. I'm your fill in host for the evening, Zach Segers.
I've got the.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Best co pilot there is behind the glass and Grant Smith.
Lucky to have him here tonight. Yeah, just excited to
be filling in for Benjamin Albright. If if you want
to join the show here with us today, feel free
to do so on the Common Spirit Health text line
at five six six nine zero, or by leaving us
a message on the iHeartRadio app. Got a great show
(00:31):
for you guys tonight, although an expedited one. We've got
CU Basketball around the corner. They're hosting struggling Arizona State
Sun Devil's team trying to get the bus that is
trying to get their first conference win and breaking the
longest losing streak of the Tad Boyle tenure. But before
we get into that show, though, I want to shout
(00:53):
out that iHeart has partnered with the Dream Center taking
donations for families affected by the southern California wire wildfires.
Donate to residents in need by texting Relief to three
three one zero zero. Tonight, I want to look at ownership,
and specifically Broncos ownership in the initiative they announced today,
(01:14):
which I think is you know, really impressive and really
a promising sign for Broncos country to see, you know,
ownership doing these things for the community and also just
looking like such a strong group because it's the one
thing you don't have any control over, you know. For
those of you that don't know, the Broncos announced today
that they are partnering with Colorado high schools all across
(01:38):
the state on a fifteen million dollar helmet initiative.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
They will be providing helmets to all.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Two hundred and twenty seven high school football programs in
the state. It's going to be fifteen thousand total helmets,
fifteen million dollars again in total, a little over that,
and that's only the upfront costs. You know, it's a
four year so as these helmets get damaged or need replacing,
or more helmets are needed, the Broncos are going to
fill in the gap there.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
And again, obviously this is incredible, you.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Know, opening the door for a lot of people in
youth sports and a lot of youth athletes. But I
think it's especially cool because it sounds like Broncos ownership
was the group that championship this initiative.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
This has been a pretty big print. This started in
August at a Broncos Foundation board meeting with ownership Craig
and Kerry talking about how can we have a significant
impact on tackle football in Colorado? So they said, what
connect how do we have a significant impact, and so
brainstormed around the idea about the helmets. Helmets can be
pretty significant barrier to jury or players do to.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Cost, or schools due to cost.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Or appearance philosophically just about safety. And so we said, hey, well,
how do we get all of the schools in Colorado covered?
So providing all two hundred and seventy seven high school
football programs in the state with helmets over of course
the next four years will be over fifteen thousand helmets
that are provided for each and these are top of
the line helmet. These are Rydell Axium helmet. These are
the ones that are rated the best from a safety
(03:07):
standpoint by a third party. And we think he'll just
be great for the overall sport in Colorado.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
It's also great because it sounds like this isn't going
to be an outlier by the way. That was Demani
Leach on KOA Sports with Ryan Edwards, Stave Logan and
Nick Ferguson earlier today, But that wasn't all Again, He've
had more comments and it sounds like the Broncos are
already looking for the next big community initiative they can.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Do very quickly. Our focus will turn to the next opponent.
They'll have to figure out what that is. But in
all seriousness, so I think they starts.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
At the top.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
It starts with ownership. They care about this team, this franchise,
They care about the community, and they want to make
real and meaningful impact.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
I think fans will notice that.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I think we've seen some of that today, Like there's
a clear line connecting this ownership group to that Bowl
and what mister d did his contributions to the community
with the Boys and Girls Club, and you know, to
some degree, we're just with that legacy.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
And continuing upon it and building on it. This is
again the biggest investment in team history. The Broncos reported
the community investment that is, and the Broncos also reported
they believe it's one of the biggest community investments.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
In organized team sports history. So that's very cool.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
To see as well.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
And I think, you know, you could be cynical about this,
and you.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Know, the Wald and Pentner group is is very well off,
and you know, is this just to earn PR points?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
But at a point, why does it matter who cares?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
You know, at a point, the the good deed is
being done and it's opening the door for a lot
of athletes all over the state of Colorado. Two get
to take part in youth sports. But beyond the you know,
feel good elements of it all, Ownership also spearheaded the
girls Flag initiative earlier this fall. But beyond the you know,
inclusive aspects or you know, the feel good community enrichment
(04:54):
aspects that Ownership is doing, you know, I think you
can credit them with being kind of the secrets behind
this very quick Broncos turnaround and rebuild. You know, it's
rare to see what the Denver Broncos have done, going
from a bottom feeder to a playoff team in a
single year and or I guess maybe two. They were
(05:16):
close the year before. And I think ownership is a
big reason why you know, they accomplished this turnaround when
they should theoretically be least likely to do so. They're
dealing with, you know, over seventy million dollars in dead cap,
rookie quarterback, depleted roster in a lot of ways because
they haven't had all these draft picks, and yet they
(05:39):
managed to get it done. And I don't think it's
coincidental that, you know, the the Case Kingdom team, or
the Trevor Simon team, or the Teddy Bridgewater team that
had a lot less obstacles to overcome yet couldn't ultimately
get over the hump, had much lesser ownership or had
a bigger question marks surrounding ownership. You know, ownership has
(06:01):
allowed the Broncos to pursue this next chapter in their
franchise history as aggressively as they've pursued it. You know,
Sean Payton doesn't happen without ownership. You know, they spearheaded
that whole head coach hiring process. They were the ones
in the interviews. They hired him. They empowered him to
(06:22):
move off of Russell Wilson, which was lighting you know,
nearly ninety million dollars of their money on fire. They
did that because they understood it what was necessary for
the Broncos to turn things around as fastly as possible.
And then even the Russell Wilson thing, I know a
lot of people blame ownership for that contract, and that
(06:43):
contract's happening in the moment that trade has agreed upon.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
You know, he had a no trade clause.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
He is not okaying a trade anywhere without contract assurances.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And so what's ownership supposed to do?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Or are they supposed to come in and blow that
up and go no? You know, I know we've got
the football people in charge of making football decisions, but
personally we don't like Russell Wilson, So we're going to
blow up this huge franchise altering deal and immediately start
this relationship with this quarterback we've invested so much in
on the worst foot imaginable, you know, hindsight being twenty twenty,
(07:17):
that might have been nice, but also I think that
could have been even more disastrous. Imagine that president that
would have sent inside the locker room in terms of,
you know, can we trust this ownership group to come
through for us?
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Are they you know, going to is there word valuable?
So I think even that you.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Know, enabling George Payton when they were a fresh ownership
group and they were unfamiliar with a lot of the
operations to take this big swing, and then being patient
with him when it didn't work out. I was someone
that thought George Payton should have been fired. This ownership
group was patient with him, and now they're reaping the rewards.
This Broncos team, again, despite all the hurdles in front
of them, has more all pros on this roster than
(08:00):
any other Broncos team of the twenty first century, more
than the best offense in NFL history in twenty thirteen,
more than a historic Super Bowl winning defense in twenty fifteen.
This team hasn't beat again despite a lot less avenues
to acquire talent than those teams had, and even the
smaller stuff, the new fields, the new training staff that
(08:21):
has led to the team being much healthier, injuries being
a much lesser issue for the Denver Broncos over these
past two seasons. They've been a major turning point there,
and the proof is in the pudding. NFLPA surveys the
players from every team every year. Broncos ownership, again, despite
(08:44):
only having two three years to make this impression, are
ranked fifth in the NFL in terms of ownership, and
I think that's just so valuable because it's one of
the few pillars of a franchise. You know, your organization players,
You need a quarterback, you need that coach, you need
(09:04):
a front office, you need an ownership group in place.
And the only one you don't really have control over
his ownership.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
You know, this Broncos Country has seen a lot over
this last decade.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
You can rotate quarterbacks in and out, you can rotate
coaches in and out, you can even rotate gms in
and out, but ownership is something you're kind of stuck
with for better or worse.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
You know, look at Dave.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Tepper, not our boss, but Dave Tepper in Carolina with
the Panthers, and how disastrous that situation has been. You
know they're going to be stuck with that for the
next several decades. And maybe he learns his lesson, and
maybe he doesn't, but they are, you know, all those
fans are at his whim and just have to pray
that he either sells the team or turns over a
(09:47):
new leaf.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
And again as early returns. But it looks like the.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Broncos fans and Bronxo's Country isn't going to have to
do that. Look at if you look at all these
franchises that have had sustained struggles, not the teams that
don't have a Super Bowl right, the Cleveland Browns, right,
huge ownership problems and dysfunction, San Diego Chargers. In the
(10:13):
Broncos own division, lots of ownership dysfunction, ownership group that's
very frugal and often doesn't want to.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Pay for, you know, the necessary moves to try and
win our own.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Grant Smith and the Cincinnati Bengals, you know they've flooriously cheap.
They've drafted you know, two excellent quarterback prospects in the
last twenty years and have you know one Super Bowl
appearance to show for it. I'm sure Grant's been up
with T Higgins. They could easily afford T Higgins this offseason.
He's going to walk out the door. He's going to
(10:47):
be the best free agent on the market. Every NFL
team in the league is going to be tripping over
themselves to pay for the guy, and the Bengals are
just going to let that happen because of their ownership.
Maybe he'll be a Denver Bronco. That's the silver lining
for me, the Fingers Trust. That would be the dream.
To your point, Isn't that exactly what you want from
an ownership group is what we have here with the Broncos.
(11:08):
And I got here after the Pat Bowling era, but
man to see them kind of honor that legacy of
what he stood for in the NFL as an owner
and still continue to do bigger and better things for
this community and just for the team as a franchise.
You know, you think about how die hard Broncos fans are,
and they've been through some tough times these past ten
(11:29):
years or so, so to see them have someone that
they can root for and be the best at everything
they do. Like you said, the field renovation with a
game left in this season.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
No other team is doing that, but the Broncos want.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
The Pinners and Waltons want to be the best for
the Broncos and for this community.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And it just keeps on shining through. And it's amazing
to see absolutely.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
And this is again the richest ownership group in the
NFL by far, and it's nice to see them act
like it. You know, a lot of these billionaire groups
are are pinching pennies on you know, every stadium rebuild,
and we'll see how that situation goes maybe they screw
over taxpayers when that time comes. But so far, when
it comes to you know, spending on the field, spending
on this community initiative again the largest by FARANTINE history,
(12:12):
one of the largest in NFL history, they're willing to
write those checks and swing that Walmart money around, and.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
I'm glad for it.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
It's going to open a lot of doors for the
Denver Broncos into what you just said, that's what good ownership,
I think does.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
I don't think good ownership is pushing anybody through any door.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
I don't think they're closing off doors, you know, in
a case of a Mike Brown or a Dean Spanouse
with the charges maybe not being willing to sign certain checks,
you know, and closing those doors that way, you don't
want to be Jerry Jones and forcing certain things to happen.
And so far, the Walton Pinner group looks like the
perfect blend of that.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I don't think they've forced the Russell Wilson.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Move on anybody, you know, for example, I don't think
they're forcing the bow Nick's draft pick or the Russell
Wilson cut. I think Sean Payton came to them, and
maybe George Payton too, with an unprecedented idea that the
Russell Wilson cut was unprecedented, and they went, Okay, yeah,
if this is what you think is best, we think
(13:14):
you're a great football mind.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Do it. I think there's a lot of NFL.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Ownership groups that would just you know, that could afford
the ninety million dollar loss, but just would go no,
as ninety million dollars we invested in this, you need
to hire a coach that can find a way to
make this work and close that door. And then you know,
where are the Broncos now? Maybe just now they're getting
off Russell Wilson, we're talking about, well are they going
to have to trade up for cam Ward or Shador
Sanders and you know Bonnix is tearing it up with
(13:40):
the Raiders or something. Another great point you made is,
you know, letting the football people be the football people.
You know, they understand that they're great at what they
do the business aspect of things, but letting Sean Payton
and George Peyton have some control over those decisions that
affect the play on the field, you know, And to
George Peyton's credit, I'm the Russell Wilson deal looked. I mean,
(14:03):
it looked like a good deal to me from the
outside before it happened. Obviously it didn't play play out
that way. But letting the football minds do the football stuff,
I think is such an underrated aspect of ownership, especially
in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
I fully agree.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
And again, that's what you want ownership to do is
open doors, open windows, and I think that's what you're
going to see the Broncos do. Now, this is going
to be the last year of the Russell Wilson dead cap,
and then you're going to have kind of a push
all your chips in moment, so long as is Bonix
doesn't take a big step back where you have a
cheap quarterback, you have a really cheap young roster in general,
(14:41):
and you have a big old pile of money that
you can, you know, go to Acchoirs T Higgins, go
to acquire Jevon Holland from the Dolphins and really make
a push to try and win this thing.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
And the other big.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Thing that I think ownership can do for you is
there's been this revolution in the last sec Honestly, Sean
Payton helps spearhead in New Orleans that the salary cap
is kind of fake.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Eventually the bill comes due, but you can.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Perpetuate that into the future as long as you want
and let inflation cheapen your bill over time.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
So long as you have an ownership.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Group willing to spend cash, you have to spend cash
to do it. But if you have an ownership willing
to do that, really the world is your oyster, and
you can do some crazy stuff in terms of team
building and really load up a roster with talent.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
It's how the forty nine ers.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Can afford to keep so many you all pro level talents,
and still have a good roster behind them.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
This ownership group for the Broncos is going to enable that.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
And again we're only in the early stages, so we
haven't seen that blow up that next stage in this.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Team's growth process.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
But the fact they're already so far ahead of schedule
is largely in part do to ownership enabling them to
pursue everything as aggressively as they have. So before we
get out of here, I'll be back after the CU game.
CU game coming up here in about ten minutes for
(16:19):
all you or a pregame, I should say, and then
and then the Buffs game at the top of the hour.
Just a reminder everybody, you can set koa as a
preset on our free and redesigned iHeartRadio app like you
have in your car. iHeartRadio app users are enjoying industry
first features like presets, a scan button, a live radio dial,
(16:40):
set koa as a preset on the iHeart Radio App. Today,
we've got Buffs Arizona State coming up again, Bus trying
to get their first win in the new look Big twelve,
trying to snap a really nasty losing streak here for
Tad Boyle, the longest in his CU Bus tenure.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
And then after that we'll.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Have some postgame coverage and after that I'll be back
with you to talk some more Denver Broncos. We'll be
talking about bow Knicks, you know, and how he can
avoid sophomore slump next year. We saw that with CJ. Stroud,
and I think that's going to be a big thing
(17:20):
to watch with bow Nix this offseason or next season.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Rather.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
You know, we've seen on Twitter some maybe national analysts
or whatever calling him the next Mac Jones or the
new age Mac Jones or whatever it may be. How
can you avoid that fate come back after CU basketball,
I'll break it down for you.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
We'll also look at the Senior Bowl.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Got a great draft mind swinging by to tell me
who the Broncos should target.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Who's out there in Mobile.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
I stay tuned KOA eight fifty AM, ninety four one
FM Marcus Country tonight after the game.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
See you basketball up for.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Up first, Colorado Buffalos, Arizona State Sun Devils.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Check it out.
Hello everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'm welcome to a Tuesday night edition of Broncos Country.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Tonight. I'm your fill in host for the evening, Zach Segers.
I've got the.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Best co pilot there is behind the glass and Grant Smith.
Lucky to have him here tonight. Yeah, just excited to
be filling in for Benjamin Albright. If if you want
to join the show here with us today, feel free
to do so on the Common Spirit Health text line
at five six six nine zero, or by leaving us
a message on the iHeartRadio app. Got a great show
(00:31):
for you guys tonight, although an expedited one. We've got
CU Basketball around the corner. They're hosting struggling Arizona State
Sun Devil's team trying to get the bus that is
trying to get their first conference win and breaking the
longest losing streak of the Tad Boyle tenure. But before
we get into that show, though, I want to shout
(00:53):
out that iHeart has partnered with the Dream Center taking
donations for families affected by the southern California wire wildfires.
Donate to residents in need by texting Relief to three
three one zero zero. Tonight, I want to look at ownership,
and specifically Broncos ownership in the initiative they announced today,
(01:14):
which I think is you know, really impressive and really
a promising sign for Broncos country to see, you know,
ownership doing these things for the community and also just
looking like such a strong group because it's the one
thing you don't have any control over, you know. For
those of you that don't know, the Broncos announced today
that they are partnering with Colorado high schools all across
(01:38):
the state on a fifteen million dollar helmet initiative.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
They will be providing helmets to all.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Two hundred and twenty seven high school football programs in
the state. It's going to be fifteen thousand total helmets,
fifteen million dollars again in total, a little over that,
and that's only the upfront costs. You know, it's a
four year so as these helmets get damaged or need replacing,
or more helmets are needed, the Broncos are going to
fill in the gap there.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
And again, obviously this is incredible, you.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Know, opening the door for a lot of people in
youth sports and a lot of youth athletes. But I
think it's especially cool because it sounds like Broncos ownership
was the group that championship this initiative.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
This has been a pretty big print. This started in
August at a Broncos Foundation board meeting with ownership Craig
and Kerry talking about how can we have a significant
impact on tackle football in Colorado? So they said, what
connect how do we have a significant impact, and so
brainstormed around the idea about the helmets. Helmets can be
pretty significant barrier to jury or players do to.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Cost, or schools due to cost.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Or appearance philosophically just about safety. And so we said, hey, well,
how do we get all of the schools in Colorado covered?
So providing all two hundred and seventy seven high school
football programs in the state with helmets over of course
the next four years will be over fifteen thousand helmets
that are provided for each and these are top of
the line helmet. These are Rydell Axium helmet. These are
the ones that are rated the best from a safety
(03:07):
standpoint by a third party. And we think he'll just
be great for the overall sport in Colorado.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
It's also great because it sounds like this isn't going
to be an outlier by the way. That was Demani
Leach on KOA Sports with Ryan Edwards, Stave Logan and
Nick Ferguson earlier today, But that wasn't all Again, He've
had more comments and it sounds like the Broncos are
already looking for the next big community initiative they can.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Do very quickly. Our focus will turn to the next opponent.
They'll have to figure out what that is. But in
all seriousness, so I think they starts.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
At the top.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
It starts with ownership. They care about this team, this franchise,
They care about the community, and they want to make
real and meaningful impact.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
I think fans will notice that.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
I think we've seen some of that today, Like there's
a clear line connecting this ownership group to that Bowl
and what mister d did his contributions to the community
with the Boys and Girls Club, and you know, to
some degree, we're just with that legacy.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
And continuing upon it and building on it. This is
again the biggest investment in team history. The Broncos reported
the community investment that is, and the Broncos also reported
they believe it's one of the biggest community investments.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
In organized team sports history. So that's very cool.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
To see as well.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
And I think, you know, you could be cynical about this,
and you.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Know, the Wald and Pentner group is is very well off,
and you know, is this just to earn PR points?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
But at a point, why does it matter who cares?
Speaker 2 (04:30):
You know, at a point, the the good deed is
being done and it's opening the door for a lot
of athletes all over the state of Colorado. Two get
to take part in youth sports. But beyond the you know,
feel good elements of it all, Ownership also spearheaded the
girls Flag initiative earlier this fall. But beyond the you know,
inclusive aspects or you know, the feel good community enrichment
(04:54):
aspects that Ownership is doing, you know, I think you
can credit them with being kind of the secrets behind
this very quick Broncos turnaround and rebuild. You know, it's
rare to see what the Denver Broncos have done, going
from a bottom feeder to a playoff team in a
single year and or I guess maybe two. They were
(05:16):
close the year before. And I think ownership is a
big reason why you know, they accomplished this turnaround when
they should theoretically be least likely to do so. They're
dealing with, you know, over seventy million dollars in dead cap,
rookie quarterback, depleted roster in a lot of ways because
they haven't had all these draft picks, and yet they
(05:39):
managed to get it done. And I don't think it's
coincidental that, you know, the the Case Kingdom team, or
the Trevor Simon team, or the Teddy Bridgewater team that
had a lot less obstacles to overcome yet couldn't ultimately
get over the hump, had much lesser ownership or had
a bigger question marks surrounding ownership. You know, ownership has
(06:01):
allowed the Broncos to pursue this next chapter in their
franchise history as aggressively as they've pursued it. You know,
Sean Payton doesn't happen without ownership. You know, they spearheaded
that whole head coach hiring process. They were the ones
in the interviews. They hired him. They empowered him to
(06:22):
move off of Russell Wilson, which was lighting you know,
nearly ninety million dollars of their money on fire. They
did that because they understood it what was necessary for
the Broncos to turn things around as fastly as possible.
And then even the Russell Wilson thing, I know a
lot of people blame ownership for that contract, and that
(06:43):
contract's happening in the moment that trade has agreed upon.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
You know, he had a no trade clause.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
He is not okaying a trade anywhere without contract assurances.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And so what's ownership supposed to do?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Or are they supposed to come in and blow that
up and go no? You know, I know we've got
the football people in charge of making football decisions, but
personally we don't like Russell Wilson, So we're going to
blow up this huge franchise altering deal and immediately start
this relationship with this quarterback we've invested so much in
on the worst foot imaginable, you know, hindsight being twenty twenty,
(07:17):
that might have been nice, but also I think that
could have been even more disastrous. Imagine that president that
would have sent inside the locker room in terms of,
you know, can we trust this ownership group to come
through for us?
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Are they you know, going to is there word valuable?
So I think even that you.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Know, enabling George Payton when they were a fresh ownership
group and they were unfamiliar with a lot of the
operations to take this big swing, and then being patient
with him when it didn't work out. I was someone
that thought George Payton should have been fired. This ownership
group was patient with him, and now they're reaping the rewards.
This Broncos team, again, despite all the hurdles in front
of them, has more all pros on this roster than
(08:00):
any other Broncos team of the twenty first century, more
than the best offense in NFL history in twenty thirteen,
more than a historic Super Bowl winning defense in twenty fifteen.
This team hasn't beat again despite a lot less avenues
to acquire talent than those teams had, and even the
smaller stuff, the new fields, the new training staff that
(08:21):
has led to the team being much healthier, injuries being
a much lesser issue for the Denver Broncos over these
past two seasons. They've been a major turning point there,
and the proof is in the pudding. NFLPA surveys the
players from every team every year. Broncos ownership, again, despite
(08:44):
only having two three years to make this impression, are
ranked fifth in the NFL in terms of ownership, and
I think that's just so valuable because it's one of
the few pillars of a franchise. You know, your organization players,
You need a quarterback, you need that coach, you need
(09:04):
a front office, you need an ownership group in place.
And the only one you don't really have control over
his ownership.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
You know, this Broncos Country has seen a lot over
this last decade.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
You can rotate quarterbacks in and out, you can rotate
coaches in and out, you can even rotate gms in
and out, but ownership is something you're kind of stuck
with for better or worse.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
You know, look at Dave.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Tepper, not our boss, but Dave Tepper in Carolina with
the Panthers, and how disastrous that situation has been. You
know they're going to be stuck with that for the
next several decades. And maybe he learns his lesson, and
maybe he doesn't, but they are, you know, all those
fans are at his whim and just have to pray
that he either sells the team or turns over a
(09:47):
new leaf.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
And again as early returns. But it looks like the.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Broncos fans and Bronxo's Country isn't going to have to
do that. Look at if you look at all these
franchises that have had sustained struggles, not the teams that
don't have a Super Bowl right, the Cleveland Browns, right,
huge ownership problems and dysfunction, San Diego Chargers. In the
(10:13):
Broncos own division, lots of ownership dysfunction, ownership group that's
very frugal and often doesn't want to.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Pay for, you know, the necessary moves to try and
win our own.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Grant Smith and the Cincinnati Bengals, you know they've flooriously cheap.
They've drafted you know, two excellent quarterback prospects in the
last twenty years and have you know one Super Bowl
appearance to show for it. I'm sure Grant's been up
with T Higgins. They could easily afford T Higgins this offseason.
He's going to walk out the door. He's going to
(10:47):
be the best free agent on the market. Every NFL
team in the league is going to be tripping over
themselves to pay for the guy, and the Bengals are
just going to let that happen because of their ownership.
Maybe he'll be a Denver Bronco. That's the silver lining
for me, the Fingers Trust. That would be the dream.
To your point, Isn't that exactly what you want from
an ownership group is what we have here with the Broncos.
(11:08):
And I got here after the Pat Bowling era, but
man to see them kind of honor that legacy of
what he stood for in the NFL as an owner
and still continue to do bigger and better things for
this community and just for the team as a franchise.
You know, you think about how die hard Broncos fans are,
and they've been through some tough times these past ten
(11:29):
years or so, so to see them have someone that
they can root for and be the best at everything
they do. Like you said, the field renovation with a
game left in this season.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
No other team is doing that, but the Broncos want.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
The Pinners and Waltons want to be the best for
the Broncos and for this community.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And it just keeps on shining through. And it's amazing
to see absolutely.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
And this is again the richest ownership group in the
NFL by far, and it's nice to see them act
like it. You know, a lot of these billionaire groups
are are pinching pennies on you know, every stadium rebuild,
and we'll see how that situation goes maybe they screw
over taxpayers when that time comes. But so far, when
it comes to you know, spending on the field, spending
on this community initiative again the largest by FARANTINE history,
(12:12):
one of the largest in NFL history, they're willing to
write those checks and swing that Walmart money around, and.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
I'm glad for it.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
It's going to open a lot of doors for the
Denver Broncos into what you just said, that's what good ownership,
I think does.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
I don't think good ownership is pushing anybody through any door.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
I don't think they're closing off doors, you know, in
a case of a Mike Brown or a Dean Spanouse
with the charges maybe not being willing to sign certain checks,
you know, and closing those doors that way, you don't
want to be Jerry Jones and forcing certain things to happen.
And so far, the Walton Pinner group looks like the
perfect blend of that.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I don't think they've forced the Russell Wilson.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Move on anybody, you know, for example, I don't think
they're forcing the bow Nick's draft pick or the Russell
Wilson cut. I think Sean Payton came to them, and
maybe George Payton too, with an unprecedented idea that the
Russell Wilson cut was unprecedented, and they went, Okay, yeah,
if this is what you think is best, we think
(13:14):
you're a great football mind.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Do it. I think there's a lot of NFL.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Ownership groups that would just you know, that could afford
the ninety million dollar loss, but just would go no,
as ninety million dollars we invested in this, you need
to hire a coach that can find a way to
make this work and close that door. And then you know,
where are the Broncos now? Maybe just now they're getting
off Russell Wilson, we're talking about, well are they going
to have to trade up for cam Ward or Shador
Sanders and you know Bonnix is tearing it up with
(13:40):
the Raiders or something. Another great point you made is,
you know, letting the football people be the football people.
You know, they understand that they're great at what they
do the business aspect of things, but letting Sean Payton
and George Peyton have some control over those decisions that
affect the play on the field, you know, And to
George Peyton's credit, I'm the Russell Wilson deal looked. I mean,
(14:03):
it looked like a good deal to me from the
outside before it happened. Obviously it didn't play play out
that way. But letting the football minds do the football stuff,
I think is such an underrated aspect of ownership, especially
in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
I fully agree.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
And again, that's what you want ownership to do is
open doors, open windows, and I think that's what you're
going to see the Broncos do. Now, this is going
to be the last year of the Russell Wilson dead cap,
and then you're going to have kind of a push
all your chips in moment, so long as is Bonix
doesn't take a big step back where you have a
cheap quarterback, you have a really cheap young roster in general,
(14:41):
and you have a big old pile of money that
you can, you know, go to Acchoirs T Higgins, go
to acquire Jevon Holland from the Dolphins and really make
a push to try and win this thing.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
And the other big.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Thing that I think ownership can do for you is
there's been this revolution in the last sec Honestly, Sean
Payton helps spearhead in New Orleans that the salary cap
is kind of fake.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Eventually the bill comes due, but you can.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Perpetuate that into the future as long as you want
and let inflation cheapen your bill over time.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
So long as you have an ownership.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Group willing to spend cash, you have to spend cash
to do it. But if you have an ownership willing
to do that, really the world is your oyster, and
you can do some crazy stuff in terms of team
building and really load up a roster with talent.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
It's how the forty nine ers.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Can afford to keep so many you all pro level talents,
and still have a good roster behind them.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
This ownership group for the Broncos is going to enable that.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
And again we're only in the early stages, so we
haven't seen that blow up that next stage in this.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Team's growth process.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
But the fact they're already so far ahead of schedule
is largely in part do to ownership enabling them to
pursue everything as aggressively as they have. So before we
get out of here, I'll be back after the CU game.
CU game coming up here in about ten minutes for
(16:19):
all you or a pregame, I should say, and then
and then the Buffs game at the top of the hour.
Just a reminder everybody, you can set koa as a
preset on our free and redesigned iHeartRadio app like you
have in your car. iHeartRadio app users are enjoying industry
first features like presets, a scan button, a live radio dial,
(16:40):
set koa as a preset on the iHeart Radio App. Today,
we've got Buffs Arizona State coming up again, Bus trying
to get their first win in the new look Big twelve,
trying to snap a really nasty losing streak here for
Tad Boyle, the longest in his CU Bus tenure.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
And then after that we'll.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Have some postgame coverage and after that I'll be back
with you to talk some more Denver Broncos. We'll be
talking about bow Knicks, you know, and how he can
avoid sophomore slump next year. We saw that with CJ. Stroud,
and I think that's going to be a big thing
(17:20):
to watch with bow Nix this offseason or next season.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Rather.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
You know, we've seen on Twitter some maybe national analysts
or whatever calling him the next Mac Jones or the
new age Mac Jones or whatever it may be. How
can you avoid that fate come back after CU basketball,
I'll break it down for you.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
We'll also look at the Senior Bowl.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Got a great draft mind swinging by to tell me
who the Broncos should target.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Who's out there in Mobile.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
I stay tuned KOA eight fifty AM, ninety four one
FM Marcus Country tonight after the game.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
See you basketball up for.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Up first, Colorado Buffalos, Arizona State Sun Devils.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Check it out.
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