Afternoon Drive

The Broncos have finalized their 53-man roster. Were there any surprise cuts? Are there any holes on the Broncos roster? How concerning is the inconsistency from rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw? The Colorado Buffaloes open their season on Friday at home against Georgia Tech. Kaidon Salter, the transfer from Liberty, was named starting quarterback over true freshman JuJu Lewis. Was going with the veteran Salter the right decision? If Deion Sanders wasn't the coach of the Buffs, what would the excitement level be for this game? Catch a Wednesday version of Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Myck Miller!

The Broncos will finalize their 53-man roster today at 2pm MT. The cuts are well underway, with Audric Estime, Blake Watson and Damarri Mathis among yesterday's cuts. The Broncos RB room appears to be set. Where could the team use a little more depth? Should the Broncos bring in somebody to give rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw some competition? Will John Franklin-Myers sign an extension with Denver or will it be his last year here? Plus, the Browns traded Kenny Pickett to the Raiders and it appears Shedeur Sanders is slated to be QB3 in Cleveland. Catch a Tuesday edition of Hot Takes with Goodman and Haertl!

The Broncos preseason is over, following their win over the Saints in the preseason finale. Eric and Bruce give their overall impressions of the first-team offense, which played three series and scored 10 points. Roster cuts are tomorrow at 2pm MT - Which guys on the bubble helped their case to make the team? Saturday was a rough one for the Sanders boys. Shedeur struggled, as he was sacked 5 times and only threw for 6 yards, while Shilo was ejected for throwing a punch and was waived by the Buccaneers yesterday. The guys dive into it all on a Monday morning episode of Hot Takes!

The Broncos wrap up their preseason slate tomorrow morning in New Orleans against the Saints. The first-teamers are expected to play a series or two. More reaction to the Devaughn Vele trade. Will this end up helping or hurting the team? Should the Broncos look at trying to trade Jarrett Stidham as well, if the return is adequate? Plus, Shedeur Sanders is listed as the No. 3 QB on the Browns depth chart. Eric and Bruce discuss a sound byte from Eric Dickerson, in which he claims the NFL told teams not to draft Shedeur. Tune in to a Friday edition of Hot Takes with Goodman and Haertl!

The Broncos agreed to terms on a trade with the New Orleans Saints to acquire a 2026 4th round and a 2027 7th round pick for wide receiver Devaughn Vele. Was this move surprising? And what does it say about the current wide receiver room? Does it now mean that Denver will carry only 5 WR's? Plus, the Colts named Daniel Jones their starting QB. Broncos will face Indy on the road in Week 2. A look at the Colorado Buffaloes 2025 season and the expectations for this year after losing Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders to the NFL Draft. Catch a Thursday edition of Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl!

Many have pondered what the pecking order in the Broncos wide receiver will look like. Yesterday, Sean Payton cleared it up by saying each WR that dresses will play and that there may not be a clear #2 or #3 guy. Has the media made too much about which young receiver will play more snaps than the others? Eric and Bruce chat about the Broncos different position groups and which rooms rank the strongest. How much have the receivers improved from three months ago? Catch a Wednesday edition of Hot Takes with Goodman and Haertl!

A look at some of the Broncos position battles, specifically in the running back room. Can Audric Estime avoid being cut? Will Tyler Badie get the last RB spot? Denver had 11 penalties in the game on Saturday, including 7 pre-snap infractions. How much emphasis will Sean Payton put on cleaning these penalties up? Plus, Lone Tree is making another push for the Broncos new stadium. How would fans feel putting the stadium in Lone Tree, instead of Denver? Pat Surtain is starting a podcast with Lions DB Terrion Arnold. Is this going to be a must-listen? Catch a Tuesday edition of Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl!

The Broncos easily won their second preseason game, jumping all over the Cardinals, 27-7. Jarrett Stidham continued his dream preseason with another solid performance, Evan Engram had a big play and Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant both had positive showings as well. Eric and Bruce take a look at the pecking order in the wide receiver room. The guys also ponder how many games Stidham could win this year if he was the starter. Are these QB's who play under Sean Payton successful because of their talent or the system? Catch it all on a Broncos reaction Monday on Hot Takes!

The Broncos and Cardinals got after it at the shared workout yesterday, in which Bo Nix was dialed in. Cardinals star TE Trey McBride had his way with the Denver defense. Sean Payton announced the starters will not play in tomorrow's preseason game. Eric and Bruce evaluate Nix's training camp and how he has looked overall. A couple of Cardinals defenders had some glowing remarks about Nix's play. Plus, the Denver Nuggets 2025-26 schedule is out and the guys talk about why the schedule makers did not do the Nuggets any favors. Catch a Friday episode of Hot Takes!

The Arizona Cardinals are in town to face the Broncos in a shared practice today ahead of the second preseason game on Saturday. Why are the Broncos preseason opponents the 49ers, Cardinals and Saints? Colorado native Trey McBride is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Where does he rank among best football players to come out of the box state? Bo Nix and Courtland Sutton on their head coach. Browns star Myles Garrett was cited for speeding again, going 100 MPH in a 60 MPH zone. And what does it say about Sean Payton that he is simplifying and shortening his play calls so they are easier to understand? Catch a Thursday edition of Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl!

Training camp is winding down - Eric and Bruce discuss their notes from yesterday's practice. Which skill position player, besides Courtland Sutton will play the most snaps? Is Jonathan Cooper a better all-around player than Nik Bonitto? Speaking of Bonitto, he was ranked No. 38 on NFL's Top-100 players list. Patrick Surtain II had some glowing things to say about his defense. Could it be -- dare we say, historic? Catch a Wednesday edition of Hot Takes!

The Broncos are back out on the field today as they prep for the joint practice on Thursday with the Arizona Cardinals. Sean Payton wasn't happy with his starters after the game on Saturday, so how will the team get better moving forward? The Athletic listed Bo Nix in their 3rd quarterback tier, tied for 20th overall. Is this ranking too low? accurate? Or should Nix be in the 4th tier? Plus, Shedeur Sanders seized his opportunity in his preseason debut on Friday night, but is still 4th on the Browns QB depth chart. Catch Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl!

The Broncos won big in their preseason opener vs. the 49ers, 30-9, but their first-teamers struggled at times against the 49ers backups. The first-team offense left much to be desired and Sean Payton called it 'average to below average.' Eric and Bruce evaluate the performance from the offense and defense, including highlighting some standouts. Who will get the last running back spot on the roster? How quickly do the Broncos need to get a deal done with Nik Bonitto? Tune in to a Monday edition of Hot Takes!

The Broncos looked solid yesterday in their joint workout in Santa Clara vs. the 49ers. The offense did well, while the defense dominated. Eric and Bruce highlight some of the bright spots, including second-year WR Troy Franklin. How much value does the joint practice hold? Broncos will take on the Niners tomorrow night in the preseason opener. Also, Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders will start Cleveland's preseason opener tonight. Eric and Bruce discuss if Shedeur is being set up to fail. Tune in to a Friday edition of Hot Takes!

The Rockies were swept by the Blue Jays and gave up 63 hits and 45 runs in the 3-game series. Will the club set the record for most losses in a season in the modern era? The Broncos are in the Bay Area for their joint practice today with the Niners. Are joint practices or exhibition games more useful? Also, who would you rather have as your head coach: Sean Payton or Kyle Shanahan? A look at the Bills teams from the early 1990s that lost four consecutive Super Bowls and the Broncos teams from the 1980s, who were blown out in multiple Super Bowls. Catch a Thursday edition of Hot Takes with Eric and Bruce!

The Broncos will have a walkthrough today before leaving for San Francisco, where they will have a joint practice with the 49ers ahead of the preseason game on Saturday. Which wide receiver has impressed the most so far? And is Bo Nix getting too much praise as he enters his sophomore season? Eric and Bruce give their take on Nix's newly-created YouTube channel. And who are a couple of players that have been solid, but not really talked about? Catch Hot Takes with Goodman and Haertl!

Sean Payton did an in-depth interview with Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports and made no bones about his confidence in the Broncos and Bo Nix. Eric and Bruce discuss whether Payton should have kept these thoughts to himself or if it's a good thing that he's showing this much confidence. Nix has thrown 5 INT's over the last three days of team periods. Is this a concern? And how does Sean Payton differ from other successful head coaches? The guys break it all down on a Tuesday edition of Hot Takes!

Peyton Manning spoke to Troy Renck of the Denver Post and had some glowing things to say about the Broncos. Does the team have enough talent to make a run at the Super Bowl? In Bo Nix's second year, how different has he looked so far in practices? Plus, DL Zach Allen signed a 4-year extension worth $102M and held a press conference the day after he signed the deal. Plus, Eric and Bruce discuss the culture in Denver and how the ownership has shaped it. Catch a Monday edition of Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl!

Bruce Haertl and Alex Becker get into the latest from Broncos camp, including Sean Payton's comments from yesterday regarding his feelings on the team. A closer look at the injury LB Dre Greenlaw sustained yesterday and if we should be concerned about the string of injuries to the inside linebackers. The NFL preseason kicked off last night with the Hall of Fame Game. And in Rockies news, the team traded a couple relief pitchers before yesterday's deadline, sending Tyler Kinley to Atlanta and Jake Bird to the Yankees. Bruce and Alex examine the return the Rockies received in the trades. Tune in to a Friday edition of Hot Takes!

Yesterday's Broncos practice was the most physical one yet, as it was the third day in pads. Malcolm Roach and Marvin Mims traded jabs at each other, all in good fun. Can Marvin Mims be another joker this season, as he was at the end of last season? Plus, what is the biggest challenge the Broncos face this season? Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl break it down on a Thursday version of Hot Takes!

The Broncos defense dominated the offense at yesterday's practice. How much better will the offense be this season for having to practice against the defense? Courtland Sutton met the media yesterday and spoke about his Broncos tenure and receiving a third contract. A closer look at Sutton and Garett Bolles' time in Denver and how they have persevered through some tough years. Tune in to a Wednesday edition of Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl!

Courtland Sutton and the Broncos reached an agreement on a 4-year contract extension worth $92M. Sutton will now be roughly the 18th highest paid WR in the league. How happy were Sutton's teammates that he received a new deal? Also, Alex Singleton broke his thumb in practice yesterday and is expected to miss 7-10 days. Are injuries a major concern at inside linebacker? Yesterday, Deion Sanders announced that he fought bladder cancer and had to have surgery to remove the tumor, but is now cancer-free and ready to coach this season.

The Broncos will have their first full practice in pads today. On Saturday, LB Drew Sanders suffered a tendon injury to his foot and will miss some time. How big of a blow is this to the inside linebacker room? Also, Bo Nix held his first media session for camp on Saturday. Nix discussed what motivates him on the football field. Why do Nix's teammates seem to love him so much? Eric and Bruce get into all things Training Camp on a Monday edition of Hot Takes!

After a couple days of maintenance practices, the Broncos will officially open up training camp today. Eric and Bruce dive into their history of covering training camps and how it has changed over the years. Which is the strongest position group for the Broncos? And is Bo Nix rightfully ranked at No. 64 on NFL's Top-100 players list? Plus, Troy Renck wrote a column on Sean Payton and the turnaround/improvement of the Broncos since he walked in the building. The guys get after it on a Friday edition of Hot Takes!

The Broncos went through Day 1 of acclimation practice yesterday. Sean Payton spoke afterwards and revealed that Bo Nix was busy this offseason, spending a few days with Drew Brees and also spent time with throwing guru, Tom House. Plus, who could potentially be breakout players on the Broncos offense and defense this year? Eric and Bruce talk all things Broncos today on Hot Takes!

After the veterans arrived at camp yesterday, the Broncos will begin a pair of acclimation practices starting today. Will we learn anything over the next two days? The Broncos didn't fare so well against teams with winning records last season, so what do they have to do in order to play better against teams over .500? Plus, ESPN ranked the Broncos as the 6th best roster in the NFL. Eric and Bruce discuss the national media having high expectations placed on Denver.

To start the show, Eric discusses the crazy similarities between Caitlin Clark and Larry Bird. Jonas Valančiūnas commits to the Nuggets for 2025-26. What are some realistic expectations for the Broncos this season and what will be the most intriguing position battle in training camp? Plus, of the young wide receivers on the team, who is most likely to emerge as a breakout player this year? And what will the environment be like for the fans out at camp? Eric and Bruce dig into it all on a Tuesday edition of Hot Takes!

The Broncos haven't had a quarterback/head coach combo in consecutive years since 2014, until now. How lethal is the Payton-Nix duo? And is it true that almost all great QB's have great head coaches as well and vice versa? In Year 3 of the Sean Payton era, are the Broncos on schedule? Plus, a look at the early portion of the Broncos 2025 schedule. And if you could choose a 'homegrown duo' from the Broncos, which two players would you go with - active players and an all-time duo? Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl are back after the weekend on Hot Takes!

The Broncos and second-round pick R.J. Harvey agreed to terms on a 4-year contract. How will the carries be split up between Harvey and J.K. Dobbins this season? What's more important - having a dominant defense or a dominant offense? Plus, with T.J. Watt signing a massive extension with the Steelers yesterday, who are some of the best sibling duos in sports history? Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl get into it on a Friday version of Hot Takes!

NFL.com's Gennaro Filice, who ranked the Broncos offense as the 6th best in the NFL, ranked the Broncos defense as the No. 1 unit in the NFL. Is Filice right about the Broncos having the top defense and how many 'dawgs' does this defense truly have? Also, Richard Jefferson had some interesting comments about playing with LeBron James. Eric and Bruce discuss whether they would have their top player have the demeanor of a Nathan MacKinnon OR Nikola Jokic. Tune in to Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl!

Broncos rookies reporting to training camp today. Denver's first-round pick Jahdae Barron signed his 4-year rookie contract last night. R.J. Harvey remains unsigned, as all second rounders besides two are still unsigned. Will any of these second rounders sign a non-guaranteed deal soon? Plus, Bleacher Report ranked the Top-100 NBA players of all-time and Nikola Jokic was ranked No. 17. Do Eric and Bruce think that ranking is fair? Tune in to Hot Takes with Goodman and Haertl!

NFL survey ranking the Top-10 QB's | Is Bo Nix a Top-10 quarterback? | Big 12 Conference decides against preseason media football rankings

In yesterday's MLB Draft, the Colorado Rockies took high school shortstop Ethan Holliday with the No. 4 overall pick. There are obvious family ties with the organization, as former Rockies slugger Matt Holliday is Ethan's dad. Will the Rockies be able to develop Ethan and how soon before he is in the big leagues. Also, with rookies reporting to training camp on Wednesday, Jahdae Barron and R.J. Harvey are both still unsigned. How much does it matter if neither guy is signed by Wednesday? Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl discuss on a Monday edition of Hot Takes!

The Nuggets opened Summer League action last night against the Bucks. DaRon Holmes II saw the floor for the first time in a year, when he tore his Achilles in the Summer League opener a season ago. How did Holmes and Hunter Tyson look? Would Holmes be better suited to be a backup 4 or a backup 5? Plus, a look at Courtland Sutton's contract situation with the Broncos. The two sides are negotiating a new deal, but could Sutton possibly hold out of training camp? Would it be wise to trade him for a 5th or 6th round pick? Catch it all on a Friday edition of Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl!

It is list day on the show, as Eric and Bruce rank the NFL divisions. Where does the AFC West stack up against the NFC North and others? Are the Broncos a better team than the Bengals? Plus, the guys pick one Bronco on offense and defense that will have a huge impact in 2025. Tune in to a Thursday edition of Hot Takes!

Jonas Valančiūnas spoke in Lithuania and did not specify where he would prefer to play this upcoming season - in Europe or in the NBA. Meanwhile, Al Horford is still a Free Agent and reportedly will be deciding between the Nuggets and the Warriors. Eric and Bruce discuss if they would rather have Valančiūnas or Horford. Also, Nikola Jokic informed the Nuggets brass that he will not sign a contract extension this offseason and intends to wait until next summer to engage in contract talks. Is this at all surprising? The guys get into it on a Wednesday edition of Hot Takes!

NFL.com created its annual Top-100 players list and Zach Allen has been revealed at #90. Where does Allen rank among most important players on the Broncos defense? Would you rather pay Allen or Nik Bonitto? Rockies rookie RHP Chase Dollander was sent down to AAA. Why the demotion? Plus, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce provided a simple assessment of what offenses will try to do to Travis Hunter. Eric and Bruce give their thoughts on Hunter at the NFL level and playing on both sides of the ball.

The Nuggets expect Jonas Valančiūnas to honor his contract, despite his interest to play in Europe. Is there any chance the Nuggets let Valančiūnas out of his deal? Also, could the Nuggets be in the mix for Bradley Beal if the Suns buy him out? Would Beal be willing to come off the bench in Denver? Plus, a look at Sean Payton turning around the Broncos and Payton's overall coaching resume. Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl are back at it on a Monday edition of Hot Takes!

Is there a scenario out there where Damian Lillard joins the Nuggets? How would Lillard fit into the Nuggets lineup rotation and if Dame Time comes to Denver, would the Nuggets be the overwhelming title favorites? The Avs signed defenseman Brent Burns to a 1-year contract. Burns won the Norris Trophy in 2016 and doesn't seem to be slowing down as he has played in 925 straight games. Also, the Avs are reportedly in the mix for Nikolaj Ehlers, who scored 63 points for the Winnipeg Jets last season. Tune in to a Thursday edition of Hot Takes!

After an incredible first day of NBA free agency for the Nuggets, it got even better on Day 2, as Dario Saric was traded to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Jonas Valančiūnas. And then later in the day, Tim Hardaway Jr. signed a 1-year deal with Denver. How much better are the Nuggets after these moves? And can these moves get them another title this season? Plus, how is Michael Malone feeling after seeing the front office be this active? Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl discuss the Nuggets wheeling and dealing.

Nuggets started NBA Free Agency with a bang by dealing Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson. Denver also gave up a 2032 1st rounder in the deal. How was the front office able to pull this off and what kind of impact will Johnson make playing with Jokic? Plus, fan favorite and 6th man Bruce Brown is back in Denver after signing a one-year contract. How much more activity will we see from the Nuggets in free agency? Could Al Horford sign as well? Eric and Bruce break down the moves!

NBA Free Agency begins today, so what will the Nuggets do? Denver could target some players with their mid-level exception - what type of player are they looking for? Eric and Bruce discuss. Plus, why doesn't Michael Malone have a job yet and will he get a head coaching job in the NBA this season? A look at some longshots for NFL Awards. Could Bo Nix make a run at NFL MVP? And could Pat Surtain and Nik Bonitto challenge for defensive player of the year? Tune in to a Monday edition of Hot Takes!