Eric Goodman & Les Shapiro M-F | 4p-6p @EricGoodman (http://twitter.com/ericgoodman) @Les Shapiro (http://twitter.com/lesshapiro)
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!
The Rockies announced that Walker Monfort, the oldest son of Dick Monfort, has been promoted to executive VP, while team President Greg Feasel will step down at the end of the season. Will Walker bring fresh ideas and a new perspective into the front office? And could Bill Schmidt be fired during or after the season? Plus, who are the most untradeable sports stars nationally and locally? Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl tackle it on a Friday edition of Hot Takes!
Overall thoughts on last night's NBA Draft. Should Denver have tried to trade into the draft? Ranking each NFL division by quarterback. Does the AFC West have the top quarterback quartet of any division in the NFL? Are the quarterbacks in the AFC West more impressive or the head coaches? Broncos secondary - will Jahdae Barron be a better player than Bradley Roby was? Mike Shanahan vs. Mike Holmgren debate. Tune in to a Thursday edition of Hot Takes!
The Nuggets had a media availability yesterday, where Josh Kroenke, Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace all spoke. Kroenke discussed a potential contract extension for Jokić this summer and also brought up the possibility of trading their superstar without being asked about it. Did Tenzer and Wallace give a strong first impression or were they underwhelming? Plus, a brief NBA Draft overview and way too early NFL predictions for the 2025 season.
The Nuggets have named Ben Tenzer as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and Jon Wallace as Executive Vice President of Player Personnel. Eric and Troy react to the news. How much will Josh Kroenke be involved in the decisions and how confident should Nuggets Nation be in the trio of Tenzer, Wallace and Kroenke? What is the offseason for Denver shaping up to look like - should we expect any sizeable trades? Eric Goodman and Troy Renck deliver the latest buzz with the Nuggets on Hot Takes!
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 to win their first-ever NBA Championship. Tyrese Haliburton suffers an Achilles injury in the first half. Also, Dario Saric picked up his $5.4M player option for next season. Will the Nuggets keep Saric, trade him or buy him out? Denver Post did an interview with Rockies owners Dick and Charlie Monfort, where Charlie said "I think we need a new set of eyeballs." Will anything change with the Rockies organization, or is this just lip service? Eric Goodman and Sean Keeler get into it on a Monday morning edition of Hot Takes!
After Eric and Sean discussed R.J. Harvey's potential impact as a rookie yesterday, the guys get to Jahdae Barron and Jeremy Crawshaw today. Is Barron a can't-miss prospect? How big of a weapon could Crawshaw be for the Broncos? Also, a look at Sean's column on the Rockies and Dick Monfort. Shedeur Sanders has racked up two speeding violations lately - how big of a deal is this? The guys break it all down on a Friday edition of Hot Takes!
A writer from NFL.com predicted NFL's All-Rookie team and three Broncos landed on the list: Jahdae Barron, RJ Harvey and Jeremy Crawshaw. What does it say about the Broncos if all three guys make the All-Rookie team? Also, a deep dive into Sean Keeler's column regarding the Denver Nuggets GM situation and why the organization hasn't named an official General Manager. Check out Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Sean Keeler!
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports named his Top-100 players in the NFL and three Broncos were ranked. Should Denver have more than three players in the Top-100? Also, the Panthers defeated the Oilers to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. Is Connor McDavid the best player in team sports to never win a title? Eric and Bruce break it all down!
The Oklahoma City Thunder took a 3-2 series lead in the NBA Finals over the Indiana Pacers. Jalen Williams went for 40 points in Game 5. The NBA Draft is in 9 days and the Nuggets are still without a full-time GM and assistant GM. Ben Tenzer is the interim GM, but will somebody else fill the role full-time soon? A look back at the 2024 NFL Draft and if we were to do a re-draft, where would Bo Nix go? Would the Broncos take any of the other QB's over Nix? Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl discuss!
J.J. Spaun won the 125th U.S. Open after sinking a 64-foot putt on the 18th hole to win by two strokes. How impressive was his final round and did the USGA make the course too difficult? Also, will the Broncos have a Top-10 offense in the NFL in 2025? NFL.com's Gennaro Filice ranked the Broncos as the 6th best offense in the entire league. Do Eric and Bruce agree? Tune in to a Monday edition of Hot Takes!
The Denver Broncos 3-day mandatory minicamp has wrapped up. Eric and Bruce discuss what gives them confidence heading into training camp next month. Which rookies stood out the most? And is there anything that was not up to par? Full breakdown and observations from minicamp. What are we going to do until training camp opens in late July? The guys get into it on a Friday edition of Hot Takes!
JK Dobbins was on the field with the Broncos for the first time yesterday. He spoke with the media and had some glowing things to say about the Broncos organization. Bruce and Alex evaluate the Broncos rookie class and are impressed with what they have seen so far. Camp Notes from Day 2 of Broncos mini-camp. The US Open at Oakmont Country Club is underway - are the tough course conditions over the top? Pacers take a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals, can they win the series after last night's performance?
The Broncos start mandatory mini-camp today, as this 3-day period will be the last time the team is together until the start of training camp. The defense has playmakers all over the place, so how strong can the defense be in 2025? EuroCup Champions Hapoel Tel Aviv are expected to make Russell Westbrook an offer "never before seen in European basketball." Would it be better if Westbrook left so the young players have a better chance to develop? Eric and Bruce get into it all!
The Broncos start mandatory mini-camp today, as this 3-day period will be the last time the team is together until the start of training camp. The defense has playmakers all over the place, so how strong can the defense be in 2025? EuroCup Champions Hapoel Tel Aviv are expected to make Russell Westbrook an offer "never before seen in European basketball." Would it be better if Westbrook left so the young players have a better chance to develop? Eric and Bruce get into it all!
The Broncos start mandatory mini-camp tomorrow. How good can Denver's defense be this season? Will the secondary be able to form a 'No Fly Zone' Pt. 2? Jahdae Barron figures to play a pivotal role this year. How important is this offseason for the Nuggets? OKC Thunder tie the NBA Finals at 1-game apiece.
The Broncos have wrapped up another round of OTAs. Who stood out at practice yesterday? Which rookies are making their mark? And how does newly-acquired Evan Engram look so far? Plus, a look at the exciting finish to Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Eric and Bruce break it all down on a Friday edition of Hot Takes!
JK Dobbins was at the Broncos facility last night to have dinner with coaches and visit the facility. Will Dobbins sign with Denver? If he signs, how much would he improve the run game? A look at the Broncos injury history the last couple seasons and how they have been able to limit the injuries. Also, the Avs re-signed center Brock Nelson to a 3-year extension. What did bringing Nelson back do to the Avs Stanley Cup chances next season? Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl break it down.
The Chiefs pulled many wins out of their hat during the regular season last year and despite making another trip to the Super Bowl, Kansas City was routed by Philadelphia. So are the Chiefs still Kings of the AFC West in 2025? Are the Broncos or Chargers closer to catching the Chiefs? A look at the best quarterbacks and best coaches in the division. Catch a Wednesday edition of Hot Takes with Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl!
Broncos start another round of OTAs today. How good can the offensive line and defense be this year? Where does Bo Nix rank among top players on the roster? And will we see free agents start to sign with the Broncos BECAUSE of Bo Nix? Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl tackle all of it!
It's now June and the Rockies have yet to reach 10 wins this season. They now have the worst start through 59 games in MLB history. How did it get this bad and will Dick Monfort clean house after the season? Eric and Bruce discuss what might end up being the worst team in the history of baseball.
Yesterday was the final day of Broncos OTAs. Eric and Bruce discuss what stood out to them the most. Thoughts on how Bo Nix and Talanoa Hufanga looked. Top 10 most complete rosters in the NFL - where are the Broncos ranked? Tune in to a Friday edition of Hot Takes!
David Adelman was introduced as the Nuggets new head coach at yesterday's press conference. How different is Adelman from Malone and how will it be a positive moving forward? Today is the final day of Broncos OTAs and the media will be able to watch. Which rookies are we most curious to see? And will Courtland Sutton address a possible 'contract holdout situation?' Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl break it down!
Russell Westbrook announced he had two fractures in his hand he was playing with and will undergo surgery to repair multiple ligament tears. What will the offseason look like for the Nuggets? Will Michael Porter Jr. and/or Jamal Murray be on the roster next season? Also, Demaryius Thomas was selected to the Broncos Ring of Fame and will be inducted as part of the 10-year anniversary for the Super Bowl 50 team in Week 7 vs. the Giants. Was he the best wide receiver in Broncos history? Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl discuss!
The Broncos are back with OTAs beginning today. Eyes will be on the rookies, including Jahdae Barron and RJ Harvey. Will there be a sophomore slump with Bo Nix this year? Plus, a look at the impact Barron will have this season in his rookie year. How will this year's 2025 defense compare to the No Fly Zone defense in 2015? Eric and Bruce get into it on a Tuesday after the holiday weekend!
The Nuggets and interim coach David Adelman agreed on a deal to make Adelman the full-time head coach. Adelman went 3-0 in the regular season after taking over for Michael Malone and won a playoff series, leading Denver to one win from the West finals. Was Adelman the obvious choice? Should the Nuggets have hired the GM first? And will the Nuggets keep their starting core together for next season? Eric and Bruce break it all down.
Mike Klis of 9News released an article this morning on Rockies General Manager Bill Schmidt. Schmidt addressed the team's historically poor performance, but per usual, it was full of ridiculous excuses. Eric Goodman and Bruce Haertl break down the delusion that Schmidt and Dick Monfort live under. SGA wins NBA MVP with 71 of the first-place votes. Nikola Jokic earned the other 29 first-place votes. Quick reaction to the MVP results and a look at Jokic's greatness compared to some other all-time greats. Tune in to a Thursday edition of Hot Takes!
Michael Malone made his presence felt on ESPN's NBA Countdown, as he had a couple comments last night that rubbed Nuggets fans the wrong way. Both the Nuggets and Avalanche are still in championship windows, so how will each team attack the offseason? There are betting odds on Michael Porter Jr.'s next team, with the Warriors leading the way with 3-to-1 odds to land MPJ. Eric and Bruce break it all down on a mid-week edition of Hot Takes!
The Nuggets are in search of a head coach, as well as a general manager. Has David Adelman shown enough to keep the HC job? Would the Nuggets 2022-23 championship team have won the title in this year's Western Conference? Plus, with so many questions this offseason, do the Nuggets need to go into the second apron? Michael Malone has been named as a studio host for ESPN's NBA Countdown for the Western Conference Finals. What kind of insight will Malone provide? Eric and Bruce discuss on a Tuesday edition of Hot Takes!
Well, after a courageous effort in Game 6 to force a seventh game, it didn't go the Nuggets way yesterday in Game 7, as OKC dominated Denver, 125-93. The Nuggets have a flawed roster, so what can be done in the offseason to improve? Eric and Bruce discuss all options, including potential trades of Michael Porter Jr. and Zeke Nnaji. Will the Nuggets go into the second apron this year? The guys explore all possibilities on a Monday edition of Hot Takes!