Cut Traded Fired Retired

Defenseman can be onery. They are defensemen after all. Kyle Quincey was no exception and had his moments, however many were justified. Like the time he pinned a hockey stick between the eyes of Redwings head coach Mike Babcock and “requested” respect during his second stint in Detroit after coming off 3 solid years with the Avalanche. Babcock obliged and put Kyle on the power play the next night.  Kyle started skating in his home country of Canada when he was just a toddler. Junior hockey took the place of college, and the Redwings drafted him in 2003. Babcock was his coach then, which is why it was difficult for him not to treat Kyle like a rookie during the second go around.  Kyle's career took him from one coast to the other. He endured numerous injuries and over 20 concussions.  He also earned respect and lifelong friends everywhere he went whether it was the Redwings, Kings, Avs, Devils, Blue Jackets or the Wild. Hockey is family and he needed that family after he retired in 2019.   In 2020, Kyle's one year old son Axl was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Kyle was just starting to figure out who he was post-hockey and had to put that mental anguish aside to be a dad, husband and support his family. It was tough between Covid and moving short term to Philly for Axl's surgery, but Axl came out cancer free. Then it was time to focus on Kyle.  Kyle found a path to fulfillment by creating the Do Good Ranch and helping others who have experienced mental and physical trauma. The Do Good Ranch offers a stunning setting for healing, wellness and education into self-improvement and personal growth. The ranch opened in April of 2025 and is available for reservations and private retreats.

He had no plans to play football in the same town where he grew up, in fact Dallas Davis fully planned to leave Fort Collins and become a Badger in Wisconsin. Then he got a visit from head coach Sonny Lubick and a couple other coaches who put a new thought in his head: did he really think he'd catch many passes with future Heisman Trophy winning Ron Dayne running the ball on most plays? Dallas switched gears to Colorado State University.   He became a captain and was All-Conference as a wide receiver and returner. He was also very active off the field, something that started in high school and carried into college. He chaired the CSU Athletic Advancement Committee and represented the Mountain West at the NCAA Leadership Conference.   While he loved all the activities, Dallas also had a dream to play professionally. The Steelers brought him in as an undrafted free agent and he stayed for a few months until he was cut in training camp. The next year, he was cut just before training camp and reality set in: it was time to find a job.   He dabbled in the mortgage industry and realized he missed sports. So he got on planning and event committees for the Orange Bowl, NBA All Star Game and the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Eventually he found himself working as the Director of Community Affairs for the Colorado Rockies, where he still works today, but is now part of human resources. Dallas is married and raising three athletically gifted daughters who have a tough time believing their dad was pretty special with the football.     Listen to Dallas' story and conversation with @susiewargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast. Links to listen on your favorite podcast platforms in the @ctfrpodcast bio!

He grew up on a horse ranch in a small town outside of Manitoba, Canada. Rick Berry thought it was perfectly normal that his family had over 200 pure bred Belgian horses and when those horses urinated, it was collected (by Rick and his brother) for the Premarin in the urine and sold to pharmaceutical companies. He later found out that wasn't so normal.   What was normal for Rick: having a pond nearby and playing hockey. A lot of hockey. When he was 16, he left Canada and went to Seattle to live with a host family and started junior hockey. In 1997, the Colorado Avalanche, who had just moved from Quebec to Denver, selected Rick in the 3rd round of the NHL Entry Draft.   He played with the Hershey Bears for a few years and eventually made it to the Denver where his Avs debut came in the 2000-2001 season. He stuck around for another season in Denver and then was traded to the Penguins in 2002. From there the rollercoaster started between NHL teams, affiliates and a stint in Germany.   After his time in Germany, and with two young girls at that point, Rick decided to retire. He and his wife made Denver their home, added a third girl and Rick went into the financial advisory industry. He enjoys his work, being a girl dad and staying involved with the Colorado Avalanche Alumni Association.  Listen to Rick's story and conversation with Susie Wargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast.

His biography is filled with basketball. What's not in Ricado Patton's bio is his childhood which included being raised by his grandmother after his mom left him and his sister when he was just 9 months old. His father wasn't present either, so Ricardo figured out how to navigate life through basketball.   His college career at Belmont kept him close to home in Nashville. After college, he stayed in the south for many years as a middle school and high school coach and assistant coaching jobs at Middle Tennessee, Arkansas Little-Rock and Tennessee State. Then came his trek to Colorado where he started as an assistant and three years later, got his break as a head coach.  From 1996 to 2007, Ricardo had three 20-win seasons and took the Buffs to the postseason six times. He also landed a huge recruit in Chauncey Billups who would go on to be a #3 overall draft pick.   Ricardo left CU on his own terms and continued to coach here and there, including a return to the state of Colorado when he was an assistant for Chauncey's brother Rodney at the University of Denver. It seems Mr. Big Shot is never too far removed from Ricardo.   That trend continues today as Ricardo is now the Executive Director of the Porter-Billups Leadership Academy, where he loves the challenge of raising money to help young people from underserved communities become future leaders.

Charlie Blackmon had no illusions of grandeur once he realized his days as a left-handed pitcher were numbered.  He'd been a pitcher in high school and junior college and figured when he transferred to Georgia Tech he'd ride his time out on the bench, get a degree and find a job. Life worked out a bit differently.   It all changed when Chalie spent a summer in the Texas Collegiate League and got some advice from Texas Rangers Hall of Famer Rusty Greer. Charlier went into the TCL with a bit of a fib: he told them he could pitch, hit and play defense. Truth be told, he hadn't hit or played in the field since high school. Regardless, he picked up a wood bat and began to make contact, a lot. He also started to play positions outside of pitcher and Rusty told him he should consider giving up pitching and heading to the outfield. The self-admitted hardheaded Charlie eventually agreed.   He had fairly quick success with his newfound skills at Georgia Tech and got drafted by the Rockies. He worked his way up every level of the minors and finally made his MLB debut in June of 2011. Within a month Charlie had his first hit, RBI, home run and broke his foot, ending his season.   He used his rehab time to finish his degree in finance and found a new appreciation for baseball and the grind. He'd be up and down from the minors to the Rockies for another couple years and then became a staple at Coors Field until his retirement in 2024. Which didn't last long: in 2025, the Rockies named Charlie a Special Assistant to the General Manager.   Listen to Charlie's story and conversation with @susiewargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast. Links to listen on your favorite podcast platforms in the @ctfrpodcast bio!

In 2025, Lisa Van Goor will finally be inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. A long overdue honor for the first player in the history of the University of Colorado (man or woman) to score 2000 points and snag 1000 rebounds in a career. She also averaged a double-double for her career as a Buff, all of this despite missing several games due to injuries her junior and senior seasons.   Lisa was born in South Dakota and after being named a Parade All American as a senior, she had over four dozen schools recruiting her. She thrived her first two years under head coach Sox Walseth, however when Ceal Barry came in, the injury bug hit and life got tougher physically and mentally. After graduation, (the WNBA didn't exist yet), Lisa went overseas to play professionally for 7 years and became a 5-time All Star.    After retirement, Lisa returned to Boulder unsure of what to do with her life. She wanted to be back in athletics and after getting turned down for a few opportunities, she got a job with a rental car company. Eventually she did get back into the CU Athletic Department helping to plan events. These days she's out of the department, but still very involved with former student athletes, as the Executive Director of the non-profit Buffs 4 Life.   Listen to Lisa's story and conversation with @susiewargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast. Links to listen on your favorite podcast platforms in the @ctfrpodcast bio!

Sometimes the road to professional football takes a non-traditional path. Colorado native Gabe Knapton knows that trail well.After playing linebacker for his dad, who demanded a lot as the head coach at Skyline High School in Longmont, Gabe had his choice of many colleges to continue his playing career. It came down to Wyoming and Colorado State. He chose to be a Cowboy because of alumni in his family and most importantly, the coaches.  During his time in Laramie, the staff switched Gabe from linebacker to defensive end. He made the transition look easier than it was because of his motor and non-stop hustle. In reality, it was difficult to learn a very different position and physically he was still more like a linebacker. Regardless, he had hopes of getting drafted in the NFL and while a few teams called during the draft, no one called his name or his agent. Unsure of what to do at that point, Gabe's dad suggested taking a year off, working out and staying ready. So, he took a gap year before gap years were cool and eventually played indoor football with the Colorado Ice, then got his break with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. He would be named Montreal's Rookie of the Year and go on to play for several years in the CFL between Montreal and the BC Lions. In retirement, Gabe is a busy guy: husband, father of two, owner of Different Breed Performance gym and a firefighter with the City of Thornton.  Listen to Gabe's story and conversation with Susie Wargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast. 

He thought he would be a basketball player and never considered football, until he was coaxed into signing up. Nate Irving learned how to play football on his 1A high school team. First on offense, then moving to defense. His team was good, regularly beating larger schools and garnering large home crowds. The college scouts didn't stop by very often, however Nate was still offered a few scholarships.   He chose North Carolina State when he would become an All-American his senior year. An honorable feat by itself, but even more impressive considering he missed the year before recovering from multiple injuries he sustained in a single car crash before his junior season. Nate overcame a collapsed lung, separated shoulder, broken rib and a compound leg fracture.   The Denver Broncos took the linebacker in the 3rd round of the 2011 draft.  He would play in nearly every game his first three seasons. He started several games in 2014 after Von Miller was injured, until he was also bit by the injury bug with a torn ACL. The Broncos went on to win the Super Bowl that year and did not sign Nate to a new contract in the off season.   He went on to join the Colts, where he found himself in the training room again rehabbing an injury and after one year of his three-year deal, was cut on the final day of training camp in 2016. Not long after, Nate decided he was at peace with his NFL career and walked away.   These days, Nate is a director and manages 300 people at Anschutz Medical Center, is the Defensive Coordinator at Ponderosa High School and a proud girl dad to three little ladies.   Listen to Nate's story and conversation with Susie Wargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast.

He's not the typical professional athlete, but his resume reads like one: he was on the payroll of a professional team, he entertained fans and he performed athletic feats many would never dare. He also wore a mountain line costume. Kenn Solomon was Rocky, the Nuggets mascot, for over three decades and while he kept his mascot code of silence when in costume, now he's “just Kenn” and has plenty to talk about.   Kenn grew up in Las Vegas and was self-taught gymnastics in his backyard. After seeing the San Diego Chicken at a minor league baseball game, he instantly had a career goal. He became his high school's mascot and did the same at two colleges. At Utah State, as a communications major, Kenn came to Denver during a summer to intern at the Rocky Mountain News. He decided to cold call the Nuggets and strike up a conversation about him being their mascot. The Nuggets didn't have a mascot, but they listened to his spiel. They didn't do anything right away, so Kenn kept calling.  Eventually he auditioned for Rocky and won the gig.   His 30+ years as Rocky saw him become a fan favorite and an attraction for the Nuggets, especially during some very down seasons on the hardwood. He made countless appearances off the court, endured a few injuries (including breaking his back) and a life changing lesson after spending a weekend in jail.   His retirement came after the Nuggets won their NBA championship and a transition to the new Rocky was set up for one of Kenn's three sons. Drake Solomon held the role for a while until he had to step aside to rehab an injury. The Nuggets decided to go a different direction. Now Kenn is going in a different direction with lots of open doors and opportunities between public speaking, podcasting and writing a book.   Listen to Kenn's story and conversation with Susie Wargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast.

When a life lesson presents itself, it's usually best practice to learn and grow from it. Like Ricky Brewers' junior year at Colorado State University. A year that he didn't play football and instead was suspended and on the scout team.   Ricky is a Colorado native with roots in the Denver Public School system. In high school he played football for legendary high school coach Dave Logan and won a State Championship. He had his choice of colleges but wanted to stay close to home and committed to the University of Colorado. That changed when Gary Barnett got fired and Ricky headed north to Colorado State University.   He quickly became a star linebacker and had a breakout year his sophomore season which wrapped up with a win at the New Mexico Bowl. Before the game, he was drug tested and Ricky knew that was going to be a problem. It was. Ricky went from being on ESPN with a post-game interview to being a headline on the ticker with the word “suspension.”   He'd return to CSU and have over 100 tackles his senior year. NFL teams appeared leery because of the suspension, and he never latched on anywhere, save for an overnight with the Dolphins. So instead, he put his efforts into a doctorate and becoming an educator. Today he's an elementary school principal and radio color analyst for CSU football.   Listen to Ricky's story and conversation with Susie Wargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast. 

He's one of just over 30 players who can say he played for the Broncos twice. Corey Nelson grew up in Dallas and was the 5A player of the year in high school as well as a 5-star recruit by Scout.com. He had numerous colleges offering scholarships and chose Oklahoma because of the connection he felt with the linebacker's coach.   Corey started playing as a true freshman and gathered accolades as both an athlete and student. His senior season started strong with a pick-6 and a plethora of tackles… until he tore his pec muscle and required surgery. At that point, Corey wasn't sure if he had a future in the NFL, so he picked up more classes and wrapped up his degree in four years.   Turns out he did have an NFL future and in 2014, the Broncos drafted him in the 7th round. He worked his way on to the roster through special teams and became a Super Bowl Champion. Then another injury came and the Broncos didn't sign him back in the offseason.   Corey then traveled from team to team trying out for any openings. The Broncos brought him back in 2019, but in October that year, another injury put him out for the season and eventually out of the league.   These days he's a husband, dad and business owner in Texas.   Listen to Corey's story and conversation with @susiewargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast. Links to listen on your favorite podcast platforms in the @ctfrpodcast bio!

The chip on Chris Harris Jr's shoulder began to form in high school. He'd lettered in three sports, been All-State in football and basketball and was honored for his academics. Yet he hadn't been offered a scholarship after his senior year of football. Finally during the basketball season, the University of Kansas gave him an offer. Once other schools head of KU's scholarship, they jumped on the band wagon and started calling Chris. The chip started.   After his career with the Jayhawks where he played 50 games and racked up nearly 300 tackles, there was no invite to the Senior Bowl, the East-West Shrine game or the Combine. Instead, he had a Pro Day which went well, but he still went undrafted. Then the 2011 NFL lockout started. The chip deepened.   When the lockout lifted, Chris was with the Broncos, trying to make a team with some top-notch defensive backs. He balled out on special teams, got the attention of coaches and made the roster. Eventually he'd be a starter and a key component of the “No Fly Zone” which helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50.   In 2020, his contract was up with the Broncos and despite thinking he would be resigned, he wasn't and instead went to the Chargers and later to the Saints. In 2023, teams stopped calling and Chris knew it was time to retire, which he did in October of 2024. Today he's embarking on some new adventures and trying to ensure he and his wife don't get overthrown by their 5 young daughters. Listen to Chris's story and conversation with @susiewargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast. Links to listen on your favorite podcast platforms in the @ctfrpodcast bio!

Even though he was making tackles left and right at William & Mary, Jim Ryan never thought about going to the NFL after college. He was getting his Business Management degree and heading into the real world. That is until a scout from the Broncos contacted him.   The scout knew Jim wasn't going to be drafted but saw his talent and wanted to be on the linebacker's radar when he was picking out a team to sign with as an undrafted free agent. Turns out the Broncos were the only ones who called, and the kid from New Jersey went west for the first time.   That was 1979. The year before, the Broncos had played in their first Super Bowl and the Orange Crush Defense was in full force. Jim figured he had no shot of making the team, so he played relaxed and had fun. That method worked well as he made the team and stayed for 10 seasons.   After football, Jim tried a variety of jobs including stints with the media and coaching at the high school and NFL levels. After 3 firings in 5 years with coaching, Jim went into the business world. Today, he consults as a trainer for sales teams, spends time with his family and stays in touch with his former teammates.   Listen to Jim's story and conversation with Susie Wargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast.

He set receiving records at Colorado State University and eventually landed in their Athletics Hall of Fame. Not bad for a guy who didn't have the size of a “typical” wide receiver in the early 2000's. These days, David Anderson would fit right in.   Davis grew up in California and played at Thousand Oaks High School, a hot bed for college recruiting. Despite having numerous D1 scouts and coaches at his games and dominating at wide receiver, David's first scholarship offer came in the late fall of his senior year. During his visit to Fort Collins, he committed to play for Sonny Lubick.   After a stellar career at CSU, he was selected by the Houston Texans with the 4th to last pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Like Sonny Lubick, Gary Kubiak had an eye for hidden talent. David played 9 games as a rookie and stayed with the Texans until he was cut in the summer of 2011. He got picked up by the Broncos for training camp, then cut again. From there he bounced back to Houston, had a short stop with Mike Shanahan in Washington, another quick stint in Seattle and called it a career.   After his playing days, David went back to school to get his MBA and venture into the business world. Eventually, his love for math and communications led to a startup called Breakaway Data where he is currently the CEO. David is also a husband and father to three young children who keep him plenty busy.   Listen to David's story and conversation with Susie Wargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts. 

Growing up in California, Nate Jackson spent all his time in the swimming pool… because he wasn't allowed to play football until high school. He excelled in the pool and figured out how to compete. Once he started high school, his football experience began as a running back. Nate had to catch up quickly with guys who had been playing for a while… and had hit puberty.   He caught up and moved to wide receiver, however in a run-first offense, Nate didn't get enough exposure to earn a college football scholarship. He decided he would try to walk on somewhere and settled on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The football coach told him all the walk-on spots were full and he should come back in the spring. When he came back in the spring, Nate and the other walk-ons were put aside. So, he transferred to Division III Menlo College.   At Menlo, Nate set records at wide receiver, earned NCAA Division III Offensive Player of the Year his senior year and is now in their Hall of Fame. He went undrafted after graduation and was able to catch on with the 49er's. From there the ups and downs of pro football started: injury, cut, resigned, traded to the Broncos, NFL Europe, cut by Josh McDaniels, more injuries and a final try with the Las Vegas Locomotives.   Nate's body had enough. He retired, started a family and embarked on many missions: published a book, wrote numerous articles and became a radio talk show host. Today, he's working with Guerrilla Sports and is the NFL's Uniform Inspector on the Broncos sidelines during home games.   Listen to Nate's story and conversation with @susiewargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast. Links to listen on your favorite podcast platforms in the @ctfrpodcast bio!

He grew up in St Louis and played a number of sports, except football. Jay Leeuwenburg's dad wanted to make sure he was coached properly, so he had to wait until high school to hit the gridiron. In the meantime, Jay dealt with a setback: being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in middle school.   The diabetes diagnosis meant one thing: how to manage it and play sports. Jay figured it out with the proper nutrition and became stronger… real strong. He excelled on the offensive line at his high school and got noticed by Gary Barnett, who was recruiting for the University of Colorado under Bill McCartney.   Jay took a scholarship at CU and found himself once again making a name for himself on the offensive line as a center. He helped the Buffs win a National Championship in 1990 and was a unanimous First Team All American the following season. There was talk about being a high draft pick, but that ended when he was chosen by the Chiefs in the 9th round of the 1992 draft.   The Chiefs didn't keep him after training camp his rookie season, but the Bears claimed him off wires and he thrived in Chicago, starting every game from 1993-1995. He was a free agent in 1996 and signed with the Colts and eventually became Peyton Manning's center. After stops in Cincinnati, Washington and Denver (very briefly), Jay retired and settled in Colorado with his family.  He dabbled in radio and TV and also got his teaching license. He's been teaching 3rd grade at Colorado Academy now for 23 years.

Growing up in California, he wanted to be like his favorite Raider's player, Howie Long. Coincidentally, Travis Kirschke paralleled Howie's NFL position (defensive end) and longevity in the league (13 years). Howie stayed with the same team and won one Super Bowl. Travis made 3 stops in the NFL, with the final one providing him two Super Bowl rings.   Travis was a standout high school player in The Golden State, earning a California Player of the Year Award and the Glenn Davis Award for the best high school player in the Los Angeles area. His career at UCLA wasn't nearly as illustrious as he endured a few coaching changes and injuries. The result was being undrafted in 1997.   He stuck with his goal, however, and got on with the Detroit Lions where he became a starter his 3rd year and stayed for 6 seasons. From there he moved on (by choice) to the 49'ers and had one of his best seasons, starting nearly every game and racking up 43 tackles. After San Fransisco, he was courted by the Saints and Steelers and felt Pittsburgh was the best fit. Smart move. Travis helped build a solid defense with names like Polamalu and Porter and won two Super Bowls.   After 13 seasons, Travis knew his time had come. He had moved to Colorado during his NFL career with his wife and three kids and returned there to start the next chapter. In retirement, he has stayed busy as an assistant football coach at Valor High School and being dad to three athletes. Currently his two youngest sons are college student athletes with Gabe playing football at Colorado State and Blake playing lacrosse at the University of Denver.

It was the event Nuggets fans had been waiting for since pro basketball came to Denver: a Championship Parade. On June 13, 2023, an estimated 750,000 people flocked to downtown Denver to celebrate their team who had just beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.   The parade was like previous parades for the Broncos and the Avalanche with players and coaches on top of fire trucks, traveling slowly through the streets of Denver. The final truck was the main attraction, carrying fan favorites Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The crowds got closer and closer to the truck as items were being tossed up, autographed and tossed back down.   Denver Police and SWAT team members initially had a comfortable security perimeter around the truck but began to lose their space as the crowd swelled.  SWAT Sergeant Justin Dodge was on the passenger side of the 80,000-pound truck and next to a wheel well as he worked to keep parade goers safe while the truck turned at 13th & Cherokee.   But when the truck turned, the wheel came out of the well 3 feet, catching Justin off guard and finding himself pinned by his leg under the wheel. His story about those vital seconds and what followed is incredible. Even more amazing: he returned to his SWAT team less than a year after losing his lower leg.

Between high school, college and the NFL, he played with two future Pro Football Hall of Famers and one Heisman Trophy winner. Of course Kenny Bell had no idea when he played for Greenwich High School that his quarterback Steve Young would go on to be a 3-time Super Bowl Champion and wear a gold jacket. However, they did win a LOT of games and Kenny played a big role in that success. He was inducted into his high school's Hall of Fame in 2015.   Kenny also didn't know when he chose Boston College that his quarterback, Doug Flutie, would be a Heisman Trophy winner and have incredible success in both the Canadian Football League as well as the NFL. Kenny just kept playing, only missing one of his 48 games with the Eagles and honing his skills as a return specialist.   He also had no idea when he made the Broncos roster as an undrafted free agent in 1986, that his quarterback John Elway would be a 2-time Super Bowl champion and have his bust in Canton. Kenny just kept doing what he did well on special teams. Coaches adored him and teammates loved his style.   He went to three Super Bowls during his tenure in orange and blue. Unfortunately, he never saw a win in the big game before retiring from the game. After football Kenny dabbled in the restaurant business, then got into management in health care and later hospitality. Today, he can be found managing employees at the Denver Convention Center.  

As the son of a Naval pilot, Bucky Dilts moved around a lot growing. At one point his family was based in Hawaii where he learned to surf and play football, specifically punting. He'd kick a football (with his left foot) over anything high that he could find.   Next came a move to Atlanta. Surfing wasn't an option, so Bucky went 100% into football during high school. He went on to punt for the University of Georgia as a walk-on. His reverse spin, directional punting and hang time became a problem for opponents.   Despite his collegiate success, Bucky went undrafted in 1977 and while a number of teams offered him a spot in training camp, he went with the Broncos who had a lot of competition at the punting position. Fully confident, Bucky came to camp and won the position.   His rookie season included a trip to the Super Bowl and a spot on the All-Rookie Team. He'd stay with Denver for another year before being traded to the then-Baltimore Colts. After a rough year with the Colts and pricing himself out of the market contract wise, Bucky was done with the NFL.   After retirement, Bucky hit the business world and endured some personal setbacks and challenges with his family. Today he's helping people (and himself) become healthier versions of themselves.  

His roots are in Illinois, along with most of his 12 seasons in the NFL. However, Emery Moorehead's football career went through Colorado twice.  Emery had his choice of colleges as a star athlete out of Evanston and opted to head to Boulder and play for the Buffs. He played both running back and wide receiver and was a captain his senior year when CU won the Big 8 Conference Championship.  He got noticed by NFL Scouts and was picked by the Giants in the 6th round of the 1977 draft. After two head coaches and three seasons, he was traded to the Broncos for the 1980 season. His teammates included names like Watson, Upchurch, Wright, Egloff and Morton on offense and Gradishar, Foley, TJ, BT and Chavous on defense. He only spent one year in Denver, but quickly became part of the Broncos family.  He was cut by the Broncos in 1981 and his former Buffs teammate Dave Williams suggested to the Bear that they bring Emery in.  They did and he stuck around for the next 8 years playing wherever and whenever… and winning a Super Bowl ring.  After retirement, Emery was a real estate agent in Illinois for 28 years and today is fully retired, splitting his time between Illinois and Colorado.

His first trip to Colorado came when the Broncos drafted him 31st overall in 1983.  Prior to that, Mark Cooper had spent nearly his entire life in Florida, growing up playing football and excelling on the offensive line at the University of Miami. When Coop got to Denver, he was reunited with a guy he met briefly a few months earlier when both played in the East-West Shrine Bowl: John Elway.    Mark's four years with the Broncos weren't as successful as he would have liked, he often found himself in the training room with an injury and then fighting to get his job back.  He did start many games, however, including Super Bowl 21.    In 1987, Mark was ready to move on. After a little game of “let's try to trade you rather than release you,” the Broncos set the price tag too high for a trade and nobody took the bait. Mark was released and signed with Tampa Bay where he played the next few seasons before retiring.   After he retired, Mark returned to Denver. He had fallen in love with the Mile High City and got into some business ventures. He also got his real estate license, which worked out very well for him: more than 30 years later, he's still helping clients buy and sell in both Colorado and Florida. 

Orlando Franklin's unconventional path to the NFL started in Jamaica. He was born to a single mom who wanted a better life for her and her sons. She applied for Visa's in three countries and only one accepted her: Canada. So, Orlando's path went north.   His mom married, but then widowed when her husband tragically passed away. That life change put Orlando and his family in a women's homeless shelter for a year. Next was Section 8 housing. Then he found football and loved it.   Not only did Orlando find football, he found trouble. He ran with a crowd that made some bad choices and was arrested for the first time when he was 12. The second time he was arrested, his mom told him she wouldn't bail him out unless he made a contract with her to turn his life around. He did and she still has that contract.   Big O and his mom moved to Florida soon after. He got letters from over 70 colleges, and he chose the Miami Hurricanes. From there, he was the Broncos 2nd round draft pick in 2011. Over the next four years, he started 70 of 71 games. In 2015, he thought Denver was going to resign him, but they never called. Begrudgingly, he went to San Diego and Washington over the next few seasons. He called it quits in 2018 to be a very present father to his kids, something he didn't have growing up.   Listen to Orlando's story and conversation with @susiewargin on the Cut Traded Fired Retired Podcast. Links to listen on your favorite podcast platforms in the @ctfrpodcast bio!

She went to the Olympic Trials for swimming when she was 16. She became a pro triathlete after she graduated from Yale. She met her husband (also a pro triathlete) when he sat next to her on a plane. She designed the first running skirt and created a business that empowered women to feel amazing in their skin. She also became a mom.   Nicole DeBoom is always smiling, which may lead one to believe she's only encountered positives in her life. Not quite. Along with all the highs have come some lows, like waiting tables and putting on a mascot costume with a degree from Yale. She was also a black out drinker (sober now) and found herself fighting like crazy for space in the apparel world once the big brands realized (and copied) what she was doing with Skirt Sports.   Today, Nicole, Tim and their daughter Wilder live in Steamboat after uprooting from Boulder four years ago. She had sold her business and went to find her purpose. She may have just done that by coming full circle with a big announcement in the podcast.

Most athletes walk away from sports because they “get too old.” The opposite can happen in the sport of golf and Matt Schalk is a prime example.   Growing up in Boulder, Matt was a baseball guy. Until his dad won a game of gin at the local country club and the losing golf pro didn't have the money to pay up. So, Matt's dad bartered and got the pro to give golf lessons to his sons. One lesson and Matt was hooked.   He kept up the game until just before high school. The Schalk family finances were struggling at the time and the pricey sport of golf went on the shelf for a decade. After a couple of years at Metro State, Matt picked up his clubs again and decided he wanted to go pro. He made some money, but usually only enough to pay for the next entry fee.   Once Matt and his wife started a family, it was time for a real job. Of course he started at a golf course, picking up range balls by hand. He eventually worked his way to what he's doing now as the GM and Director of Golf at Colorado National Golf Club.  In the meantime, he also turned 50, which meant he could start competing in senior events and trying to make the cuts for bigger tournaments. Not only did he make some cuts, he won some championships. Championships that could turn into much bigger victories than he ever had in his younger years. He truly is getting better with age.

Ask anyone in the circle of baseball about Marc Johnson and chances are  they either have a tie to him or know someone who does.  That's because for more than 50 years, Coach Johnson led one of the best baseball programs in the state of Colorado. A program that produced more than 50 professional players and several that became household names.   He grew up in Nebraska and followed his father's passion for the diamond. He played baseball throughout high school and found himself becoming more enamored with how the game was played. After getting his degree from the then Colorado State College (now University of Northern Colorado), he got a job teaching in the Cherry Creek School District.    He wasn't there long before he was drafted… into the Army and he was set to head to Vietnam. Until he got a phone call asking if he'd rather go to Vietnam or coach baseball on a base in Texas. He chose the latter.   After leaving the Army, and with some coaching under his belt, he came back to Cherry Creek and started to teach again and coach. In the spring of 1973, he took over as the head coach for the Bruins and stayed there until he won his 9th State Title in June of 2024. Now it's time for retirement.

Despite the fact he was a very accomplished swimmer in high school, Sean Moran's dream was to play professional football. Which he did.   Sean graduated from Overland High School in Aurora and headed north to play for a coach he thought was perfect for his college career at Colorado State University: Earl Bruce. Unfortunately, Coach Bruce was fired after Sean's first year and he considered transferring. He was asked to be on and advisory board to hire the new football coach and after hearing Sonny Lubick's interview, he said he'd stay if Sonny got the job.   Sean thrived under Coach Lubick and left with numerous accolades great moments including running a fumble recovery 72 yards for a touchdown against #6 Arizona in 1994 – a game no one expected the Rams to be a contender, let alone win. In 2004, Sean became a member of the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame.   He was drafted in the 4th round by the Buffalo Bills in 1996 and spent the next 8 years between the Bills, St. Louis Rams and 49ers. He played for some great coaches (Wade Phillips, Mike Martz and Dennis Erikson) as well with a number of future Hall of Famers.    After football, Sean became a fire fighter and paramedic which he continues to do today along with being a husband and father to three children.

Growing up in Washington, Tyler Brayton played a lot of sports. His grandfather was a baseball coach and he thought he was destined for the diamond. That was until his lanky body got coordinated and he started to excel at football in high school.   He was recruited by a number of schools and felt drawn to Boulder where Rick Neuheisel was the head coach. After his first season, Coach Neuheisel left and Gary Barnett was hired. Normally a new coach would make a first-year player nervous, however Tyler had been recruited by Coach Barnett's previous school, Northwestern, so the familiarity was already there.   Tyler racked up some nice numbers for the Buffs as a Defensive End: in 74 games, he had 47 starts, 152 tackles, 12 ½ sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 6 passes defensed. Heading into the NFL was an obvious next step and Tyler thought he'd be a 2nd or 3rd round pick.  Instead, he was picked in the 1st round by the then-Oakland Raiders.   In 5 seasons with the Raiders, Tyler had 4 different head coaches. His first-year stats were impressive as he started all 16 games under Bill Callahan. After that, however, his numbers started to decline and with one year left on his six-year contract, Tyler nullified his deal and became a free agent.   He resurrected his career under John Fox and the Carolina Panthers where he spent 3 seasons and then finished his NFL career with the Colts. He wasn't ready to be done, however when no one called, he knew it was time.   Today, Tyler is the head football coach of Arapahoe High School and enjoys spending time with his wife and their 3 children.

Growing up in Cheraw, South Carolina, Fisher DeBerry spent his time playing multiple sports: football, basketball, baseball and track. In high school, he was All-State in football and baseball. He'll try to tell you that's because there wasn't much competition. Highly unlikely.   Fisher got a small scholarship to play football and baseball at Wofford College. He also worked a few jobs to pay for school as well as enlisted in Amry ROTC. After graduation, he served his commitment, earned his master's degree and started coaching football and baseball at the high school level.   His coaching path led him back to Wofford, where he was introduced to the Wishbone offense by head coach James Brakefield. Coach Brakefield brought Fisher with him to Appalachian State where for nine years, the Mountaineers dominated on offense.   In 1980, Ken Hatfield asked Fisher to join his staff at the Air Force Academy and Fisher took a huge leap leaving the south. He started as the Quarterback's Coach, moved to Offensive Coordinator and got the Head Coaching job when Coach Hatfield left for Arkansas. Over the next 21 seasons, Coach DeBarry's Falcons would win the coveted Commander in Chief trophy 14 times, secure a few conference championships as well as bowl game victories.   After retiring in 2006, Fisher and his wife LuAnn amped up their Fisher DeBerry Foundation, helping single parent families, as well as spending time with their two children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren.

It would have been easy to walk away from the NFL after being released over and over again. Afterall, Jordan Norwood could head into the real world with his degree from Penn State and find something right? But he didn't. Instead, he used his down time to stay in shape, rehab injures, plan for the future and work in philanthropy. Today he's reaping the rewards of his planning and charity work and has a Super Bowl ring because he toughed it out.   Jordan grew up the son of a football coach and his family of 7 moved around often. He also learned football from a coaching perspective, which proved very fruitful in the NFL as he was constantly learning new schemes and adapting to wherever a team placed him.   His “natural” position was wide receiver which is why the Broncos signed him. Denver also made him a return specialist, a position he had never played before, but quickly excelled in it. In Super Bowl 50, Jordan set a Super Bowl record by returning a punt 61 yards, helping to set up a field goal for the Broncos.   After retiring from football, Jordan started some business ventures. Today he is the CEO of DIME MKTG, a company helping athletes realize and improve their brand and value. He is also on the board of directors for The Denver Dream Center and runs a yearly golf tournament to help raise funds for youth and sports programs.  

Many think he should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Afterall, he's one of only four defensive players on the NFL 1970's All-Decade team not in Canton and the only corner back on that same list without a bust. But to Louis Wright, all that matters is what his teammates thought of him.   He grew up in California and gravitated to track and football in high school. He spent one year at Arizona State where he was moved from his high school position of defensive end to defensive back. As Louis says he “partied” his way out of ASU after one year and returned home to attend junior college where he ran track and sat on the bench for the football team.   He got back to a Division One school when San Jose State offered him a track scholarship. Then a very smart assistant football coach saw him running and convinced him to join the football team. He rode the pine again, until the Spartans played ASU (coincidentally) and Louis was called in for a play. He made a spectacular tackle and never sat on the bench again.   The Broncos chose Louis with the 17th overall pick in the 1975 draft. His 12-year career with the Broncos included accolades like 5 Pro Bowls, 4 First-Team All-Pro, Ring of Fame, 50th Anniversary Team, two Super Bowl appearances, 26 career interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries. His stats are not as high as other DB's because quarterbacks feared what might happen if they threw his way, so many times they didn't.   After he retired, Louis finished his degree and eventually earned his teaching certificate as well. He recently retired from 28 years of teaching and coaching in the Denver area. He continues to run (in his 70's), stay in touch with teammates and keep his humble attitude.

The path for this episode's guest started in Wyoming where he was convinced, like so many other football players, that basketball was his ticket to pro sports.  Wyoming basketball worked fine for Clint Oldenburg, but to hit the next level, football became his ticket.He chose Colorado State University, where Sonny Lubick moved him from tight end to the offensive line. He wasn't crazy about the switch, but didn't argue because it gave him playing time and Sonny told him he thought he had a chance at the NFL if he moved. Sonny was right.Clint was drafted in the 5th round of the 2007 Draft, then his roller coaster began going from team to team including a short stint with the Broncos. Thankfully just as his pro career was coming to a close, Clint's brother found an ad for an internship at EA Sports. The gaming company was looking for former college players to help with Madden. He got the internship and soon after his playing days were done, Clint went full time. He's been working there ever since on both Madden and College Football (which is returning in the summer of 2024). Reinvention at its best.

Tony Boselli's goal growing up was to play high school football for Sam Pagano. He attended Coach Pagano's infamous Mile High Football camps and dreamt of running onto Knight's field at Fairview High School. His home school was Boulder High, so he told his dad he had to figure out a way into Fairview, or he would go live with his aunt & uncle across town. Tony's dad figured it out.   Once he was under Coach Pagano's tutelage, Tony was moved from quarterback to the offensive line. Quite the change, but whatever Coach said was gospel to the tall, lanky kid who would grow even more and thrive on the line. Offers started to come in from colleges and Tony narrowed it down to USC and Notre Dame. When the Irish told him they weren't interested, Tony headed to California and was a multi-year All-American and All-Pac 10 player.   In 1995, the Jacksonville Jaguars took Tony as the 2nd overall pick and his pro career thrived as a 3-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler and a member of the 1990's NFL All Decades Team. Life was good, until Tom Coughlin told Tony he was being traded to the expansion Houston Texans.   Tony was upset and bitter for a few years, but eventually realized he and his family belonged back in Jacksonville. He remains there today. Since retirement, several Hall of Fames have enshrined Tony, including Pro Football, College Football, and Colorado Sports. Today, he's the Jags radio color commentator, runs his Boselli Foundation with his wife Angi and heads up a health care company.  

Growing up in Indiana, Matt Mauck's favorite sport was basketball, followed by football, then baseball. He received some scholarship offers to play basketball but committed to Michigan State for football under Nick Saban. Then came spring of his senior year: he was drafted by the Cubs, his baseball team won a state championship and he was named Mr. Baseball. Matt leaned into the diamond.   He played 3 seasons in the minor leagues and came to realize that small towns with no fans wasn't much fun, not to mention baseball's mental anguish. So he called Nick Saban and asked to meet. Coach Saban got back to him within a few hours and said Matt always had a spot with him.   When Coach Saban got the head coaching job at LSU in 2000, Matt joined him. After coming off the bench in an SEC Championship game in 2001 and helping secure a come from behind victory, Matt was the starter.  He would go on to help his team win a National Championship, forgo his senior year and get drafted by the Broncos in 2004. The NFL wasn't easy and Matt was done after a few seasons.   Immediately after his playing days were over, Matt started with CU's School of Dentistry and became Dr. Matt Mauck. His thriving practice in Aurora is also partnered with the Broncos as the team dentist. Full circle.

He grew up in New York and went to college at the University of Maryland. Billy Van Heusen was all east coast until he stepped off a plane in Denver in 1968 and saw the Front Range for the first time. His goal as an undrafted free agent became not just to make the Broncos roster, but to stay in Denver. He did both.   In 2019, Billy was named to the Broncos All-Time Top 100 Team. He played 9 seasons in Denver and was a top 10 NFL punter in 5 of those years. He was quite athletic at other positions as well: he had 82 catches as a wide receiver, scored 11 touchdowns and averaged 20 ½ yards per catch. He also carried the ball on occasion. As a running back he had 13 carries for 171 yards and 1 touchdown (a 66-yard return on a fake punt).   In the middle of his NFL career in 1972, like most players in that era, Billy started a second job when he got his Colorado real estate license. He dabbled in real estate for the next few years until he realized he was done with football in 1977. The wrap on his career was not by choice: after the 1976 season some controversy boiled up regarding how some players felt after they were told their head coach John Ralston was being retained. The player's thoughts about Ralston made it to the media and Billy saw the writing on the wall when he was called out for it. Despite Ralston not being retained as head coach, Billy was cut on the last day of training camp in 1977.     After his playing career was over, Billy stayed in Denver and real estate became his full-time job and he's still going strong today with his Billy Van Heusen Team.

He grew up in Pennsylvania with two older brothers and played in just about every sport.  Eventually football became Charlie Adam's bread and butter – he could catch and run. Skills that served him well as a wide receiver and a return specialist. Which is why he was named All-Pennsylvania Special Teams in high school.   Charlie took a scholarship at Hofstra University where he figured he would see some action with their offense. He was right. When he graduated, Charlie was Hofstra's all-time leading wide receiver. A record since broken by Marques Colston who, coincidentally, Charlie hosted when Marques was being recruited.   A knee injury during his senior year at Hofstra prevented NFL teams from drafting Charlie, however the Broncos stayed in touch and offered him a spot as a college free agent. Charlie stuck around for a few years and although he was on and off the active roster several times, his final season included starting 16 games and playing in the postseason.   These days Charlie works on a number of endeavors, including the Denver Broncos Alumni Association and their golf tournament.

He came from a high school in Kentucky that produced a number of well-known athletes, like Steve Finley, George Wilson and Kurt Barber. Terry Shumpert thought basketball at Paducah Tilghman High School would take him to the next level, but a knee injury turned his focus to the diamond. Shump could hit, was fast around the bases and had quite the glove on defense. He took his baseball skills to the University of Kentucky where he was a 3-year starter, 2X First Team All-SEC and still ranks near the top of the records books for the Wildcats in stolen bases. He was named an SEC Legend in 2013.Major League Baseball scouts noticed Terry at Kentucky and he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Kansas City Royals in 1987. It took a few years for his MLB debut, but it finally came in 1990 and from there he stayed in the Bigs until retirement in 2004. Five of his 14 seasons were spent the Rockies where he became the ultimate utility player. During his career, Terry played every position except pitcher and catcher. He was Mr. Reliable. After baseball, Terry focused on his five children with his wife DeQuita and has tried to impart the knowledge he has learned throughout his career, while also giving his kids the space to make their own decisions.

He started playing football as a junior at Smoky Hill High School. He made varsity as a senior. Chase Vaughn turned some heads in that short time and received three small offers at Division II and NAIA schools. He accepted one for Adams State and was there for 2 years until CSU-Pueblo started a football program. He took a leap of faith and transferred. Good move.   In his first game, Chase had 4 ½ sacks and when he graduated, he held the Thunderwolves' sack record. NFL scouts were checking him out, but his name wasn't called on draft day, nor did any teams call afterwards to invite him as a free agent. At that point, the grind began between different leagues including the Arena League and the CFL. After a few years of being cut and racking up the balance on a credit card with tryout fees and plane tickets, Chase was noticed by a Broncos scout and signed a contract with Denver.   He suffered an injury his first season and when John Fox was fired, he figured he was done. But Gary Kubiak's group kept him around for another season and he took the opportunity to slow down and appreciate how far he'd come.   After football, Chase became a firefighter for the Aurora Fire Department and provides an insightful analogy between playing football and fighting fires. While he used to thrive on adrenaline running down the field on special teams, he now thrives on running into burning structures and being there for people on their worst days.

Growing up in Hawaii, his dream was to play football at Notre Dame like his dad. That dream was crushed when the Irish sent him a rejection letter. Brian Cabral then turned to a school where he would spend decades of his life. He was a stellar linebacker and team captain for the University of Colorado. Nearly 50 years after he played, Brian's name is still on the top 20 list of the Buffs all-time tacklers. A list that also includes 10 names he would eventually coach. After graduating from CU, Brian was a 4th round draft pick. During his first few seasons, he dealt with injury, a trade and being cut. After he was released from the Packers, he thought he was done, but a higher power did not. On his drive to Boulder from Wisconsin, Brian prayed and left his future in God's hands. When he pulled into his driveway, his wife Becky ran out to tell him the Bears had been calling. After six seasons in Chicago, and a Super Bowl championship, Brian retired and went into coaching. Bill McCartney brought him to CU on as a Graduate Assistant and he quickly became a linebacker's coach. Coach Cabral's ability to connect with players was undeniable: he remained on the Buffs coaching staff through FIVE head coaches. He was also an interim head coach twice and felt he was ready to lead his alma mater. When that opportunity went elsewhere, Coach Cabral left Boulder for a few years. A few years after he returned, the CU Athletic Department reached out and created a position for him as a Character Coach. Today he works with all CU student athletes and loves being back with the Black and Gold.

His small Ohio town didn't offer football until the 9th grade. Because of that, Randy Gradishar fancied himself more as a basketball player because he'd spent far more time on the court than the gridiron. Thankfully college coaches didn't feel the same way. Randy was courted by a number of colleges, which caught him off guard because he had never planned on attending college. His parents couldn't afford it and he figured he would start working after high school like everyone else he knew. Instead, Woody Hayes connected with Randy and as importantly, his father and off he went to Ohio State. His success as a Buckeye caught the eye of NFL Scouts, so much so that he was the 14th overall pick by the Brocos in 1974. Being his unassuming self, Randy didn't know he was a first rounder or even where Colorado was, he just knew he needed to get to Denver after head coach John Ralston called him. His 10-year NFL career in Denver was spent immersed in the Orange Crush Defense, multiple Pro-Bowls, a Super Bowl appearance, NFL Defensive Player of the Year and much more. So much more that after 35 years of retirement from the game, he was finally voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

His heritage in Colorado dates back five generations. So, it made sense when Mike Newell graduated from Littleton High School that he wanted to stay in Colorado despite football scholarships from many other schools. He quickly became Colorado State's starting center and along with being part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack for two straight seasons and a Holiday Bowl win over Missouri, Mike racked up a number of impressive accolades. He was eventually inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Along with Mike's great play, came some injuries, including a misdiagnosed back injury his senior season. Mike needed surgery and instead of going to the Senior Bowl and NFL combine, he went under the knife. Thankfully, the pain was gone after surgery, but a tough physical and mental road laid ahead as an undrafted free agent in the NFL. Over the course of 5 seasons, Mike was with the Packers, NFL Europe, Rams and Texans. The grind was real, and yet he never played a down in a regular season NFL game. When his career was over, he was relieved. Today, Mike still lives in Colorado, is an elementary school PE teacher and father to three very active teens. He continues to support the Rams and barely recognizes the guy who used to play center for CSU.

From a very young age, Colorado native Ben Garland knew he wanted to attend the Air Force Academy. He researched what the Academy wanted in a cadet and joined countless clubs to show his dedication to service and community. He also played some impressive football at Central High School in Grand Junction. Ben lettered all four years and was first team All-State his senior season. He had full ride offers to several schools, including the Academy, but stayed with his goal and went for the grind in Colorado Springs. The days were tough between practice, marching, drills and an intense curriculum, but Ben loved it. He started 34 of 39 games as a Falcon and got noticed by NFL Scouts. Ben was hoping to get drafted and applied for a deferment for his required active duty. He was denied and his draft stock fell. The Broncos still brought him in as an undrafted free agent and placed him on military reserve. After Ben served his 2-year commitment, he returned to the NFL and played for 11 seasons with the Broncos, Falcons and 49'ers. These days, philanthropy is at the core of Ben's world with his latest venture being The Hero App, which helps non-profits fulfill their needs.

One grew up in Colorado, the other in Illinois. Two redheaded offensive lineman. Both received $2500 scholarships to play Division II football. Ryan Jensen headed south to CSU-Pueblo and Garrett Gilkey played for Chadron State. Their schools were in the RMAC and they quickly learned about one another. The competition grew between the two, especially as Ryan and Garrett began getting noticed by national D2 publications and NFL Scouts. It continued after college: Garrett was invited to the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine and in the 2013 Draft, Ryan was picked one round ahead of Garrett. They still jab each other about it. Their pro careers eventually led both to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Garrett was out of the league and getting his MBA as Ryan was getting a mega contract with the Bucs, being Tom Brady's center and winning a Super Bowl. They stayed in touch and when Ryan was looking to build a house on some land in Colorado, he contacted Garrett to help with the process. Now the two are in business together with Gilk.

Being a college football coach is all Mike Sanford has ever known. After all, his father, Mike Sanford Sr., was a college coach before Mike was even born. Not only did Mike grow up moving from city to city with his father's career, when he went to Boise State, he was the backup quarterback where he got used to a headset and clipboard. He didn't mind either one, in fact he loved it. As soon as Mike graduated, he got on as a GA with his dad's staff at UNLV. He didn't stick to Mike Sr.'s tree for long. His career took to him to stops with Standford (twice), Yale, Western Kentucky (twice), Boise St, Notre Dame, Utah State, Minnesota and finally the University of Colorado. He was hired to be the Offensive Coordinator for Karl Dorrell in 2022, but when Karl got fired after an 0-5 start, he became the interim head coach. When he wasn't retained by the new staff at CU, Mike and his family decided to grow some roots in Colorado and give coaching a break. He's taken time to reflect and is starting to find a new passion for being on radio and TV as an analyst.

SPECIAL EDITION: CTFR episodes are typically with athletes and coaches from the past. This episode contains Susie Wargin's pregame features from the Broncos Radio Network with Broncos players from the 2023 season. Each feature has a topical theme with multiple players putting aside the X's and O's to have fun and shed light on their past, causes close to their heart and teammates.Thank you to Alan Jackson for producing all of these features and being our amazing producer for Broncos games. Enjoy!

His high school is known for having one of the best programs in the nation and producing more NCAA and NFL players than any other high school. Needless to say, there were no “off” days for Jimmy Spencer at Glades Central in Florida, which was fine because Jimmy knew he wanted to play in the NFL since he was 7. He had his choices of colleges and was being looked at as simply an athlete. He played quarterback at Glades Central, but his speed caught the eye of scouts. Jimmy opted for the University of Florida and skipped his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. The Washington Redskins took Jimmy in the 8th round and he spent his rookie season on the practice squad. The next season, he was with the Saints, where he was taught technique and thrived at defensive back. He also thrived at having too much fun and when he was given a chance to re-sign in the Big Easy, he credits God for showing him a different path. He took an offer with the Bengals instead. After Cincinnati, he went to the Chargers, then finished his career with the Broncos for three years, including the final year serving as a player/coach, something that hadn't been done since 1972. These days he's a husband and dad to four and coaches one of his sons at Cherry Creek High School.

He's the only person who played high school, college and professional baseball in the state of Colorado. After graduating from Northglenn High School, a suburb north of Denver, Mark Knudson went straight up I-25 to Colorado State University where he majored in journalism and pitched for a baseball program that was dissolved a decade after Mark left for the pros. Mark was drafted by the Astros in 1982 and credits his college ball for giving him a fast track to the majors: he debuted in single A and just 3 years later, he made his MLB debut. In 1986, Mark was traded to the Brewers which stung, but he made the most of it and became their Opening Day starter in 1991. Unfortunately, the next day he came down with a virus and was never the same that year. He was sent to their AAA team (the Denver Zephyrs) where he helped win a championship and then was released when the Brewers weren't going to bring him back to the show. Mark kept a home in the Denver area while he was playing and in the early 90's was “enlisted” to be a spokesperson to help bring Major League Baseball to Denver. In his final year in the pros, Mark played for that team and was the first Colorado born player to be on the Rockies roster. The day after Mark retired, his wife had triplets and they would later add another daughter. In retirement, he's worked numerous mediums in journalism and continues to do so between writing, radio and podcasting. He's also a high school baseball coach for Prospect Ridge Academy in Broomfield.

He moved from Ghana to the United States when he was 7. Ebenezer Ekuban didn't know anything about football and had no aspirations of playing the game because he was focused on academics. When his father told him he needed to do something outside of school, Ebenezer decided to try football his junior year of high school. He became a quick learner on both sides of the ball, playing tight end and defensive end and after just two years of high school ball, he turned some heads and had a number of offers to play in college. He opted for the University of North Carolina where he played tight end sparingly for two years, then was switched to defensive end and thrived. So much so, the Dallas Cowboys moved up to draft him in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. At that point, Ebenezer became the first Ghana born player in the NFL. Injuries crept in during his 5 years in Dallas and he dealt with three different head coaches, including Bill Parcells. It didn't take long for Eb to realize he wasn't a “Parcells Guy.” He signed with the Browns as a free agent and then the next season was traded to the Broncos where he fell in love with Denver. After 10 years in the NFL, Ebenezer and his wife Karen made their home in the Mile High City where they are raising four children.

Cole Pemberton took a leap of faith when he transferred from Kansas City to Highlands Ranch to live with his dad during his high school years. That leap provided a new relationship with his father and a stellar football career as an offensive lineman at Mountain Vista High School. Cole opted to play college football at Colorado State University for Sonny Lubick and prided himself on protecting his quarterback. He allowed just one sack his senior season and was a team captain. He also dealt with injuries. His name wasn't called on draft day, but he was able to get on as a college free agent with Gary Kubiak's Texans, who at the time were “CSU South” with several former Rams on the roster. Cole was cut a few times in the NFL and when a doctor told him his knee was shot, he hung up his cleats. Post retirement wasn't easy. He tried coaching at the University of Miami and some other odd jobs and nothing felt right. He also fell into a dark place mentally and used opiates and other substances to help his physical and mental pain. Today, Cole is in a better place. He enjoys his job and talking to others about overcoming substance abuse and challenges.

When Rockies' ownership opened their wallets in 2000 and struck mega deals with two big name pitchers, fans rejoiced. Unfortunately, Coors Field is an unforgiving ballpark for pitchers, no matter how much money they get paid. Denny Neagle yearned to be the savior Rockies fans so desperately wanted. He'd worked his way up through the baseball ranks, starting with college ball at the University of Minnesota, getting drafted by the Twins, becoming an ace and All-Star with the Pirates, starting a World Series game and earning another All-Star nod with the Braves and winning a World Series ring with the Yankees. The pedigree was there, and it was tough on Denny when success didn't come in Denver. He wanted to prove his worth. Denny pitched his last game in July of 2003, had some personal incidents in 2004 and realized he needed to get his life together, not only for himself, but for his family and those around him. These days, he spends a lot of time with his family, especially his three young adult children. He's also the pitching coach at Chatfield High School and starting to dabble in podcasting with comedian Frank Nicotero.