Big Ten Championship Football

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws a pass during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

It looks like “Sparky” Stidham is going to be the Broncos starting quarterback this season, unless they decide to mortgage the future again and move up in the NFL draft. If “Sparky” is the guy, the Broncos will go 5-12.

- Chuck, a cool papa

Kiz: The knuckleheads here at Kickin’ It Headquarters sincerely hope the Broncos aren’t among the fools that have so fallen in love with Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy that they are willing to mortgage the future to trade up in the first round. Let the Minnesota Vikings make that mistake. A much better value play for Denver would be to trade back from No. 12 in the first round, gain extra draft capital and gamble that Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix could fall in its lap.

I would not be the least surprised to see receiver Jerry Jeudy look better in Cleveland than he did in Denver. One of the biggest weaknesses in the Broncos organization is the development of young players. It probably has something to do with the fact there is zero patience within the organization and the fan base. Don’t ask the Broncos to draft and develop a player, because they can’t.

Brian, Parker

Kiz: Kudos to you for the spot-on analysis that neither the Broncos nor their fans have had the stomach for rebuilding. That’s not coach Sean Payton’s fault. But does Payton strike you as a patient man willing to embrace a three-year rebuilding plan?

I have divorced myself from the Broncos and moved on. I may be back when the little tyrant is gone, replaced by the right coach, and a new general manager comes along. That would make the Broncos a team you can love again! This ownership group is certainly learning in the school of hard knocks. Unfortunately, the Broncos have joined the Rockies as a team of irrelevance.

- Lonnie, happier now

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Kiz: While it’s next to impossible for old school Broncomaniacs to break the habit of living and dying with their beloved NFL team, there are now Colorado kids in the sixth grade that can only vaguely remember a time when Denver didn’t primarily exist for the Kansas City Chiefs to have somebody to beat. Think those kids have a compelling reason to look up from their video games to watch the Broncos play football for three hours on any given Sunday?

Kiz needs to do one thing: Work on his writing basics before he starts to form a conjunctive thought piece.

- J.J., helpful by nature

Kiz: I will endeavor to pen my first “conjunctive thought piece” as soon as my esteemed Denver Gazette colleagues Paul Klee and Woody Paige explain to me what that means.

And today’s parting shot is a most excellent suggestion (or so methinks) for a new general manager when the Broncos move on from George Paton.

Dear Kiz: Why don’t you lobby for the general manager job? After the team started 1-5 last season, you apparently knew they would also stumble at the end. With prognostication skills like that, you would be a great G.M. Oh wait … you have perfect hindsight, like everyone does.

- Art, Colorado Springs

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