MILE HIGH MONDAY

Mile High Monday: The Broncos need new logo, uniforms and stadium

Jun 13, 2022, 6:09 AM

The Denver Broncos mandatory minicamp is finally here! Starting this week, the full roster of the team will be in attendance for three practices that are fully open to the media. I will be in attendance with bells on, as I’m super excited for the process.

I like when everyone shows up for work. Yes, the Broncos take about a month-long break after mandatory minicamp, but this event signals the season is drawing closer – and I can’t wait.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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New Look, New You

The Broncos are entering a new era. Last week, a sale of the team was announced to the Walton-Penner family ownership group. The price was a record-setting $4.65 billion dollars – smashing the previous record of $2.2 billion when the Carolina Panthers were bought by David Tepper in 2018.

With the Walton-Penner group running the Broncos, it’s time for the team to consider changing a few things. I tweeted last week that in this new era, there needs to be new jerseys, new helmets and a new stadium (more on that later) for the Broncos. With those new things must come a new logo and perhaps a slight change to the color scheme.

The Broncos logo I tweeted about was quite popular because it was a combination of the old “D” logo that John Elway wore for most of his career with the new “horse head” logo that the team has won three Super Bowls wearing. I’d like to see the Broncos implement a new logo and go back to a lighter blue with orange as their primary color. The ‘color rush’ jerseys are fun, but I think that classic look is more fitting for the Broncos of today.

With that new era comes time for a new look. It’s not that I hate the current jerseys, and the team has certainly had success wearing them, but that logo and jersey have been around since 1997. I don’t want to make you feel old, but as someone stuck in the ’90s, that was 25 years ago. Isn’t that long enough? I think so, and I’d love to see the Broncos debut a new look in 2023.

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Time For an Upgrade

As aforementioned, the Broncos need a new stadium. If you don’t think the Broncos need a new stadium, I’d encourage you to travel to a city with a new NFL stadium and see just how far behind the times the Broncos are. Empower Field at Mile High is one of the bottom 10 stadiums in the NFL, and the city of Denver, the Broncos and Broncos fans are missing out on something much better.

The stadium experience is different than it was when then Invesco Field at Mile High opened back in 2001. Back then, the stadium was perfectly fine for football fans. Now, with big screen 4K HDTVs and premium sound systems for home theaters, it’s almost better just to stay home and enjoy the game from the comfort of your man cave.

Going to a football game is expensive – really expensive – especially for those taking a family of four or more. Between parking, concessions, and oh yeah – the tickets – just going to an NFL game could run around $500 or more. Why not just stay home where the food and beer are cheaper and you’re not paying for parking in your garage?

A new stadium would bring a great experience to the fan in attendance, and it would give you more bang for your buck – something we all are looking for in today’s inflation. It’s not just better seats or a better field, it’s about what’s going to be around the stadium like shops, bars, sportsbooks, etc. Wise NFL owners are building more than just stadiums; they’re making destinations for consumers on and off game day.

You’ll get a Super Bowl and the NFL Draft in Denver with a new stadium – if it’s one with a retractable roof. The roof can be open for most game days, but having it closed like a dome would mean the city of Denver could host the biggest sporting even in the United States – the Super Bowl. Add in how popular the NFL Draft has become with estimates over 1.5 million people went to Las Vegas for this year’s draft, and you can see how enticing and inviting a new stadium would be for the area. A new stadium would be a huge shot in the arm for the local economy with just these two events, not even to mention the concerts and other events the new retractable roof stadium could hold.

A new stadium is coming, much to the chagrin of out-of-touch media members and fans. We just don’t know where it’s going to be located. Some say it should move somewhere out by Denver International Airport. Some say the stadium should stay in downtown Denver. Still others say where it’s currently located is not downtown Denver. I say, “What the blank ever.” Kust get a new stadium for this team.

What could be better than a Russell Wilson-led Broncos team playing a Super Bowl in Denver in a few years? That doesn’t happen if old fuddy-duddies get their way and the stadium experience stays the same.

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Draft Broncos Early

I don’t go long daily when it comes to thinking about fantasy football. One, because I love it. But two, it’s also my job. However, there is a third reason I’m thinking about fantasy football almost all the time – the Broncos are going to be great.

With Wilson, the Broncos are back near the top of the pack in the NFL when it comes to fantasy potential. It’s not just Wilson, it’s the fact the Broncos are going to let the veteran quarterback run the offense the way he sees fit. With the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson was forced to run an old school offense that emphasized running the ball – until that didn’t work, and they’d try to have Wilson do everything to win the game in the fourth quarter. I love old school football, but you must build a lead with the passing game then run out the clock – literally – with your rushing attack. That’s the plan for the Broncos this year.

I’ve seen this offense during OTAs, and while I can’t reveal too much, I can say the explosive offense Broncos fans got used to with Peyton Manning (2012-2014) is back. The Broncos are going to be dangerous because of Wilson and the players around him, and that means all Fantasy GMs must be taking Broncos earlier than they may think. I believe some are sleeping on the Broncos at this time, but that should change around the preseason – and unfortunately right before most fantasy drafts in August.

Wilson will lead the way tossing the rock to guys like Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy and Greg Dulcich. However, it’s second-year running back Javonte Williams who will be the team’s ‘closer’ as his punishing style can grind down an opponent in the second half after Wilson and the passing game have built a lead.

Williams, Sutton and Wilson should be fantasy darlings this season. Right now, Williams is getting drafted in the second round of most fantasy drafts – and that’s where he should stay in August as some are worried about Melvin Gordon taking some fantasy value away. Sutton is getting drafted way too low, especially given he looks like Wilson’s favorite target. I’d say drafting him in the fourth round (current average draft position is at the end of the seventh round) as a WR2 with upside for your fantasy team. Finally, I think Wilson could be a top-five fantasy quarterback this year far surpassing his current ADP of QB11 (8.03) in 12-team PPR leagues.

Don’t be afraid to draft Broncos this year. However, get ready to miss out on these fantasy assets if you wait too long. Draft Broncos early in 2022.

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Over the Top

There is no doubt that “The Boys” on Amazon Prime is a superhero TV show that is a bit (or a lot) over the top. I’m not going to give much away, and I can’t in the family-friendly space we have here at DenverFan.com, but if you’re not watching “The Boys,” then you’re missing out.

The show is shocking just like the comic book was. It’s not shocking just for shock’s sake, however. “The Boys” has a purpose to shock your socks off. The world building and character development the show does is not equaled by many shows that are currently on TV. Sure, you can see “The Boys” as a lame superhero show, but looking further into the story and the characters reveals just how deep this show is – all while shocking you.

My favorite character on “The Boys” is their version of Superman called Homelander. He’s all about America in front of the cameras, but behind the scenes, he’s perhaps the most sinister villain we’ve seen since Darth Vader. Homelander is both terrifying and fascinating as a character and watching his story arc over the first two seasons has been fun. Now, in season three, his character is going places the viewer won’t expect – without the lame trope that some filmmakers use of subverting expectations.

Is “The Boys” the best thing on TV? Hit me up on social media and let me know!

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Mile High Monday: The Broncos need new logo, uniforms and stadium