Will Elway regret passing on Rosen?
Readers talk and columnist Mark Kiszla responds
Needed another QB. Yes, Bradley Chubb is an excellent defensive player. But the Broncos should have taken UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen with the fifth pick in the NFL draft. Every team needs two very good quarterbacks. If Case Keenum goes down early in the season, Denver’s season will be destroyed. The Broncos will go 6-10 with Vance Joseph at the helm. Let’s see where Rosen and Arizona are in 2019, then tell me Chubb was the best pick. Richard, color him skeptical
Kiz: One reason so many quarterbacks fail to succeed at the NFL level? A general manager, desperate to find a franchise QB, reaches for one early in the first round. The fan base believes the hype and expects immediate success. A quarterback who isn’t ready flops, and his confidence is destroyed. It’s a vicious cycle. John Elway did the right thing by not reaching for a quarterback. Rosen? Smells like Jay Cutler to me.
Snow thanks: Fall off a ski lift, Kiz. J.A., loves W-Y-O!
Kiz: Well, that seems a tad harsh, doesn’t it? And all because I was happy the Broncos picked Chubb instead of Josh Allen? John Elway already has adopted a misfit toy named Paxton Lynch. The Broncos didn’t need to take on another project in Allen.
The one that got away? I saw offensive tackle Nate Solder signed as a free agent with the New York Giants. How did the Broncos let Solder, a Colorado kid, get away? Was it money? Rich, sentimental spender
Kiz: It’s great to see homie get paid. And our hard-working staff here at Kickin’ It Headquarters loves hanging out in Buena Vista (try the green chili Philly at Biggies Sub Shop). But the Giants gave Solder $35 million guaranteed. That’s good for him, but it’s bad management of the salary cap by the Giants.
Waving Wolters’ flag. Kiz, you are my “go-to guy” when reading about the Rockies. I am a huge Tony Wolters fan. He brings enthusiasm, whether starting or on the bench. Walters also seems to work very well with Jon Gray, German Marquez and Chad Bettis. The catcher is the captain, not the pitcher. I do like Chris Iannetta, but something is amiss with Gray and Marquez when Iannetta is behind the plate. Mary Jean, Section 158 at Coors
Kiz: Love for baseball is born from loving the game’s details. Gray has the stuff to be an ace, but the mental aspect of his game is fragile. Wolters’ relentlessly positive attitude is a perfect fit for Gray, who tends to go off the rails when an inning begins to go awry. Here’s thinking Bud Black should write Wolters’ name on the lineup card every time Gray takes the mound.
Wasted espresso. And today’s parting shot is a double shot of espresso, all gone to waste because of the last line of my column on Denver’s top draft choice.
Rollin’ a chub? I blew coffee out of my nose when reading that line, Kiz. Drafting Chubb was indeed a happy day for Broncos Land, but less so for my sinus passages. Even worse, I live in Oklahoma now, where chub rolling is frowned upon.