Mile High Monday: Sizing up the Broncos non-Rodgers options at QB

There were no NFL games this weekend. The Super Bowl is past us, and we are not yet to the start of the new league year. It doesn’t mean things still can’t happen (and are happening), it’s just a slower time of year for a game which rarely slows down.

I like the calm before the storm in the NFL. We get to take a breath, enjoy other sports or activities, and speculate about what could possibly happen in the near future.

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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No NFL Trending

The internet is undefeated, and on Sunday it won – well, whatever it wins all the time – again when “No NFL” was trending on Twitter. The countdown has begun to the start of the 2022 season, and this weekend we all had to get used to not watching football for the first time in what seems like forever ago.

The memes floating around today were hilarious, mostly playful, and shows just how much people build their weekends around this game. I’m fortunate, because football is my job, to live in a time when the NFL is king – but I can remember when that wasn’t the case. Growing up, Major League Baseball was seen as “America’s Pastime” and was the most popular sport in the United States. Yes, there was some great NFL football and basketball played in the 80s, but that decade belonged to the MLB.

In the 90s things changed. Not only did the NBA explode in popularity thanks to some guy named Michael Jordan, but the fever for the NFL also became larger and larger. I credit that increase in attention paid to the NFL to a few different factors. First, the game itself became better and free agency helped create a league of parity where most every team feels like they have a shot at the beginning of every season. ESPN, specifically “NFL Primetime” with Chris Berman and Tom Jackson, made the NFL must-see TV. Finally, the growth of fantasy football (I started playing in 1993) has made a huge impact in how many people care about the NFL.

No NFL today pic.twitter.com/LfXCWzwi5J

— PMT Memes (@PardonMyMeme) February 20, 2022

The game is so big and so beloved that when it’s gone people notice. What do we do with ourselves when there’s no football? Well, for myself, I spent the weekend cleaning the garage and preparing issue No. 1 of my comic “Suimmortal” to go to press. During the week, I will be underwater writing up the 2022 NFL Draft class. Without football on the weekends, I’ll be spending more time building my independent comic book company “Smokin Gun Studios” – so I have plenty to keep me busy. I’ll miss the NFL while there are no games, but it’s the offseason and my favorite time of year (aka draft season) that will be full of perhaps more twists and turns.

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What “The Others” Offer

Any news about Aaron Rodgers is met with massive reaction from Broncos Country. With the Packers saying they’ll go “all in” to keep Rodgers, even though they have one of the worst salary cap situations in the league, Broncos fans just can’t believe a trade for Rodgers will happen. Maybe it will, and maybe it won’t but it all comes down to what Rodgers wants – as I’ve reported on The Fan time and time again.

Rodgers news means Broncos Country will immediately bring up the “others” when it comes to the quarterback position. That list includes superstars like Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson – and both of those guys would make sense just like Rodgers does. The Broncos need at least a star quarterback to compete in today’s NFL – especially in the talent-packed AFC West. Wilson is a great option who could use a fresh start somewhere outside of Seattle. Watson is the best option in my opinion – if his legal issues get cleared up and there is clarity about whether the league will suspend him for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

What doesn’t make sense? Kirk Cousins, Carson Wentz or Jimmy Garoppolo. We’ve gone over the Cousins issue before here at DenverFan.com. I’ve said this week on “Nick and Cecil” that if George Paton makes a move for Cousins, then the Broncos need to start looking for another general manager – and I love Paton. Yes, it’s that extreme. Cousins got the staff in Minnesota, including Paton’s mentor Rick Spielman, fired this offseason and he’ll do the same thing for the next team that adds him.

Wentz is somewhat new to the list of quarterbacks not named Rodgers, Wilson, Watson. He’s new for most, but I said about three weeks ago that my sources around the Colts were giving off the vibe that Wentz could be available. Wentz has some good film, and he was my no.1 quarterback in the 2016 NFL draft, but there’s something missing to his game. I think his lack of connection with some teammates (and overuse of others) have alienated him with two franchises. He’s another name for the Broncos, but Wentz is not a quarterback I would make a move for – even if/when the Colts release him.

Garoppolo is one of those “good enough” quarterbacks Broncos fans like to bring up as well. I like his game when he’s well protected, and Garoppolo has the fastest release we’ve seen since Dan Marino. However, there are times when Garoppolo goes YOLO and makes what I call “Jimmy G” plays. These are plays where, for whatever reason, Garoppolo makes throws into coverage or decisions with the ball that cost his team dearly. He can play a good game for 90 percent of the game, but the threat of that other 10 percent – which is awful – is always lingering. He’s another quarterback I’d wisely say “no thanks” to if I was the Broncos.

Jimmy Garoppolo is (+950) to be the next quarterback of the Carolina Panthers

(@Bookies) pic.twitter.com/AgxbGhIH9Z

— PFF Bet (@PFF_Bet) February 20, 2022

Early indications have Garoppolo ending up with the Carolina Panthers – which adds Sam Darnold (no thanks on him too) to the list! The “good enough” quarterback is a road the Broncos have tried time and time again. Be better. The Broncos need to swing for the fences, shoot for the stars, go for it or whatever saying you want to use. I know that “good enough” is two things. First, an underrated Van Halen (Van Hagar) song. Second, not good enough for the Broncos when it comes to the quarterback position.

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Best Since Beast Mode

Everyone knows I love Broncos running back Javonte Williams. He was my no.1 running back in last year’s class (have you heard that? LOL), and I felt the Broncos got a steal when they moved up to snare him in the second round. How many times have I typed that? Moving on, as we get past the 2021 regular season more advanced data gets featured on players across the league.

Over the weekend, Pro Football Focus had an interesting comparison of Williams and his tackle-breaking ability. The numbers Williams was able to post in that department as a rookie was the highest we’ve seen in the NFL since Marshawn Lynch was running over defenders in the NFL. I loved Lynch as a player. I had the pleasure of hanging out with and working out with Lynch years ago in Los Angeles, and he’s a great guy – one of the most misunderstood players in the league. He’s also a monster when it comes to attacking defenders, and that’s why he earned the nickname “Beast Mode.”

The Broncos have their own beast in Williams. I wrote last week on DenverFan.com that the time is right for the Broncos to move on from Melvin Gordon. Williams is the most talented back on the roster, and this is not a great class of free agents. In the draft, there are no first-round graded running backs but plenty of nice “depth” players – none of which I’ve graded higher than Williams. It’s time for the Broncos to unleash their beast. That can’t happen if they insist on forcing a running back by committee with an average veteran talent like Gordon.

Javonte Williams forced a missed tackle on 31% of his attempts this season 😤

That’s the most by a RB since Marshawn Lynch in 2014 🤯 pic.twitter.com/IRtXHOtMIV

— PFF (@PFF) February 20, 2022

Do no worry about Williams getting a larger workload in 2022 – he’s built to handle such a thing, and he’s got fresh legs for a running back. He split time in college with Michael Carter, and he split time as a rookie with Gordon. It’s time for Williams to stop splitting time. When the Broncos hired Nathaniel Hackett as their new head coach, many (and rightfully so) felt it was to lure Rodgers to Denver. I thought that too, but I also thought it was a great hire for Williams and the rushing attack – something that should be especially strong with Hackett running the show.

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Headbanging for Peace

As I mentioned earlier, I’m spending this extended “No NFL” weekend drawing one of my comic book creations – issue No. 1 of “Suimmortal” – and I’ve found myself headbanging for motivation. As I’m drawing, something that truly brings me peace and happiness, I’m listening to some of the most rambunctious music out there.

I’m a lifelong heavy metal fan. I was a metal fan and wearing Metallica or Anthrax t-shirts when everyone thought it was uncool – or thought I was some sort of skateboarding drug dealer – on dirt roads in the country no less. It’s no surprise that I listen to metal when I work, whether that’s watching film or writing or drawing.

Classic metal is great, and I’ll always listen to Metallica, Megadeth, Testament and Anthrax as thrash metal is my favorite type of music. However, I noticed when drawing this weekend that “Nu Metal” is what motivates me the most. The genre “Nu Metal” happened in the 90s and early 2000s with the popularity of bands like Korn or Limp Bizkit skyrocketing. The genre quickly faded away, and most make fun of it today, but there are some gem albums from that time. I was particularly having fun listening to Hed Pe “Broke” and Coal Chamber “Dark Days” when drawing over the weekend, and it just struck me as ironic because I’m at peace listening to music that is far from peaceful.

Spending this No NFL weekend working on my comic Suimmortal – I've found my favorites to listen to when drawing are Hed PE or Coal Chamber. LOL considering drawing is so peaceful for me. What's your favorite music to listen to when working/creating? https://t.co/QbQkc8vGdA

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) February 20, 2022

What’s your favorite music to listen to when working or creating? Hit me up on social networking and let me know!

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