Mile High Monday: The “Russ-n-Effect” already giving local sports a boost

The 2022 NFL Draft is so close, I can taste it. If that sounds weird, then I remind you that I am “Mr. Draft” and “it’s only weird if you make it weird.”

I like when all the work is done. I’ve prepared for this draft and will spend the next couple of weeks resting my brain – and scouting super deep sleepers the Broncos bring in for workouts (LOL).

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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Terrible Take

I like Gil Brandt. He’s a godfather in the scouting community and has forgotten more about football than I’ll ever know. That being said, I was incredibly disappointed by the scouting legend this weekend.

Dwayne Haskins, quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers and former first-round pick of Washington, was killed on Sunday when he was hit by a car. In a radio interview on Sunday, Brandt was asked about Haskins death and had several insensitive things to say.

Instead of showing compassion and sending condolences to the Haskins family, Brandt went on to comment how the quarterback never played up to his potential in the NFL. One of the dumbest things Brandt said in the interview was “Maybe it he stayed in school a year he wouldn’t do silly things [like] jogging on a highway.” Haskins entered the pros early, although some like Brandt felt he should’ve stayed at Ohio State for another year. It’s pointless and heartless to point that out when Haskins was killed by a car because he was jogging on a highway.

I honestly can’t believe Brandt was this cold. The comments went viral, and the audio sounds even worse than reading what Brandt said.

Here is @Gil_Brandt on NFL radio when asked about Dwayne Haskins.
“He was a guy that was living to be dead.”
“It was always something” with Haskins
“Maybe it he stayed in school a year he wouldn’t do silly things [like] jogging on a highway.” pic.twitter.com/cuZZdqYOck

— Pete Damilatis (@PeteDamilatis) April 9, 2022

Before the NFL Draft, players are often criticized for many reasons. It’s part of the process, and every player goes through it – although some are unfairly criticized for reasons that may not have to do with football. Brandt sounded terrible here and needed to let go of his pre-draft opinions on Haskins – especially when a player dies in a tragic accident. Brandt did apologize for his comments on Twitter, but what he said had already gone viral. It’s a bad look, and hopefully people can learn from this.

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Tight End Help on the Way?

The Denver Broncos are in the market for a tight end since they sent Noah Fant to the Seattle Seahawks as part of the Russell Wilson trade. It was revealed that they are looking to a familiar face – well, at least a face that is familiar to Broncos GM George Paton.

On Friday, it was reported that veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph had a workout with the Broncos. A second-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2011 NFL Draft, Rudolph spent most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, where Paton was a top executive for years. Last year, Rudolph signed with the New York Giants and hauled in a paltry 26 catches for 257 yards and one touchdown. He’s clearly not the player he used to be, and that’s why the Giants released him in early March.

However, Rudolph could prove to be quite valuable if the Broncos sign him. Currently, Albert Okwuegbunam is penciled in as the starter. He’s a fine talent – big, strong, fast – but Okwuegbunam has never played a full season in his pro career. The Broncos cannot rely on him for the full season until he proves that availability is part of his ability. If added, Rudolph would bring valuable depth and starting experience behind Okwuegbunam. That way, if Okwuegbunam is banged up the team could plug in Rudolph and not really miss a beat.

Confirming Broncos worked out TE Kyle Rudolph. (1st by @JayGlazer). George Paton knows him well from Vikings days. #9sports

— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) April 9, 2022

Even if Rudolph is added, I fully expect the Broncos to select a tight end at some point in the 2022 NFL Draft. Of the 30 private workouts the Broncos get before the draft, one tight end has been invited to UC Health Training Center. Nevada’s Cole Turner, a converted wide receiver who has been playing tight end for two seasons, had a private workout with the Broncos and he could be a day-three pick. If not Turner, then someone else in the interesting group of late-round tight ends should be on the team’s radar.

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Russ-n-Effect

I’m here for anything Russell Wilson does. It doesn’t matter if he’s filming cheesy selfie videos about – well, anything – or throwing passes to the crowd at a Denver Nuggets game, or if he’s throwing out the first pitch at a Rockies game. I’m eating all of these Wilson events up, because it feels great for the Broncos to have a real franchise quarterback that has captivated the Mile High City in a short amount of time.

This is what my co-host, Nick Ferguson, calls the “Russ-n-Effect.” No, he’s not talking about the song “Rumpshaker” by ’90s hip-hop group Wreckx-n-Effect. Nick is talking about how Wilson is shining the spotlight on all of Colorado. The Nuggets got a bump in coverage because of Wilson – especially because most people locally can’t see them on TV. The Rockies got a bump in coverage – even on opening day – because Wilson was there.

Imagine the value of the Broncos, and with the team up for sale we should soon see how valuable this billion-dollar franchise is. With Wilson, the city gets a bump, and the economy gets a boost. I know I wouldn’t have been in the market to spend $150 on a Broncos jersey, until the Broncos traded for Wilson. I was happy to pick up my Wilson jersey last week. The Broncos are back to moving the needle – because of their quarterback.

🔙 where it all began.@DangeRussWilson x @Rockies pic.twitter.com/IG4n3gdt7O

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 9, 2022

Not only the Broncos – and not only other sports teams in Denver – but the entire state of Colorado, hell – the entire Rocky Mountain Mile High region – has benefitted from the arrival of Wilson. Now that Wilson has bumped up the value of the Broncos, it is about time for them to pay him back with a new contract that makes him among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. I’m not sure when that happens, but before the start of the regular season could be on the table. The longer they wait, the more his price tag goes up.

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My Opening Day

The countdown is on! In less than one month, the latest MCU movie “Dr. Strange 2: Multiverse of Madness” hits theaters and I will be there on opening night! I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of Dr. Strange. It’s not the actor who portrays him; Benedict Cumberbatch but it’s the character himself. I’m a big comic book collector, but I have only a few Dr. Strange issues – usually because someone else is featured in them (like Elsa Bloodstone).

The reason I’m so excited about “Multiverse of Madness” is the villain of the movie – The Scarlet Witch. Anyone who watched the Disney+ show “WandaVision” witnessed her demise into the DarkHold (book of magic). She’s been one of the most developed characters in the MCU, and Wanda rides the line between being on the side of good or evil.

Dr. Strange versus The Scarlet Witch – now with more America Chavez – is exactly what I’m here for. I know a lot of the spoilers as well in terms of cameo appearances, and let’s just say fans of all superhero movies are going to be happy with what – and who – they see. Now that multiple dimensions have been introduced via the Disney+ show “Loki” fans are in for a treat. I won’t spoil anything, but MCU fans need to be ready to see some favorites hit the screen in “Multiverse of Madness” – even if it’s just in cameo form. This movie should be great, and it’s already trending (via early ticket sales) to be one of the blockbusters of the year.

Enter the Multiverse. Check out the brand new poster for Marvel Studios’ #DoctorStrange in the Multiverse of Madness only in theaters May 6.

Get Tickets Now: https://t.co/iU34HX44zZ pic.twitter.com/XQFQodH2Tt

— Doctor Strange (@DrStrange) April 6, 2022

Have you got your tickets for “Multiverse of Madness” yet? Hit me up on social media and let me know!

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