By: Brandon Rivera
This past Saturday the Denver Broncos wrapped up the preseason when they hosted the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High. Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien got the start on Saturday and didn’t disappoint, going 14 of 21 for 137 yards. Quarterback, Josh Johnson played the second half and completed 11 of 14 for 107 yards.
Saturday’s best in the backfield was Denver running back Mike Boone who had 44 yards on 5 attempts, averaging 8.8 yards a carry. Boone also caught two passes for seven yards.
The final game was a gauge for Broncos coaches to slim down the roster to 53. On Monday, the Broncos made their first cut with the announcement of punter Sam Martin being released after he refused a contract restructure that would have paid him less than the $2 million he was due for the 2022 season saving the Broncos nearly $2 million in cap space. Denver’s new punter Corliss Waitman, had a better net average in the preseason with similar stats to Martin.
The Denver Broncos also introduced their new team president Damani Leech at Monday’s press conference. Leech has a mountain of experience coming from the NFL office where he worked as vice president of strategy and business development before taking on an international role leading staff in Canada, Mexico, Los Angeles and New York. Leech’s experience with the league made him a prime candidate for president of football and he looks to help the Broncos carry on their winning reputation.
The Broncos are just a couple weeks away from the start of the regular season that kicks off in primetime, Monday night football against Russell Wilson’s old squad, the Seattle Seahawks. The game is scheduled for Monday, September 12, at 6:15 p.m.
In other sports the Denver Nuggets are ramping up preparations for the 2022-23 season, which kicks off October 19th against the Utah Jazz. Two time MVP, Nikola Jokic has shown no signs of slowing down with his performance in the FIBA World Cup this summer, where the Serbian helped his team defeat a Giannis Antetokounmpo lead Greek team 100-94 in overtime.
Nazem Kadri, despite signing a huge deal with the Calgary Flames got his time with the Stanley Cup over the weekend, with the Cup’s first ever visit to a Mosque. Kadri’s trip to the London Muslim Mosque in Ontario Canada is a first.
The Colorado Avalanche have yet to make Nathan Mackinnon the top NHL player of all time, however; they are expected to pay the Center top dollar before the start of the season. MacKinnon has been the centerpiece of the Avs since his rookie season 2013-14, where he chalked up his very fist post-season points. A short drought ensued and the young center didn’t return to the post season until 2018 when the Avs were eliminated by the Minnesota Wild.
After a couple failed attempts at getting to the can, Mackinnon and company finally made it to the finals in dominating fashion to record their first championship in twenty years.
This season the bar has been set and fans are expect- ing a back-to-back season of success with hopes of another Stanley Cup to hoist next year.
