Good player, bad teams.
The Broncos drafted Garett Bolles in 2017. He has never been to the playoffs, never been on a team with a winning record, and has played in roughly four meaningful December games.
Bolles is entering the last year of his contract. I’d offer him a two-year, $42 million extension and see if he takes it. Regardless, he is not looking for an escape hatch, a hall pass or a way to activate the red apple in the fighter jet.
He is not a glutton for misery. His stance is rooted in loyalty. With Justin Simmons gone, Bolles is the Broncos’ senior member. He has become Denver’s Joe Thomas.
He’d like to see this process through.
“Nobody wants to win here more than me because I have been here the longest and seen the history we have with the legends in the organization,” Bolle said. “And I feel like it’s my job to continue to build that, and continue to create this team and move forward.”
Bolles is unique. He is 32, his age a reflection of his non-traditional path to the NFL. He was one of the most unpopular Broncos his first three seasons. He flipped the script, became an All-Pro in 2020 and a franchise anchor on the field and in the community.
No one would blame him for leaving. He has played with 13 starting quarterbacks, six offensive line bosses and four head coaches.
Sean Payton believes the offensive line is the foundation of the team’s success. The Broncos have guaranteed $126 million to Mike McGlinchey, Ben Powers and Quinn Meinerz. Is Bolles next? Or will the team draft a first-round tackle or lean on a cheaper in-house replacement?
Bolles wears No. 72. He has suffered through exactly 72 regular-season losses. Isn’t it time this nice guy finishes somewhere besides last?
Russ the Bus: Former MVP Russell Westbrook’s deal with the Nuggets is finally done. He signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract with the second season a player option. There is no pick-and-pop game with Westbrook because there’s no pop from 3. But the idea of Westbrook cutting to the basket and catching long passes from Nikola Jokic is appealing. …
Tower of Power: Talked with Rockies manager Bud Black last week. He is encouraged by his team’s play in July because the muscle is starting to show up. “We’ve gotta have power to be a winning team,” Black said. Ezequiel Tovar, Brenton Doyle, Ryan McMahon, Michael Toglia, Nolan Jones, Jordan Beck, Zac Veen and Charlie Condon provide the makings of a team that could slug at Coors Field. …
Vele You Say? It’s not too early to talk about sleepers for the Broncos’ roster. Receiver Devaughn Vele brings speed and size that creates mismatches in the slot. And safety JL Skinner is going to get a chance to impress with Caden Sterns’ still recovering from knee surgery. Before you ask, there are no plans to re-sign Simmons, who is waiting patiently for the right offer from a contending team. …
Hater Raider: Raiders players making fun of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes with a Kermit doll is all-time stupid. Mahomes is 10-2 vs. the Raiders with 30 touchdowns and four interceptions. “It’ll get handled,” Mahomes said.
Mail Time
The Rockies almost swept the Giants (last week), but got no help from Charlie Blackmon. He could not get any clutch hits. They need a new leadoff hitter.
— Tim Cunningham, email
Charlie Blackmon will go down as one of the best Rockies ever, and there should be serious consideration to retiring his number. But there are some tough decisions looming. Can they afford to keep him at the top of the order? Will he platoon as a DH with Kris Bryant? And how do they gracefully exit this season and nudge Blackmon into retirement or pass on re-signing him? It’s time for the young kids to play. Pure and simple.