Connect with us

Denver, CO

Kiszla: Coach Sean Payton is now on the clock in Broncos Country, where we’re all out of patience for losing

Published

on

Kiszla: Coach Sean Payton is now on the clock in Broncos Country, where we’re all out of patience for losing


Sean Payton, we don’t give a hoot if you were the toast of Bourbon Street. In Broncos Country, you’re officially on the clock. Win, or else we’ve got a hot seat waiting with your name on it.

“The main message for Broncos Country that I would have is we’re just as impatient as you are to win here,” franchise owner and CEO Greg Penner said Tuesday. “We understand that we have a lot of work to do.”

While preparations for the Super Bowl tournament began in earnest from Miami to San Francisco, the Broncos management team fitted another season with a toe tag during a meeting with media members. Two days after their season came to an end, they talked mealy out of both sides of their mouths about how the relationship with quarterback Russell Wilson was irrevocably and awkwardly broken over money after the biggest victory of the season.

If the Broncos flushed Wilson and beaucoup bucks after only 30 starts in a Denver uniform and “Huggy Bear” Hackett was tossed into an orange-and-blue dumpster after going 4-11, how long does prickly Payton get to prove that his let-’em-eat-cake approach wins football games?

Advertisement

What did Payton establish during his first season in Denver?

No. 1: He is indeed a better coach than a man he labeled one of the worst head coaches in NFL history.

And No. 2: He despises the way Wilson plays quarterback so much he would rather have no viable NFL starter than Wilson.

But has Payton really built anything resembling a foundation for winning football with the Broncos, especially on the offensive side of the operation, where his expertise is supposed to shine brighter than the Colorado sun?

“I don’t know if you’d say, ‘Laid the foundation,’” said Payton, who admitted these Broncos were stuck in the muck of parity in the middle of the NFL, citing the fact his team couldn’t win a single game this season if it failed to win the turnover battle.

Advertisement

“Were we as good as we expected or wanted to be offensively this year? Absolutely not … (It’s a) heavy-duty work in progress. I would say we’re not building on that foundation yet. We’re still putting the friggin’ pilings in, based on what I saw.”

But rather than addressing the attributes Payton needs in his next signal-caller, the Broncos are still playing the silly charade that the volcanic rift between this team and Wilson could heal, claiming the door’s open to his return, even though we can all see the police tape strung across the entrance for a dead QB walking.

Know what’s worse than the game mismanagement in the Christmas Eve loss to the Patriots that left a pit in the stomach of Penner and everyone in Broncos Country?

When Payton should’ve sat down with Wilson after a stirring victory against Kansas City and told him man-to-man that he couldn’t work with him, the coach left it to minion George Paton to unsuccessfully bluff the veteran quarterback’s agent into contract concessions with what was perceived as a threat to bench a Super Bowl champion for financial reasons.

So now there’s a matter of a messy divorce with Wilson before the Broncos can really get down to the serious business of ending an eight-year playoff drought.

Advertisement

“I felt like we had a chance, and this team had a chance to get into the postseason,” Payton said. “I feel that same way now. I’m disappointed because of that.”

I’m not so certain, however, Payton has fully grasped we’re so sick and tired of losing NFL games around here that the Emperor of Bourbon Street has no clothes in Broncos Country, especially when he now backs off a bodacious preseason vow to be ticked off if this team failed to make the playoffs.

Starting to feel the heat, Payton proved there might be a heart somewhere beneath his prickly exterior by sending a holiday treat to the media wretches who cover the Broncos: Five quarts of Jenni’s ice cream, with gourmet flavors ranging from Brambleberry Crisp to Salty Caramel.

My gift was packed in a big orange box with dry ice and specific instructions to open immediately because there was ice cream inside. Unfortunately, it arrived Saturday, after I had already departed for Las Vegas, where the Broncos barely put up a fight in a 27-14 defeat to the Raiders.

When can ice cream be a metaphor for another football season that was a crying shame in Denver?

Advertisement

Payton made a brilliant play call.

But his yummy ice cream turned to lukewarm soup, going rotten on the stoop, the result of either poor execution, operational issues, or both.

Me? I blame the quarterback.

Penner said he expects the team to win more games next season.

Hey, we’re all fresh out of patience.

Advertisement

The Broncos don’t need to pay Payton $18 million per year to miss the playoffs.

Fangio, Hackett or any bum off the street could do the same for a fraction of the cost.

Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.



Source link

Advertisement

Denver, CO

Arizona Cardinals will face Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix for 1st time

Published

on

Arizona Cardinals will face Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix for 1st time



Broncos QB Bo Nix is one of an projected four quarterbacks the Cardinals have never faced previously.

The Arizona Cardinals will take on the Denver Broncos in Week 7, facing them at State Farm Stadium. The Broncos’ starting quarterback is Bo Nix.

It will be the first time that the Cardinals face Nix in a regular-season game.

Advertisement

Bo Nix through 2 NFL seasons

Nix enters this third NFL season. He has led the Broncos to the playoffs twice.

He is 24-10 as a starter and 1-1 in the playoffs.

Through two seasons, he has completed 64.8% of his passes for 7,706 yards, 54 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He has rushed for nine touchdowns in two seasons.

Nix is one of four projected starting quarterbacks the Cardinals will face for the first time ever this season. The others are:

  • Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
  • Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
  • Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on SpotifyYouTube or Apple podcasts.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Denver, CO

This Boulder farm dinner serves up midsummer Slavic vibes with James Beard-worthy fare

Published

on

This Boulder farm dinner serves up midsummer Slavic vibes with James Beard-worthy fare


If you were a single Slavic pagan in ancient times, the path to finding true love was fairly straightforward and considerably more exciting than going on a blind date. All you had to do was weave a garland of wildflowers, grab your intended by the hand, hurl yourselves over the roaring flames of a bonfire, and plunge nude into the nearest body of water.

In other words, ancient midsummer festivals of romance were fairly high stakes.

While you likely won’t find anyone risking third-degree burns or stripping nude in Boulder this weekend, chef Bo Porytko is reviving similar energy for a sprawling 10-course fine-dining experience where feast-goers can party like it’s 900 A.D.

The Midsummer Farm Dinner takes place on Sunday at Esoterra Culinary Garden, 8985 Valmont Road, Boulder. The event will bring together a collective of 10 chefs from some of Denver’s buzziest restaurants  — including Molotov, Somebody People, Hearth, Odell’s Bagel, Petit Chelou, Margot, Bear Leek, La Diabla and Rougarou — for a collaborative, long-table meal built around Esoterra’s summer produce. The outdoor feast will begin with arrivals at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $260.

Advertisement

Porytko, the chef behind Denver’s Molotov restaurant, said the dinner series was inspired by his heritage.

“In Ukrainian culture, we have something called Ivana Kupala, which dates back to ancient times,” Porytko said. “Basically, it’s their midsummer festivities that also act as a mating holiday.”

Don’t worry, coupling up is not required for this event.

“Midsummer is just kind of a fun time,” Porytko said. “It was a good way to harness these weird, culty vibes that kind of suit the farm setting.”

The ancient East Slavic festival of Kupala was celebrated on the evening of June 23-24.

Advertisement

For guests wondering how that ancient atmosphere translates to a modern dinner on a 100-acre Boulder property, the evening starts on a hospitable note. Guests arrive for James Beard-recognized cocktails mixed by the team from Denver’s Yacht Club. From there, diners have time to explore the farm.

“The way the actual event begins is people come to the farm and get about an hour with welcome cocktails,” Porytko said. “Then you’re supposed to wander, check out the space, take in the farm, and there’s a little bit of education too.”

Attendees are asked to arrive dressed entirely in white. An LED flower wreath will be placed at each setting around a massive table built for 100 people. A maypole will be erected nearby, and a live DJ will guide the evening’s soundtrack. The music will begin to vibe with standard dinner fare before veering into unexpected territory.

Diners sit at a long table under tents during last year’s Midsummer Farm Dinner at Esoterra Culinary Garden in Boulder. The dinner returns Sunday with a menu built around produce grown at the farm. (Jeff Fierberg/Courtesy photo)

“The DJ will play normal music, but then take, for example, a Kelly Clarkson song and turn down the beats per minute so she sounds like she’s speaking in Viking tones,” Porytko said, adding that the DJ will also mix in random Gregorian chants to fit the scene.

As the wine flows, the initial formality of the long table quickly disappears. Porytko said guests naturally start getting up, making friends and moving around the property after a few courses.

Advertisement

“After 10 courses and eight glasses of wine, people just kind of take it in whatever direction they want,” Porytko said.

A vegetable dish is plated during last year's Midsummer Farm Dinner at Esoterra Culinary Garden in Boulder. (Jeff Fierberg/Courtesy photo)
A vegetable dish is plated during last year’s Midsummer Farm Dinner at Esoterra Culinary Garden in Boulder. (Jeff Fierberg/Courtesy photo)

To translate those festive vibes into an actual 10-course meal, the participating chefs rely on a highly democratic planning process. Justin Freeman, the executive chef of Somebody People in Denver, will help coordinate the logistics, beginning with a digital inventory of whatever Esoterra is currently pulling from the soil.

“There’s a Google Doc that we all use,” Freeman said. “We just ask the owner of Esoterra — Mark DeRespinis — what he’s growing, and then everyone signs up for what ingredients they want to cook with. We really just try to showcase what Mark has.”

Chefs look over the active list, claim the specific vegetables they want to work with and design a dish around them. Freeman then steps in to help arrange the final layout of the courses. He said the event has become an ongoing annual collaboration to give a little praise to the people who are doing all the hard work — the farmers.

The resulting menu leans heavily into hyper-seasonal creativity, starting with Porytko’s own intricate contribution.

“The idea is to highlight items from the farm,” Porytko said. “For me, I’m highlighting their beets, their Badger Flame beets.”

Advertisement

Porytko is preparing a guinea hen roulade cured in the juice of the Badger Flame beets and stuffed with a chocolate mint mousseline. The dish will be served with a beet mole, a gummied Badger Flame beet and traditional roasted beets.

The rest of the collective will showcase the farm’s harvest through a variety of distinct culinary styles. Freeman is serving grilled fennel with a creamy pistachio sauce, pickled celtuce and seasoned breadcrumbs. Andrew Van Stee of Hearth is contributing Moroccan pistachio carrot rolls, while Miles Odell of Odell’s Bagel is pairing dry-aged ocean trout with a coconut pea puree. Justin Fulton of Margot is preparing charred cucumbers with agretti, coconut broth and yuzu kosho, and Rema Maaliki and Harrison Porter of Bear Leek are bringing braised leeks with leek soubise, albufera and crispy leeks. The lineup also features plates from James Beard chef finalist José Avila of La Diabla, JohnDavid Wright of Rougarou and pastry work by Ali Spahr of Hearth .

Skewers cook over hot coals during last year's Midsummer Farm Dinner at Esoterra Culinary Garden. (Jeff Fierberg/Courtesy photo)
Skewers cook over hot coals during last year’s Midsummer Farm Dinner at Esoterra Culinary Garden. (Jeff Fierberg/Courtesy photo)

The actual preparation happens entirely outdoors. The chefs arrive early in the morning to set up tables, tents and their own Japanese konro grills packed with binchotan charcoal.

“It all happens out in the field, in the middle of Mark’s gardens,” Freeman said. “We set up that morning. We’ll set up the tables, the tents, everything. Then we do all the cooking in front of everyone.”

Diners can stand right by the workspace and watch the dishes come together. For the chefs, the open-air format offers a rare chance to step away from their respective restaurant kitchens and collaborate directly with their fellows.

“For us, as chefs, we just don’t get to see each other very often, so it’s really fun and special when we do,” Porytko said. “We definitely have our own little hangout in the kitchen area with all the chefs, you know — all the weirdos in the corner.”

Advertisement

Freeman echoed the sentiment, noting the benefit of the format for the guests as well.

“With this one, you’re getting 10 different chefs with 10 different views all coming together under one roof,” Freeman said.

Cooking in an open field does, however, mean operating at the whim of Colorado’s summer elements. Freeman recalled a previous year when a sudden onset of mountain weather forced the culinary crew to quickly shift from grilling to structural defense.

“The first year we had a little bit of rain at the start of it,” Freeman said. “Then the wind was crazy, where we all had to come and grab the tent so it didn’t blow away.”

Hopefully, on Sunday, the weather will remain tame, but guests should prepare for whatever Mother Nature has to throw at them, just in case.

Advertisement

The event takes place on Sunday, with arrival at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. The location is Esoterra Culinary Garden, 8985 Valmont Road, Boulder. Tickets start at $260 and are available through Tock.





Source link

Continue Reading

Denver, CO

Denver Broncos Roster Breakdown: Center—The Depth Question

Published

on

Denver Broncos Roster Breakdown: Center—The Depth Question


A year ago, the Denver Broncos had some questions about the future of their center position. However, during the bye, the Broncos answered those questions by extending one their starter.

Advertisement

Even with that extension, the Broncos still have some questions about the position’s future, partly due to the structure of the deal they granted and the position’s depth. 

Advertisement

Our last installment in this positional series was at offensive guard, where the Broncos are very strong and deep. As we continue breaking down each position on the Broncos’ roster ahead of training camp, let’s examine where things stand at center.

Starter

Luke Wattenberg

Advertisement

Wattenberg is the starter and will remain so after the big extension Denver gave him in November 2025. Before the extension, his play was solid, but afterward, he looked like a top 10 center in the NFL — then he suffered a shoulder injury.

Advertisement

Wattenberg’s long-term place with the Broncos will depend entirely on his play, as his four-year, $48 million deal is structured so that Denver can get out of it after the 2027 season. It’s essentially a two-year deal for about $25 million.

If Wattenberg isn’t cutting it or can’t stay healthy, the Broncos could move on and save themselves $23 million. He’s missed six games to injury since becoming the starter in 2024, so the Broncos’ depth could be tested with Wattenberg as the guy.

Advertisement

Backup

Denver Broncos center Alex Forsyth (54) during the game Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Alex Forsyth

The backup spot is held by Forsyth, a solid run blocker who struggles in pass protection. He has seen the field some over the last two years. When Forsyth stepped in for Wattenberg late last season, he looked much the same as he did in the same role in 2024.

Advertisement

There are still questions about Forsyth, not only with his play but also with the fact that he is entering the final year of his rookie deal as a 2023 seventh-round draft pick. Denver could be looking for a new backup center after this season, as he could decide he wants a chance to start elsewhere and walk in free agency, especially with six career starts on his resume.

Advertisement

Wattenberg will be the starter for 2026 and 2027, so long as he avoids the injury bug. He hasn’t been able to stay on the field since taking over for Lloyd Cushenberry III as the starter in 2024, so if the best predictor of future outcomes is past outcomes, the Broncos had better be prepared for Forsyth to see the field at some point in 2026.

The Others

Advertisement

Washington Commanders guard Michael Deiter (60) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Gavin Ortega and Michael Deiter

Oretega is an undrafted rookie the Broncos brought in, and he has a chance to compete for a practice squad spot. The Broncos brought Deiter in last year after injuries to Wattenberg and Forsyth.

There isn’t a spot for either of these players on the 53-man roster, barring preseason injuries, and it can be tough to keep two centers on the practice squad, even if the players have guard versatility. 

Advertisement

The Takeaway

While the Broncos have the starting job locked up with Wattenberg for the next two years, their depth is still questionable. Forsyth hasn’t shown the development you want to see, and will be a free agent after this season.

Denver could find itself looking for a center in the 2027 NFL draft to develop in case Wattenberg’s play drops off, or if he isn’t able to sustain the high level of play he displayed after getting his extension late last year.

Sign up for our free Denver Broncos On SI newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

Advertisement

Add us as a preferred source on Google



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending