Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar learned of his Pueblo ties on January 29, 1974 — the same day he was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Gradishar had just capped off his senior season at the Ohio State University with a 42-21 Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans. Denver Broncos coach John Ralston called the consensus All-American linebacker to inform him that he was the Broncos’ choice for the 14th pick in the draft.

“After I hung up with Coach Ralston, I called home and talked to mom and dad,” Gradishar told the Chieftain. “At the end of the conversation… I find out that my father was born in Pueblo.”

Here’s how the Broncos legend stays connected to the Steel City decades after his retirement from football.

‘Orange Crush’ linebacker maintains relationship with city of father’s birth

Gradishar’s father Jim grew up in the Eilers neighborhood near the corner of Mesa and Egan avenues. Jim, his parents and his siblings moved to northeast Ohio during the Great Depression. However, their cousins remained in Pueblo.

Like Pueblo, the northeast Ohio cities of Warren and Youngstown were steel manufacturing cities. While his siblings worked in steel, Jim started a grocery store in Champion Township north of Warren after returning from World War II. Randy was born in 1952 and began working at his father’s grocery store at age 11.

“I just know in my heart that it was all God-directed the way it was going because I didn’t even start playing football until ninth grade,” Gradishar said. “We ended up my senior year with like 25 guys on the football team… My high school football coach sent out films for me and then all of a sudden, I got recruited by a few schools.”

Gradishar tallied 320 total tackles — 155 solo and 165 assisted — at Ohio State between 1971 and 1973, according to a 2022 Ohio State football media guide. He was named to the consensus All-American team twice and finished sixth in the 1973 Heisman Trophy voting.

When Gradishar began playing for the Broncos, his parents — Jim and Ann Gradishar — often flew to Denver to watch their son at Mile High Stadium before driving down to Pueblo and catching up with Jim’s cousins. Randy got the chance to visit the Pueblo Gradishars during the offseason.

Around the time of the 1977 NFL season — the season the Broncos made their first Super Bowl appearance — Gradishar and a few Broncos teammates worked with former University of Southern Colorado Coach Mike Friedman to organize a five-day football camp in Pueblo.

It was at the camp in Pueblo that Gradishar encountered a surname just one letter off from his own — Gradisar. Gradishar didn’t think much of the similar spelling at first but eventually found out that the two families are distantly related.

The names Gradisar and Gradishar both come from the Slovenian name Gradišar with the “š” sounding like an “sh,” according to Ben Gradishar, a Pueblo resident and a second cousin once removed to the Hall of Fame linebacker.

“We’re all ‘Gradisars’ but we inadvertently got an ‘h’ added at Ellis Island in the 1880s… Now there is ‘Gradisars’ and ‘Gradishars,’” Ben Gradishar told the Chieftain.

All ten of Randy Gradishar’s NFL seasons were played with the Denver Broncos. He retired with 2,049 tackles, seven Pro Bowl appearances and the 1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. He also grabbed 20 career interceptions and recovered 14 fumbles.

Gradishar is part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024. He will be enshrined with fellow inductees Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Steve McMichael, Julius Peppers and Patrick Willis at a ceremony on Aug. 3.

Post-retirement, Gradishar has kept busy working in public relations with Phil Long Dealerships but said he makes visits to Pueblo “relatively often.”

“That was pretty special knowing that there is family here and having the opportunity to know them as cousins,” Gradishar said. “Having that connection, again, goes way back to 1974 knowing that I was coming to Denver, Colorado and that my father was born in Pueblo.”

New PCC President: Chato Hazelbaker selected as next president of Pueblo Community College

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com

Fantasy basketball leagues allow fans to create teams by selecting players across the NBA. Success in these leagues hinges on picking the right mix of high-performing stars, under-the-radar talents, and consistent value players. 

Understanding which players to draft can be the key to victory for those focusing on the Denver Nuggets.

Studs

Nikola Jokic

Unsurprisingly, Nikola Jokic stands out as the premier fantasy option on the Nuggets. The reigning MVP’s versatile skill set ensures high production across multiple categories. Jokic averaged 30 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists during the playoffs, showcasing his ability to contribute significantly in points, rebounds, and assists. 

His efficiency is also notable, with shooting percentages of 54.8% from the field and 46.1% from beyond the arc. Jokic’s consistent performance makes him a top pick in any fantasy draft​.

Jamal Murray

During the postseason, Jamal Murray re-established himself as an elite guard in the NBA, averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. 

In the 2024 regular season, he played 59 games with a three-point percentage of .425, an APG of 6.5, and a PPG of 21.2, marking his best scoring season. His three-point shooting at 39.6% adds value, making him a strong choice for fantasy managers looking for scoring and assist contributions. 

Murray’s dynamic playmaking and scoring ability ensure he will be a cornerstone for the Nuggets and a high-value pick in fantasy leagues. His increased scoring and consistent assists make him a top-tier option for fantasy basketball managers.​

Additionally, he is a favorite of betting fans due to his peak form. Fans interested in betting on the NBA should check NBA odds before placing bets​.

Sleepers

Christian Braun

Christian Braun is an intriguing sleeper pick for the upcoming season. In limited playoff minutes, he demonstrated efficiency with a 53.3% field goal percentage. Braun is expected to take on a more significant role in the regular season as a young player with room to grow. His potential to contribute in multiple categories makes him a sleeper worth monitoring, especially in deeper leagues where finding emerging talent is crucial​.

Zeke Nnaji

Another sleeper to consider is Zeke Nnaji. While he didn’t see much action during the playoffs, his performance in the regular season and the potential for increased minutes could make him a valuable fantasy asset. 

Nnaji’s ability to score efficiently and contribute on the defensive end could translate into solid fantasy production, particularly in leagues that reward defensive stats​.

Values

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope offers solid value, especially for those looking for a reliable contributor in mid to late rounds. Averaging 10.6 points and shooting 38% from three-point range during the playoffs, Caldwell-Pope provides steady scoring and three-point shooting. 

His experience and consistent performance make him a dependable pick. He ensures contributions across multiple fantasy categories without the high draft cost of a star player​.

Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon’s performance in the playoffs solidified his value as a versatile fantasy player. Averaging 13.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, Gordon’s ability to contribute in various categories, combined with his defensive prowess, adds significant value. 

His shooting improvements, particularly from three-point range at 39.1%, make him a valuable pick in the mid-rounds of fantasy drafts​.

Bruce Brown

Bruce Brown’s future with the Nuggets may be uncertain due to potential contract offers from other teams, but if he stays, he remains a high-value pick. 

Brown averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds, and nearly 2 assists per game in the playoffs, showcasing his ability to fill multiple roles. 

His potential for a significant role on a contending team makes him a valuable asset in fantasy basketball, especially if he remains in Denver​.

Emerging Talent

Peyton Watson

While Peyton Watson is not a household name, he represents emerging talent that can pay dividends in fantasy basketball. 

With increased minutes and development potential, Watson could become a valuable contributor. Monitoring his progress and usage during the preseason and early regular season could provide insight into his potential fantasy impact.

Collin Gillespie

Despite his limited playing time and previous injury, Collin Gillespie could also emerge as a valuable player if given the opportunity. As a restricted free agent, his future role with the Nuggets will be critical. 

If he secures a spot and earns significant minutes, Gillespie’s contributions in assists and three-point shooting could make him a worthwhile addition in deeper leagues​.

Final Thoughts

The Denver Nuggets offer many options for fantasy basketball managers, from top-tier studs like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to potential sleepers and value picks such as Christian Braun, Zeke Nnaji, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. 

Keeping an eye on emerging talent and monitoring preseason developments will be key to maximizing the fantasy potential of the Nuggets’ roster. 

With a balanced approach, fantasy managers can leverage the diverse talents of Denver’s players to build a competitive and well-rounded team.

Veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton has been absent from the voluntary portion of the Denver Broncos offseason training program. Sutton is reportedly seeking a new contract, despite having two years left on his current deal.

Sutton is set to earn a $13.5 million base salary in 2024, but only $2 million of is guaranteed. Theories have abounded on exactly what the veteran wideout wants from the Broncos, wth some surmizing that he might simply be seeking more guarantees in his contract.

However, according to ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler, Sutton is seeking a modest raise from the Broncos.

“He’s due about $13.6 million in cash this year,” Fowler said during a SportsCenter appearance. “He’d like to see that get up, maybe in that $15-$16 million range. We’ll see if they can find a sweet spot.”

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Fowler also reported that no “real progress” has been made between Sutton and the Broncos. However, head coach Sean Payton played down Sutton’s hold-out thus far, saying last week followijgn an OTA practice, “That will sort itself out.”

If Sutton is only seeking a $2-3 million raise, Payton’s response is more understandable. For a playmaker who carried the Broncos’ passing offense last year, totaling a career-high 10 receiving touchdowns, throwing a couple extra million on top of what he’s making now wouldn’t be asking for the world.

The Broncos will want to be smart about it, though, as Sutton is entering his age-29 season. He’ll turn 30 in October of 2025, which is only a couple of months before his current contract expires. Broncos GM George Paton planned that well when he extended Sutton back in 2021.

Perhaps the Broncos don’t need to add any years to the term of Sutton’s contract, and instead, literally just give him a raise. Increase his $13.5M salary to, say, $15.5M, offer some additional money via playing time incentives, and convert more of it into guarantees.

Sutton hasn’t missed any mandatory team activities thus far. But 9NEWS‘ Mike Klis, with some mandatory stuff coming up in June, did the research on what it would cost Sutton in fines to skip out on the requisite minicamp this summer, which is from June 11-13.

Klis wrote on Twitter that Sutton could be fined $16,953 for missing the first day of mandatory minicamp, $33,908 for the second, and $50,855 for the third day. It adds up to a pretty penny, but only if the Broncos enforced his contract and fined him.

For NFL players in Sutton’s earning bracket, that’s chump change. And he could make it all back and a heck of a lot more by coming out on the winning end of his hold-out and getting the Broncos to acquiesce.

Meanwhile, the Broncos aren’t lacking pass-catchers, with Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele added in the NFL draft, as well as Tim Patrick returning from injury. Throw in Marvin Mims Jr., Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Brandon Johnson, and others, and Bo Nix, Zach Wilson, and Jarrett Stidham have no shortage of guys to throw to during in OTAs.

But it sure would be nice to have the alpha dog in the house.

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