Author: Woody Paige
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Woody Paige: Sean ‘The Fixer’ Payton is here — now the work begins for the Broncos
If everything is as it should be in the Broncos’ new alternative football universe, Sean Payton will go back to New Orleans twice two seasons from now. The Broncos coach can stay in his Four Seasons condominium high above Canal Street overlooking the French Quarter. The Broncos will go marching in to play the Saints…
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Woody Paige: Are any coaches interested in joining the Broncos’ party?
What if the Broncos threw a party and nobody came? The Broncos’ head coaching job must be the most abysmal in football. Instead of coming to Colorado coaching candidates apparently would rather go back to college football or network television, keep a defensive coordinator’s position, pursue opportunities with teams that won only three or four…
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Woody Paige: DeMeco Ryans’ demeanor is one to take pride in
“Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. While others search for what they can take, a true king searches for what he can give.’’ — Mufasa DeMeco Montrez Ryans, one of three finalists for NFL assistant coach of the year, is the leading candidate to become the Broncos head coach. DeMeco is as shrewd, strong,…
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Woody Paige: Todd Helton can expect Hall of Fame respect in 2024
Soon to be 50, Todd Helton is experiencing a midlife renaissance. Although the remarkable Helton’s great wait is not quite over, his great weight will be lifted in 2024. Todd was thisclose this time. He’ll get over the top next year. The first-class first baseman is a lock to become the first player who was…
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Woody Paige: Nuggets vs. Griz in West finals? Wouldn’t it be nice
Praise the golden Nuggets and the grit ‘n grind Grizzlies, and pity those poor Suns of the desert. After rallying to defeat the Timberwolves the Nuggets, at 32-13, have won 15 in a row at The Jar, possess the preeminent record in the Western Conference and accomplished the finest mark in their NBA history through…
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Woody Paige: Broncos CEO Greg Penner must hire Sean Payton — and he knows it
Greg Penner is balls-out and all in on Sean Payton. The quest for a head coach is not about replacing the grass at Mile High or reducing the price of a vacuum cleaner at Walmart. Broncos CEO and Walmart board chairman Penner has said he has “got to get this right.’’ That’s why he must…
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Woody Paige: Sean Payton’s the right man to fix the Broncos
The Broncos necessarily need The Fixer. Someone who will solve problems, facilitate, and expedite changes, rights the wrongs and fix things. The Broncos’ new coach must fix: The quarterback. The rest of the roster. The coaching staff. Off-season preparation. Game management Training camp. Exhibitions. The offensive scheme. Special teams play. The cause of too many…
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Woody Paige: Broncos coaching candidates’ staffs have ‘all-star’ potential
When Sean Payton returns to coaching, possibly with the Broncos, he intends to hire an all-star staff already recruited. His most prominent adversary for the Denver job, Jim Harbaugh, could reunite the Stanford Band. But not the Stanford band that ran wild onto the field on the final play of the 1982 Big Game with…
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Woody Paige: Expect Broncos to reduce list of coaching candidates to three
The Broncos and Harbaugh Ball is a bona fide possibility. After a 2.5-hour positive video conference connecting Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Broncos’ CEO Greg Penner and his search-and-solve coaching committee Monday, the two sides agreed to continue conversations and negotiations. The Broncos must go through the process of interviews with five other candidates, including…
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Woody Paige: Payton or Harbaugh — either might be intriguing
Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton will interview the Broncos’ owners. Not the other way around. Greg Penner, Carrie Walton Penner and Condoleezza Rice sat side-by-side-by-side in the owners’ luxurious suite Sunday and must have strategized about how they will have to be the most impressive applicants in upcoming scheduled meetings with the two most appealing…