Stan Kroenke should’ve bought the Rockies instead of the Angels.

— Ray, woulda, coulda, shoulda

Kiz: We might not know much here at Kickin’ It Headquarters, but we absolutely, positively know this for certain. As recently as the early months of 2025, a man trying to broker a sale of Charlie Monfort’s share of the Rockies held exploratory talks with a longtime business confidant of Kroenke about making a major investment in our local National League team. But anyone who knows Stan the Man understands he isn’t much interested in somebody else controlling a large chunk of his cash as they see fit. That’s why it’s so delicious that Broncos ownership managed to acquire a 40 percent stake in the Rockies, in no small part because Greg and Carrie Walton Penner decided they would let Dick Monfort and his sons retain day-to-day decision-making power for the baseball club.

My biggest concern about the Broncos heading into this Super Bowl or bust season is linebacker, both inside and outside. I know everybody is talking about Que Robinson this and Que Robinson that, but suspended edge rusher Jonathan Cooper is special. And our inside linebackers aren’t the best.

— Randy, tough tackler

Kiz: NFL history shows that having a truly dominant defense three years in a row is rare. Late last season, there were hints that defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s crew was beginning to slip. While I firmly believe quarterback Bo Nix will produce more offensive fireworks with the addition of receiver Jaylen Waddle, you read it here first. On their way to a 3-3 start, do not be surprised if the Denver D surrenders at least 30 points once or twice.

Colorado sophomore Julian Lewis has a lot of work to do. He is meh at best as a college quarterback. If he continues to play this way, he might not be the starter by midseason.

— Benjamin, healthy skeptic

Kiz: Until it was my turn to ask Deion Sanders a question after the Buffs wrecked Tech in a sweet upset by CU, it was the first time Coach Prime noticed my face in the press conference crowd, he laughed, knowing very well I would’ve been one of those critics to bash Lewis had the Buffs lost. Prime and I enjoy bantering. So here’s my next jab. There’s no way CU gets bowl eligible unless JuJu gets way better.

Colorado has all new assistant coaches and a new-look team. I’m on board now. We look like the champions from the Bill McCartney era. I guess you can buy a championship off the portal. Indiana did it.

— Brian, hopping on CU bandwagon

Kiz: Easy there, big fella. It was a fourth-quarter comeback to remember by the Buffs. Jump up and down and feel good about it. But had this CU team played the Indiana national champs on Thursday night, the Hoosiers would’ve trampled Ralphie by 35 points.  

And today’s parting shot is a victory lap for the Buffs after some knucklehead columnist suggested that the state of college football in Colorado might be the worst in America.

Just curious, Kiz. I thought you said college football was dead in Colorado.

— M.M. shots fired!