Goodbye, reality. Hello, reality show.
Is there any coach that makes more sense in Las Vegas than Deion Sanders?
It is better for our state if Sanders remains at Colorado, where he has made the Buffaloes relevant again. But almost every NFL hiring cycle features an outside-the-box selection. And this season, if it’s not Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman going to the Chicago Bears, would it be that crazy to see Sanders landing in Las Vegas?
He has yet to receive a contract extension from CU, even as he has created a compelling argument that he deserves more than $8 million per season.
And Las Vegas could work, while admittedly requiring suspension of belief. First, the Raiders are irrelevant in the AFC West, the black hole an apt description of their status, not their once-proud homefield advantage. And the buzz has worn off after five years in Sin City.
That would change with the Coach Prime. He is his own neon sign.
Secondly, the Raiders need continuity, aligning the coach and general manager. Sanders has shown an affinity for ESPN analyst and one-time NFL front office executive Louis Riddick, his former teammate with the Atlanta Falcons. Riddick as the general manager with Sanders as his coach would represent a bold stroke.
And then there is the Tom Brady connection. With Brady, a minority owner, involved in choosing the positions, there will be an obsession with consistency and winning. There is also a blank slate at quarterback. Did we mention that Brady remains close to Shedeur Sanders, once an ambassador for Brady’s clothing brand?
Brady knows this franchise is going nowhere without settling on a quarterback, even if it means trading up to select the former CU star. The safe money is that Brady goes with a coach he knows like Brian Flores with his good friend Mike Vrabel landing in New England. But Pete Carroll is also considered a strong candidate. Would you rather have him or Deion? Sanders would have to put together a home run staff. My recommendation? Hire Broncos’ Davis Webb as offensive coordinator and bring Robert Livingston with him to run the defense.
Sanders says he is happy at CU, and his recruiting suggests he wants to stay. But you know what else he loves? Coaching his son and proving people wrong. The NFL, in that regard, represents the final frontier.
The Raiders’ dysfunction, the division and a lack of weapons would doom Deion to failure. But I would applaud him for trying
Underdogs not the big dog: The College Football Playoff has already been a success because fifth-seeded Notre Dame reached the championship, something that could not have happened under the old system. But let’s stop pretending it makes it easier for the underdog schools. There is a path into the postseason for the likes of Boise State and Indiana — or even CU — but there is no reason to think they would ever win three or four straight to claim the title.
Penn Statement: The idea of Tyler Warren playing in Denver creates goosebumps for Broncos Country. He could be Dallas Clark with Taysom Hill’s versatility. If the Broncos want Bo Nix to continue his ascent, they must get him a pass-catching tight end in the draft.
MLB Bans Fans: Major League Baseball banned the two idiots who interfered with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts during the World Series. Not just from Yankees Stadium, but from all stadiums. Good. These trolls deserve long-term consequences.
Mail Time
We are so lucky to have the Walton-Penners (owning the Broncos). I can’t imagine having poor ownership. Oh wait, the Rockies.
Chris, via Twitter
As the Broncos return to the postseason, it is clear the Walton-Penner group has played a significant role. They have the most resources, but it goes well beyond that. They care and want to win. Dick Monfort wants the Rockies to win, but he is too loyal to underperforming employees and lacks the deep pockets necessary to compete consistently in a sport without a salary cap.
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