Believe it or not, the Denver Broncos got off to a slow start in San Francisco. Then, they made it interesting (sound familiar so far?).

Contrary to what we’ve come to expect of Bo Nix and Co., however, they didn’t quite get the job done.

The Broncos are 2-2. Not bad, not great – especially given the brutal early schedule they’ve been dealt by the NFL. When playing the likes of Christian McCaffrey, coached by the likes of Kyle Shanahan, on the road, there’s a lot less shame to be taken in Sunday’s loss.

Come to think of it, there’s even a tiny bit of pride that can be taken, knowing that those two guys are homegrown.

On this Monday morning – in lieu of scratching our heads trying desperately to understand what ails the Broncos in the first half this season – let’s give a solid golf clap to McCaffrey and Shanahan, just because they’re two of our own. In fact, let’s take it a step further and look at some of the best pros to ever come out of Colorado.

According to the on-the-double research staff at ColoradoPreps.com, there are 264 athletes who attended a Colorado High School and ultimately ascended to the National Football League. From that list, I’ve created my very own “All-Colorado-53” NFL roster. Here it is (psst…l et me know where you disagree).

COACH
Kyle Shanahan (Cherry Creek). It’s got to be, doesn’t it? Like his father, the younger Shanahan has consistently been one of the game’s true offensive geniuses. Let’s give a nod to Chuck Pagano (Fairview), while we let his brother John Pagano (Fairview) play the role of D.C. Smoky Hill’s Mike McDaniel can be Kyle’s quarterback coach.

 

OFFENSE

1st Team

2nd Team

3rd Team

QB

Mike Boryla (Regis)

Bill Musgrave (Grand Junction)

RB

Christian McCaffrey (Valor Christian)

Byron ‘Whizzer’ White (Wellington)

Phillip Lindsay (Denver South)

RB

Dutch Clark (Pueblo Central)

Austin Ekeler (Eaton)

LenDale White (Chatfield)

T

Tony Boselli (Fairview)

John Woudenberg (Denver South)

G

Chuck Walton (Canon City)

Tyler Polumbus (Cherry Creek)

C

Steve Korte (Arapahoe)

Del Ritchhart (La Junta)

G

Pat Matson (Lakewood)

Dalton Risner (Wiggins)

T

Nate Solder (Buena Vista)

Ryan Jensen (Fort Morgan)

Erik Pears (Kennedy)

TE

Trey McBride (Fort Morgan)

Daniel Graham (Thomas Jefferson)

Bo Scaife (Mullen)

WR1

Vincent Jackson (Widefield)

Larry Brunson (Montezuma-Cortez)

WR2

Dave Logan (Wheat Ridge)

Chris Sanders (Montbello)

DEFENSE

1st Team

2nd Team

3rd Team

DE

Calais Campbell (Denver South)

Mike Gann (Lakewood)

DT

Bill Brundige (Haxtun)

Thurman McGraw (Paonia)

Joel Steed (Hinkley)

DT

Lamarr Houston (Thomas Jefferson)

Mike Purcell (Highlands Ranch)

DE

Mark Mullaney (George Washington)

Ryan Denney (Horizon)

LB

Greg Biekert (Longmont)

Greg Jones (Kennedy)

LB

Rick Dennison (Rocky Mountain)

Marques Harris (Grand Junction)

LB

Steve Zabel (Thornton)

Christian Elliss (Valor Christian)

DB

Brian Kelly (Overland)

Gary Glick (LaPorte)

 

DB

Ronnie Bradford (Adams City)

Greg Myers (Windsor)

S

Dick Anderson (Fairview)

Reed Doughty (Roosevelt)

S

Jack Christiansen (Odd Fellows Orphanage)

Fred Glick (Poudre)

ST

1st Team

2nd Team

K

Daniel Carlson (The Classical Academy)

P

JK Scott (Mullen)

KR/PR

Dexter Wynn (Rampart)

Jeff Campbell (Battle Mountain)