Mile High Monday: Observations from the Broncos first OTAs

It’s time for another edition of the “Mile High Monday” and the Broncos are ready to kick off another week of offseason training activities on Monday. We actually got quite a few tidbits from last week’s OTAs and I’m looking forward to seeing what this week brings for the team, the players and the coaches.

We should soon have a resolution in the Chris Harris Jr. contract situation, although it might not be the resolution that most fans wanted. When that finally happens, it will be the biggest Broncos story of the offseason. The length of any sort of contract extension for Harris will also have a big impact on the future and direction of this team.

I like when we get to this time of year because the news cycle in the NFL is going strong. All apologies to Major League Baseball, but the NFL is America’s pastime and the league has done a great job of making their game relevant for the entire calendar year.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ. The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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Not a Bronco For Life?

I want the Denver Broncos to make cornerback Chris Harris Jr. a “Bronco for life” with any sort of contract extension they have in store for him. He was a great find as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and is playing like a future Hall of Fame cornerback. I would love for him to finish his career, many years from now, continuously with the Broncos.

That doesn’t seem to be the way things are trending.

Multiple reports have come out that Harris and the Broncos are talking about a short-term extension rather than any sort of long-term deal that would make him retire as a member of the team. In fact, there is plenty of buzz that Harris may only get a pay raise this year to around $15 million, but hit the open market in 2020.

This is an unusual move for the Broncos in my opinion. The team is not in a Super Bowl window this year, so paying that much for a corner (even though he deserves it) is a bit much. However, the Broncos could be in a playoff window this year and build on that momentum in the future.

Keeping Harris around for multiple years would indicate the Broncos believe they can get to a multi-year championship window.

Things are trending to a direction where Harris may end his playing days somewhere else and I don’t like that. I know that if Joe Montana can finish his career with a different team than the one that drafted him (among countless other greats) then Harris could finish somewhere else, too.

If Harris only gets a raise but not a multi-year extension, how does that make you feel? Let us know on social networking.

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Flacco the Teacher

The national media had a field day last week when Joe Flacco said that it’s not his responsibility to be a mentor to rookie quarterback Drew Lock. Debates raged on about what Flacco said and whether or not a veteran like Flacco needs to be a mentor.

Flacco’s outlook on mentorship does not mean he’s a bad teammate. In fact, from Lock’s perspective it’s quite the opposite so far.

TMZ caught up with Lock as he traveled to the West Coast for the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. Lock says Flacco has been a positive influence this offseason.

“He’s taught me a lot so far,” Lock said. “He’s dealing with trying to win football games, and I’m dealing with trying to learn. We’re in the same quarterback room. He’s been great to me.”

Flacco is a good teammate. Ravens players and coaches will tell you that he handled transition to Lamar Jackson last season with great professionalism.

The “mentor-gate” controversy is a bunch of bull. Flacco is going to be a great teammate for Lock, and it is Lock’s responsibility to learn as much from the veteran as possible while he learns the pro game.

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Return of the Sheriff?

Mike Florio, from Pro Football Talk, reported that Peyton Manning is being rumored to be a target for the New York Jets’ general manager vacancy.

Manning played under Jets head coach Adam Gase when they were both with the Broncos. The future Hall of Fame quarterback seems to fit what the team is looking for in their next general manager.

“It’s more than a talent-evaluation guy,” Jets CEO Christopher W. Johnson said. “I want a great manager, a communicator, who can collaborate well with the building. I’m convinced we’re going to find that person.”

Not only did Manning play under Gase, they are known to have a great relationship. Gase didn’t waste time and has cleaned house with some players in less than a week. There are also rumors that Gase would be willing to shop superstar running back Le’Veon Bell if the price was right – even though the Jets broke the bank to get him in free agency this offseason.

I think Manning will own a team one day. Being a general manager isn’t the level he will finish on, but it could be a start for his life as a team executive.

He’s turned down offers like this before, but perhaps this is the fit he likes and he wants to help out his buddy Gase as he rebuilds the Jets.

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Can’t Please Everyone

The series finale of “Game of Thrones” was on Sunday night and social media was buzzing about the show and the way things ended.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to spoil anything here – let’s just say the finale was a “meh” for me.

However, I will say that it was an incredible run for eight seasons and became a cultural phenomenon that most shows don’t ever achieve. There are few times that a TV show will capture the attention and imagination of the masses.

“Game of Thrones” was so big that people who hadn’t seen the show went out of their way to tell you they had never watched an episode. I’m a big believer of “get down how you get down” and don’t really care if someone likes what I like or likes something I don’t like.

That being said, I am fascinated about how this show has so many people upset with the way it ended. It’s interesting to see all the fan theories and opinions that are out there, even if I don’t agree with them.

I guess the old saying is true, you can’t please everyone all the time.

Thanks for eight seasons of entertainment, “Game of Thrones.” I can’t wait for the next TV series that I get into as much!

Follow @CecilLammey