After the Broncos defeated the New York Jets 10-9 last Sunday at MetLife Stadium, it was time for a weekly ritual in the NFL: The jersey swap.
Denver defensive end John Franklin-Myers exchanged jerseys with defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, his Jets teammate the previous two seasons. Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper exchanged with Jets defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes, a former teammate at Ohio State.
So might there be some jersey swapping after the Broncos face AFC West rival Las Vegas on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High? As far as wide receiver Courtland Sutton is concerned, it likely won’t be done by him.
With the Broncos primed to wear 1977 throwback jerseys entering the game, Sutton was asked if might be willing to swap one. He said it “would take a very special person for me to take a Raiders one home” and that “it’s not too many divisional jerseys that get changed around.”
Then again, The Denver Gazette asked five Broncos players if they have any rules against swapping jerseys with players on division rivals. Franklin-Myers, Cooper, wide receiver Josh Reynolds, cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian and linebacker Justin Strnad all said they don’t.
In fact, McMillian said he might exchange jerseys after Sunday’s game with linebacker Divine Deablo, a fellow native of Winston-Salem, N.C.
Most jersey swaps involve players who are friends, who were once teammates in college or the NFL or when there is mutual admiration.
Having one of the better collections on the Broncos is wide receiver Josh Reynolds, an eight-year veteran who has about 30 jerseys from other players. Some of his notable ones are from Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray, Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans, Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett and longtime receiver Julio Jones.
There was one jersey he really sought, but never ended up getting.
“I wanted an Aaron Donald jersey,’’ Reynolds said of the star defensive tackle who retired after last season. “But I was too nervous to ask him. I was young at that point.”
Reynolds, though, did get Murray’s jersey when he played with the Los Angeles Rams and the Cardinals were an NFC West rival.
“It’ll give me good memories for when I’m done playing,’ Reynolds said of his jerseys, which he currently keeps in a box. “When I’m done playing and I figure out where I’m going to lay my head at the end of the day, I’ll get a little man cave for them all.’’
For advice on a man cave, Reynolds could check with Chris Harris Jr., a retired cornerback who starred with the Broncos from 2011-19. He has about 50 jerseys from exchanges during his career, many that are framed and on display at his home in the Dallas area.
“I’ve got a man cave here,’’ Harris said. “It’s like a whole third floor, a game room. I’ve got all my favorite guys (on display).”
Harris’ impressive collection includes jerseys from Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Von Miller and Patrick Peterson.
Franklin-Myers, a seven-year veteran, has grand plans for what he ants to do with his jerseys, a collection that numbers 10 and is growing. Franklin-Myers has focused on exchanging jerseys with former teammates and players he knew when growing up in Texas such as Washington defensive end Dorrance Armstrong Jr. and former offensive lineman Bryon Bell.
“I’ve got a basketball gym,’’ said Franklin-Myers, speaking of a home he moved into this year in Dallas. “I like the idea of putting them all up on the wall there.”
Cooper makes it a point of exchanging jerseys with former Ohio State teammates. In addition to getting one from Holmes last Sunday, he has jerseys from Carolina safety Jordan Fuller, Jacksonville tight end Luke Farrell and Green Bay center Josh Myers. But Cooper missed a big opportunity after the Broncos lost to Pittsburgh 13-6 in their Sept. 15 home opener.
“I should have gotten Justin Fields,’’ Cooper said of the quarterback who was his Buckeyes teammate from 2019-20. “That would have been a nice one.”
Cooper’s collection at his home is now at seven and expected to grow.
“I’ve got a section where I put all the jerseys and I keep them together,’’ he said. “I’m pretty sure I’ll hang them up or do them something with them once I get the time.”
As far as exchanging jerseys with division foes, Cooper said he has “no rules” regarding that, but added, “You just got to win those games.”
What I’m hearing
--When the Broncos inducted their first four players into the Ring of Fame in a 1984 ceremony, there was a recognizable face in the audience. John Amos, the notable actor who recently died and was briefly a Broncos running back in 1964, was on hand to see Floyd Little, Rich Jackson, Goose Gonsoulin and Lionel Taylor enshrined. “He was a guest the night of the induction,’’ Taylor said of Amos, who gained fame starring on television in “Good Times” and on the miniseries “Roots.” “I recognized him right away and said hello.” Amos, who played at Colorado State, was Taylor’s Broncos teammate for two days in 1964 before he was cut after suffering a hamstring injury.
--Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz has been preparing all week to see Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, listed as questionable for Sunday with a high ankle sprain. Crosby has 13 ½ sacks in his last nine games against Denver. If he plays, Crosby figures to line up plenty on Meinerz’s side. “Everyone calls him a game wrecker and that’s true,’’ Meinerz said. “If you don’t take care of him, he can completely wreck everything you’re trying to do on offense. So we have to be mindful of where he is and what he’s doing and have a great plan.”
What I’m seeing
--With Alex Singleton having been lost for the season due to a torn right ACL, the Broncos on Saturday elevated linebacker Levelle Bailey from the practice squad to the active roster for the second straight week. They are continuing to evaluate veteran linebackers Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham, both signed Sept. 25 to the practice squad. “I’m just working and getting with the playbook,’’ said Cunningham, an eight-year veteran. “My playing style is my physicality, my ability to make plays and get to the ball.”
---The Broncos need to get a lot more production out of their tight ends. In four games, Greg Dulcich has five receptions for 28 yards, Nate Adkins two grabs for six yards and Adam Trautman one for 13. That’s a meager total of eight catches for 47 yards. The tight end always has been a staple in offenses run by head coach Sean Payton. He called getting the ball to Dulcich, who has no catches in the past two games, “a work in progress.”
What I’m thinking
--Legendary Broncos Taylor, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg and cornerback Louis Wright were snubbed when 60 senior finalists were named for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, ex-Kansas City tackle Jim Tyrer, who murdered his wife in 1980 before turning the gun on himself, is one of the 60. The Hall of Fame has stressed that candidates should be evaluated based on what they did as players, but it is nevertheless misguided that Tyrer would get any consideration.
--As part of this 1977 throwback weekend, the Broncos will play notable songs from that year during Sunday’s game. I don’t think we’ll hear “You Light My Life” by Debby Boone or “Lonely Boy” by Andrew Gold. But perhaps “I’m Your Boogie Man” by KC and the Sunshine Band and “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffet could make the cut. If the Broncos fall behind, it might be time to play “Gonna Fly Now,’’ the theme to “Rocky” by Bill Conti.
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