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Paul Millsap, who spent four of his 16 NBA seasons with the burgeoning Denver Nuggets, announced his retirement from basketball on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Millsap, 39, most recently suited up for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022. He averaged 13.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game in a career that spanned five teams and four All-Star Game appearances.
When he signed with Denver for three years and $90 million in 2017, it marked one of the most significant free-agent acquisitions in franchise history. Millsap shepherded a young roster on the rise for the next four seasons, shooting 37.1% from 3-point territory and upgrading the Nuggets’ defense as they missed the playoffs by one game in his first season then made it the next three.
His leadership and timely energy were essential ingredients of a breakthrough run to the Western Conference Finals in the 2020 pandemic bubble, where the Nuggets overcame 3-1 series deficits in back-to-back playoff rounds. They trailed by as many as 16 points facing elimination against the Clippers in a memorable Game 5 before Millsap got into a scuffle with Marcus Morris just before halftime. It brought life back to his team. Millsap scored 14 of his 17 points in the third quarter, cutting the gap to 80-73 and setting the stage for Denver’s 111-105 win — the beginning of a much larger comeback.
“We’re not going to let these guys come in here and just push us around. I think that’s what really sparked it,” the veteran power forward said afterward. “We wanted to prove a point that we’re not going to be bullied, that we’re not going to be intimidated.”
Millsap shifted into more of a bench role by the end of the 2020-21 campaign. After his time with the Nuggets ended, he joined the Brooklyn Nets and was traded with James Harden to Philadelphia. The forward finishes his career as one of eight players in NBA history with 500 made 3-pointers, 1,000 blocks and 1,000 steals.
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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/03/paul-millsap-retires-career-nba-nuggets/
Former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan passed over for Pro Football Hall of Fame 2025 class consideratio
Mike Shanahan will wait at least another year for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The winningest coach in Broncos history was passed over by a blue ribbon committee in charge of selecting a coaching candidate as a finalist for the 2025 class.
The Hall announced Tuesday that Mike Holmgren is the lone finalist for consideration by the full selection committee. Holmgren was picked over Shanahan, fellow former Denver coach Dan Reeves and six others.
Shanahan, of course, took over as Broncos head coach in 1995 and led the franchise to Super Bowl victories in 1997 and 1998. At the helm until 2008, Shanahan compiled a Broncos-record 138 regular-season victories.
He was fired following the 2008 season and then spent 2010-13 as the head coach in Washington, moving his career regular-season win total to 170.
In addition to Shanahan’s own coaching acumen — he is the only coach with back-to-back Super Bowl wins eligible for the Hall who hasn’t been inducted — his influence on offense continues to be felt widely around the NFL.
“About 65 percent of the league is running his offense,” former Broncos Pro Bowler Mark Schlereth told The Denver Post recently. “And it’s amazing to think of all the innovations that are directly credited to Mike.”
His direct coaching tree includes several sitting head coaches like his son, Kyle (San Francisco), Matt LaFleur (Green Bay), Sean McVay (L.A. Rams), Mike McDaniel (Miami) and Raheem Morris (Atlanta), other coordinators and play-callers as well as former Broncos head coach and Super Bowl 50 champion Gary Kubiak.
Holmgren won Super Bowl XXXI with Green Bay and then lost to Shanahan’s Broncos the following year. In a coaching career split between the Packers and Seattle, Holmgren compiled a 161-111 regular-season record and three Super Bowl appearances.
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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/03/mike-shanahan-hall-of-fame-passed-over/
After surviving a 41-32 shootout win over the Browns on Monday, the Broncos enter their bye week with an 8-5 record.
More importantly, Denver is sitting firmly in the No. 7 spot in the AFC. If the season ended today, they would be going to the playoffs for the first time since the Peyton Manning era.
Here’s a look at the current playoff picture entering NFL Week 14, as well as scenarios for Denver to clinch a postseason berth:
NFC playoff picture
- Detroit Lions (11-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
- Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
- Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
- Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
- Green Bay Packers (9-3)
- Washington Commanders (8-5)
In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6), Arizona Cardinals (6-6), Los Angeles Rams (6-6), San Francisco 49ers (5-7), Dallas Cowboys (5-7), New Orleans Saints (4-8), Carolina Panthers (3-9).
Not mathematically eliminated yet: Chicago Bears (4-8).
Done for the year: New York Giants (2-10).
AFC playoff picture
- Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) — clinched playoff berth
- Buffalo Bills (10-2) — clinched playoff berth
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
- Houston Texans (8-5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
- Denver Broncos (8-5)
In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (6-7), Miami Dolphins (5-7), Cincinnati Bengals (4-8).
Not mathematically eliminated: Cleveland Browns (3-9), New York Jets (3-9), Tennessee Titans (3-9).
Done for the year: New England Patriots (3-10), Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10), Las Vegas Raiders (2-10).
How the Broncos can clinch a playoff spot
Win the division
The Broncos are sitting in the No. 3 spot in the AFC West behind the Chiefs and the Chargers. In order to do this, there are a few narrow paths.
- Broncos finish 12-5 or 11-5-1 and the Chiefs and the Chargers finish with worse win-loss-tie percentages.
- Broncos and Chiefs finish with the same record percentagewise and Denver edges them on a tiebreaker.
- Broncos, Chiefs and Chargers finish with the same record percentagewise and Denver edges them on a tiebreaker.
Clinch a wild-card spot
This is the much-easier path for the Broncos than winning the division. They hold a two-game lead over the Colts and a two-and-a-half-game lead over the Dolphins for the No. 7 spot. If Denver wins three of its final four games (or two wins and a tie), postseason football returns to the Mile High City for the first time in nine years.
Denver’s remaining opponents
Week 15: Indianapolis Colts (6-7), Sunday, Dec. 15, 2:25 p.m.
Both teams will be fresh off their bye weeks. If Denver wins, it eliminates the Colts from playoff contention.
Week 16: At Los Angeles Chargers (8-4), Thursday, Dec. 19, 6:15 p.m.
Denver will play its second Thursday night game of the season. This division rivalry game carries with it possible playoff seeding implications.
Week 17: At Cincinnati Bengals (4-8), Dec. 28 or 29, TBD
While just about eliminated from playoff contention, don’t overlook the Bengals. They’re fifth in the NFL in scoring at 27.9 points a game. Their problem? Cincinnati is allowing 28.3 points, second worst in the league.
Week 18: Kansas City Chiefs (11-1), Sunday, Jan. 5, TBD
The Broncos beat the Chiefs last year in Denver, giving them their first victory over Kansas City since 2015. Denver nearly did it again earlier this year if not for a last-second blocked field goal.
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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/03/nfl-playoff-picture-2024-denver-broncos-entering-week-14/
Here’s the latest installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Chris Perkins answer questions from readers.
Q: Does beating CLE/NYJ to end the season in likely cold weather really end the narrative? I say no. — Richard Schrock on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
No. I agree with you, Richard. Two measly victories over two lousy teams won’t end the narrative. By the way, I don’t agree with the cold weather narrative. I think the real story is that the Dolphins lose to high-quality teams on the road and the weather happens to be cold. I’ll add this, too: this is my 16th season covering the Dolphins and I don’t recall cold weather being a major factor for the Dave Wannstedt teams, Joe Philbin teams, Adam Gase teams or Brian Flores teams that I’ve covered. Beyond that, I don’t recall it being a factor with the Don Shula or Dan Marino teams. I’m unsure why it’s such a big deal now. I think it’s a weak explanation for road losses to good teams. But if you believe the cold weather narrative I don’t think wins over the Jets and Browns should make you think the curse is over. You’d need to beat Buffalo, Baltimore, Kansas City, Pittsburgh or some similarly good teams two or three times.
Q: Could we draft more linemen from cold weather schools to help? Eg Michigan, Wisconsin etc..? — Peter McDowell on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
I hear you, but no, that won’t make a difference. Every Dolphins starting offensive lineman except right tackle Austin Jackson has either grown up in cold weather, played college football in cold weather or played part of his NFL career in cold weather. That’s also pretty much true for the defensive front seven except for edge rusher Jaelan Phillips.
Q: Do the Dolphins resign C. Campbell? — Rafael Kortright on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
Definitely. If defensive lineman Calais Campbell wants to return to the Dolphins, they should re-sign him even though he’ll be in his 19th season. Campbell is in the running for team MVP. It should be noted Campbell only signed with the Dolphins because he wants to win a title. I doubt he’d want to stay here if he wants to win a title. Perhaps he likes it here enough to stay. But if he wants to win a title, I don’t think this is the place to be for the 2025 season.
Q: Grier needs to go — Mal B Crazy on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
Let’s wait until the season is over before making any such determinations. No one knows what Dolphins owner Steve Ross is thinking right now. General manager Chris Grier hasn’t delivered a playoff victory in the previous two seasons with coach Mike McDaniel, and that seems unlikely this year. That’s bad. Worse, Grier and McDaniel blew the backup quarterback spot this year, and that’s been costly. However, Grier gets points for acquisitions such as Campbell, tight end Jonnu Smith, rookie edge rusher Chop Robinson and others. And it should be noted edge rushers Jaelan Phillips (knee) and Bradley Chubb (knee) have been out for most of the season. Plus, Grier works well with McDaniel, who works well with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who works well with wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Q: So we just going to run it back with everybody just because Chris Grier paid everybody???!? — John Yang on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
No. Ross will wait until the season is over and figure out why things turned out the way they did, for better or worse, and proceed from there. There’s nothing Ross can do right now about the contract extensions/restructures given to McDaniel, Tagovailoa, Hill, Waddle and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Yes, he can demand accountability if those extensions are deemed to be ill-advised. But when it comes to “running it back” I’d hope Ross will consider the sum of the McDaniel-Grier era as opposed to what happens in the next five weeks. It’ll be a complicated decision however it turns out.
Q: Listen guys…..I appreciate the Hopium…..but let’s be real here….we are not beating the Texans, or the 49ers, and we will lose to the Jets at least once and we might not even beat the Browns —Nick S on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
That’s a realistic scenario. I doubt it happens. But I’ll admit it’s realistic based on the season. If the Dolphins finish 2-3, meaning a 7-10 record for the season, Ross can’t bring this front office/team back largely intact. He almost must make changes or he’ll be showing what’s happened during the previous three years (two playoff appearances, no playoff wins) is acceptable. Granted, Grier and McDaniel work well together, but does Ross want that combination running the show for a fourth straight season when their work in the first three seasons has been less than expected?
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/12/03/dolphins-qa-can-dolphins-end-cold-weather-narrative-this-season/
The Hurricanes lost another one of their top defensive prospects in this year’s class as linebacker Gavin Nix is headed elsewhere.
Nix, who had been committed to Miami since July, backed off his pledge so he could flip his commitment to Oregon. Nix is the second blue-chip commit to leave UM’s class this week, joining star safety Hylton Stubbs.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the University of Miami for extending me a blessing to be (a part) of a prestigious football program,” Nix wrote on social media. “The opportunity to join such a historic institution is something that is truly a honor and something I truly value. There’s not a single day that goes by where I take it for granted. After much thought and prayer, I have decided to decommit from the University of Miami and will now be committing to the University of Oregon.
“This was not an easy decision, as I hold deep respect and admiration for the coaching staff, players, and fans at Miami. This decision comes down to what I believe deeply in my heart. I am incredibly grateful for the time and effort Miami has invested in me throughout this process. The relationships I have built with Miami are real ones that I will always cherish. Once again, Miami, thank you for believing in me and offering me the chance to represent the U. I wish the team nothing but success in the future.”
Nix, who plays for Bradenton powerhouse IMG Academy, is rated a four-star prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings. He is listed as the No. 26 linebacker and No. 236 player in the 2025 class.
He had 43 tackles and two tackles for loss this season.
Miami has one other linebacker, three-star Miami Central standout Ezekiel Marcelin, in its 2025 class.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/12/03/hurricanes-nix-flips/
