The variety of Latina reporters within the NFL is pretty restricted however has been on the rise lately. 

In Denver, regardless of the Denver Broncos’ wealthy historical past with a various fan base, the group has by no means had a Latina staff reporter. That was till this season once they employed Los Angeles native Elisa Hernandez.

Through the years, the staff has actively engaged Latino followers via outreach applications, group occasions and celebrations of Hispanic heritage.

The group hosted its Vamos Broncos occasion throughout Sunday’s house sport, a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive Stadium. 

Because the Broncos’ relationship with Latino followers grows steadily, bringing on a voice like Hernandez contributes to the staff’s vibrant tradition.

Nonetheless, you need to know Hernandez is greater than meets the attention.

“It feels surreal,” Hernandez advised CBS Colorado.

Hernandez grew up as considered one of 4 youngsters in Los Angeles, at instances serving to her father clear residences to make ends meet. “I by no means noticed it as something dangerous,” she recalled.

Her mother and father immigrated from El Salvador to the U.S. throughout the Salvadoran Civil Conflict, and though she was born in California, she understands their journey wasn’t straightforward. 

Sports activities, nevertheless, have been what really introduced her household collectively. Rising up within the “Metropolis of Angels” within the late Nineteen Nineties, Hernandez adopted the Denver Broncos, since Los Angeles did not have an NFL staff on the time.

“Having the ability to do what I like for the staff that I’ve beloved since I used to be slightly child is fairly particular,” Hernandez mentioned.

Hernandez’s path to her dream job as a staff reporter for the Broncos wasn’t facile. After graduating from USC, she seen a lot of her friends touchdown on-camera jobs straight away. “I did not get discouraged,” she mentioned.

As a substitute, Hernandez targeted on studying the business’s behind-the-scenes points. “I feel my first job on the NFL was a ticker operator,” she defined, reminiscing in regards to the job. “You realize, the scrolling textual content on the backside of TV screens that present scores and climate updates,” she laughed.

Regardless of taking a unique path, Hernandez understood one factor: Getting her foot within the door was key. 

“No matter what occurs, you simply need to get your foot within the door and work your approach as much as create alternatives for your self,” she added.

And that is precisely what she did, working for practically each sports activities staff in Los Angeles and all of the networks. Her resume extends from NFL Community to Telemundo Deportes.

Most just lately, Hernandez served as an in-arena host for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Main League Baseball. 

“I hosted the primary Salvadoran night time at Dodger Stadium, which was an enormous accomplishment for me,” Hernandez mentioned. “That illustration issues. Seeing little brown ladies there, watching me on the Jumbotron, and listening to our slang — it impacts them as a result of they see themselves in me!” 

For Hernandez, spreading her information of her tradition is important. Nonetheless, as a first-generation Salvadoran, she goals to pave the way in which for others like her — breaking limitations and turning into the Broncos’ first ever Salvadoran staff reporter.

“I feel with the ability to have this platform, I do it for them. They’re my why. My household is my why. Representing my nation, heritage and tradition is essential.”

That is extra discomfort than the Nuggets are used to feeling of their stomachs.

Their three-time MVP isn’t saying a lot to calm it. After his 41-point outburst went to waste Saturday afternoon, Nikola Jokic was requested by what level within the season he feels the Nuggets must have themselves discovered. He responded, with the identical frankness that he used this week to name them a nasty taking pictures workforce, “most likely yesterday.”

In the meantime, Jokic’s longtime level guard recommends Pepto Bismol.

“I’ve a extra in-depth image of us than everyone wanting from the surface in, however we gained a championship with a lot of the guys which have been right here,” Jamal Murray stated after Denver’s 109-104 loss to the Clippers. “We’ve been right here collectively for some time. We’ve got belief in everyone. … I believe we’re step by step getting higher; it’s simply not translating into wins but.”

That is solely the second season of Jokic’s profession that Denver has began 0-2. After Saturday’s video games, the Nuggets ranked final within the NBA in workforce offensive ranking at 97.4, albeit nonetheless with a comically small pattern dimension. And now the comforts of dwelling will likely be deserted as they attempt to right course on a three-game highway journey, beginning Monday evening in Toronto.

Murray’s well being, manufacturing and lineup deployment are main points of the uncertainty surrounding the 2023 champions. However he got here to his workforce’s protection — notably relating to its depth and 3-point taking pictures — after a person efficiency that was as much as commonplace. He went for 22 factors and 5 assists on 7-of-14 taking pictures, together with 3 of 6 from outdoors.

“P-Wat (Peyton Watson) is getting back from damage, and we all know he could make, and we all know what he’s able to on each ends,” Murray stated. “CB (Christian Braun) is taking the leap.”

Braun’s match within the beginning lineup has been low on the checklist of issues. He has scored in double figures each video games whereas offering spectacular on-ball protection in opposition to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and James Harden. In its 48 minutes collectively, the marginally new-look beginning 5 has a web ranking of 14.1. Michael Porter Jr.’s taking pictures droop apart, it has principally picked up the place it left off with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

The outlet left behind within the second unit by Braun’s promotion is one other story.

Denver’s bench has began the season 10 for 46 from the sphere (21.7%). The 4 rotation gamers behind Michael Malone’s beginning lineup mixed for simply 5 rebounds in opposition to Los Angeles, accentuating the unit’s lack of dimension. Defensively, it has been inconsistent. Dario Saric struggled to dimension as much as his countryman Ivica Zubac, a extra conventional heart, who amassed 24 factors and 15 rebounds for the Clippers.

“Plenty of it’s coming from chemistry,” Murray stated of the sluggish begin. “I keep in mind I used to be operating the break at this time, and I didn’t know if I ought to go to the 2 or the three. … We had been speaking about a few of that stuff within the locker room.”

Murray has performed within the second unit each video games, although to a lesser diploma on Saturday. In 11 minutes in the course of the season-opener, a bench lineup that includes Murray because the lone stagger registered a minus-37.3 web ranking, 37.9% rebounding price and 38.3% true taking pictures proportion.

Staggering Murray is nothing new in Denver, however the match has been awkward to date this season with just one ball to share between him and Russell Westbrook (who defended respectably Saturday however missed all eight of his shot makes an attempt).

The Nuggets’ curiosity in Westbrook this summer season was partially related along with his potential to push Murray competitively in observe. Whether or not they complement one another in video games stays to be seen, however their first 21 minutes collectively have been a minus-28.9 web.

“Jamal’s a guard. He’s been a one. He’s been a two,” Malone stated after the opener, reiterating what he has lengthy believed. “In school, he was a two. It’s simply that, for his Nuggets tenure, Jamal has been a man that may be a beginning one, and he can play with some extent guard within the second unit. I believe Russ and Jamal have a variety of potential to be actually good collectively.”

Malone eased off the Murray stagger minutes within the second recreation, introducing a pinch of Porter as effectively. However the most effective second-unit minutes of the season to date had been the handful that includes each Porter and Murray — maybe not a coincidence, seeing as two starters had been concerned as a substitute of 1.

If that continues to be the case because the Nuggets hit the highway, it could solely go to point out the precariousness of their depth this season.

Even when they determine themselves out quickly, every recreation may merely be an train in holding breath and crossing fingers for no accidents.

“I simply play with whoever’s on the market within the 15-man group that we’ve received,” Murray stated when requested in regards to the lineups. “That’s a query for the top coach. I simply work right here.”

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Initially Printed: October 27, 2024 at 12:56 p.m.

The Denver Broncos are very a lot within the thick of issues within the AFC playoff image because the NFL quickly approaches the halfway level of the 2024 season. At 4-3 Denver has almost surpassed the workforce’s season win complete projection from Vegas (5.5) and are fairly clearly over performing in comparison with nationwide expectations coming into this yr.

Whereas Denver is competing for a playoff spot, it does seem the group remains to be working beneath the impression of a aggressive rebuild season. Taking part in so many younger gamers and saddled with the biggest useless cap hit within the NFL, Denver may make the playoffs this season, however the actuality is that this workforce is probably going nonetheless a couple of iterations away from competing for championships.

With that perspective, it is smart for the Broncos to be sellers as a lot as patrons because the November fifth commerce deadline approaches. Denver mustn’t take calls on gamers the group views as long-term constructing block items, however gamers who could possibly be on the transfer as free brokers come this offseason? The Broncos ought to at the very least choose up the telephone.

One of many gamers who matches this invoice is third-year Broncos defensive sort out D.J. Jones. The Athletic’s Michael Silver reported earlier final week that the San Francisco 49ers need to add expertise on their defensive position previous to the commerce deadline. Given the NFC West is open for the taking this season, San Francisco remains to be very a lot within the thick of issues regardless of sitting final within the division at 3-4.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini additionally added additional data on the 49ers seek for beefing up their inside defensive position naming Jones, a former 49ers standout, as a possible commerce candidate the 49ers would possibly covet. 

“Two different former San Francisco gamers, defensive tackles DeForest Buckner (Colts) and D.J. Jones (Broncos), have been mentioned internally by workforce decision-makers however I don’t get the sense Indy or Denver are open to shifting both participant,” Russini Wrote.

Jones is having a resurgent yr in Denver after a disappointing marketing campaign in 2023. Jones is a shorter, squattier participant than your common two gapping inside participant at 6’1” 320-pounds with restricted size. Howenver, he’s taking part in properly off of Denver’s different inside gamers Zach Allen, Malcolm Roach, and John Franklin-Myers in a extra hole urgent assault oriented entrance beneath the blitz centric Vance Joseph protection.

Given Denver’s run protection is arguably the worst facet of what’s shaping as much as be one of many premier defenses within the NFL this season, why would the Broncos even take into account transport Jones?

Jones is within the final yr of his contract in Denver and will likely be 30 years previous this offseason. There’s a likelihood he could possibly be retained, however with different areas of the roster needing addressed as properly, Jones may very properly stroll. Given Denver is at the moment set to have the tenth most cap area within the league this upcoming offseason, the Broncos are unlikely to be awarded a compensatory choose for letting Jones stroll. The Broncos will doubtless spend on an equal contract or extra on a free agent, canceling out any attainable compensatory choose for Denver.

As Russini said in her article, the Broncos are doubtless unwilling to maneuver on from Jones. It’s exhausting to think about the workforce getting a considerable return on a 29-year-old run-stopping inside plug that might make the loss from him on the protection this season worthwhile.

Any transfer just like the swapping of mid to late day 3 picks shouldn’t be as beneficial as simply holding Jones in his present position. If the 49ers have been keen to surrender a 4th spherical choice or ship again a Day 2 choose in change for Jones and an early Day 3 choose from Denver, then maybe Denver may play ball, however that appears unlikely.

If the Broncos have been to maneuver on from Jones, then anticipate a bigger dose of former 4th-round choose Eiyoma Uwazurike. After lacking everything of 2023 attributable to a playing suspension, the Broncos have stored him round and have praised him when given the chance.

There does appear to be inner optimism surrounding Uwazurike changing into a serviceable participant in some unspecified time in the future within the close to future, and a Jones departure would speed up that chance.

The Broncos usually are not doubtless to remove from the energy of their workforce and hamper their playoff pursuit by shifting off from extraordinarily helpful defensive position piece DJ Jones. He has had an excellent season on the workforce’s most improved unit and is a key cog to the run protection.

Eradicating him may have a domino impact on your entire unit that’s surviving miniscule funding on the inside linebacker place because of the energy of the secondary in man protection and a deep rotation of defensive linemen.

Jones will not be part of the Broncos the subsequent time this workforce is really in championship rivalry given his age and this being the final yr of his contract, however that doesn’t imply the workforce ought to simply give him up for little return.

If the 49ers are keen to offer a beneficial draft choose in return, then Denver must be . However something much less, and it is simply merely higher to maintain him for a 2024 playoff run and re-evaluate whether or not or not the workforce ought to retain him this offseason.