This week’s Broncos Q&A is with Cliff Colson, a Browns fan since 1968 and the president of the Mile High Browns Backers, a Cleveland Browns fan club in Denver since the early 1980s: 

The Denver Gazette: Tell us the story of the Mile High Browns Backers.

Cliff Colson: “This goes all the way back to Terry and Sheila Akers. They were Browns fans in Denver who put up a big ‘NASA’ satellite dish in their yard. They placed an ad in the Rocky (Mountain News) saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got a satellite dish! Browns fans, join us for the game!’

“Within two weeks they had 30 people hanging out at their house watching Browns games.

“But their house was getting torn up on Sunday mornings. … Then at the end of the 2017 season, the owners of Stoney’s Bar and Grill reached out, asking if we they would be our viewing location. We did not understand why they would ask us. They said, ‘We know that you had 60 people at the end of an 0-16 season.'”

The DG: What’s the deal with Browns fans? The Browns are usually bad but you stick around.

Colson: “I keep asking myself that question. It was the way we were raised and how we learned the history from our parents and grandparents. Then what blows me away is we get a lot of young people now. Their memory is Derek Anderson having a Pro Bowl year. That wasn’t that long ago. They never even saw Bernie Kosar play. It’s just a passion that knocks my socks off. I was 3 when the last time we won a championship (in 1964).”

The DG: What about the charity work from Mile High Browns Backers?

Colson: “At our game watches we run raffles and distribute money to local charities. Since 2018 we’ve donated over $40,000 to charities around Denver. This season our charities are Senior Support Services, Freedom Service Dogs of America, Angel Eyes. And we’re sending money to the Cleveland Browns Foundation.”

The DG: Given the heartbreaking history, what’s it like to be a Browns fan in Broncos Country?

Colson: “The 1985 season was my first season in Denver. I was proud we made the playoffs at 8-8 and the Broncos did not make the playoffs at 11-5. So I had bragging rights for one season. The next season you know what happened. John Elway and “The Drive” happened.

“Cleveland is a great place to be from and it’s great fanbase but the weather absolutely sucks. That’s why we all left. The weather is terrible. You can go weeks without seeing the sun. We can’t do that anymore. The closest I came to moving back to Ohio was after ‘The Fumble.’ Then I got to the Kansas border and realized all my credit cards were maxed out and I had no money. So I turned around. I’m still here.”

The DG: Is it OK to mention John Elway in Cleveland?

Colson: “No. Don’t do that. Don’t say his name.”

The DG: How do the Browns Backers prepare for a game in Denver?

Colson: “Let’s flashback to 2018. We got a tailgate at the stadium on the north side of Empower and we had 1,500 (Browns fans) at that tailgate. In 2019 we drew 2,000 to the tailgate. Each year we’ve hosted a pregame party at Stoney’s the night before the game. We had 900 in ’18 and ’19. This is the second year in a row they have scheduled the Browns here in town after Thanksgiving. And so we don’t have as many traveling Browns fans.”

The DG: Shedeur Sanders, Browns quarterback. Your reaction?

Colson: “Deion (Sanders) won’t let it happen. I am convinced Deion won’t let it happen. He’s already said he would intervene if he’s drafted by certain teams. The only reason Deshaun Watson came to Cleveland is because we guaranteed his contract. It’s still ‘Don’t go to Cleveland. Don’t go to Cleveland.’

“I know Shedeur is supposed to be the one. But I’m all for taking the best left tackle in college football. If we draft a quarterback I want someone who wants to be in Cleveland. We had that guy. His name was Baker Mayfield. He wanted to be with us. That was him.”

The DG: How’s ex-Bronco Jerry Jeudy doing?

Colson: “He’s come on recently. I wasn’t all for the trade because I heard he wasn’t the best locker room guy there is. But he’s come on. He’s made some very important catches. He was instrumental on the final drive against Pittsburgh. My attitude on Jeudy has turned around. I think they all like Jameis (Winston, the quarterback). The Browns offense seems more upbeat since Jameis became the starter. It’s more in-tune. They’ve still got too many stupid penalties. But the offense is coming around.”

The DG: How hot is (Browns coach) Kevin Stefanski’s seat?

Colson: “We don’t want a coaching change. We’ve gone so many years with coaching changes. I don’t think it’s the best thing for us. But who knows with (Browns owner) Jimmy Haslam? Jimmy wants to build a dome stadium in Brook Park, which is about 12 miles southeast of our stadium on the lake. We’re torn. Do we build a dome, which would be fantastic for the city? But there’s also the element of a (snow) game like the Steelers game (last week). Why would we lose snow games? That’s Cleveland.”

The DG: What are the Backers’ plans Monday?

Colson: “Sunday night at 6 p.m. we have a meeting scheduled for a game of ‘Cleveland Family Feud.’ Then we’ll also host an indoor tailgate at Stoney’s on Monday. Doors open at 11:30 with a beer pong tournament. It’s not the Muni Lot in Cleveland. But you can stay warm instead.”

The DG: Time for a Monday night prediction.

Colson: “I don’t have very much faith in the Browns on Monday. The Broncos have become a pretty good football team and Bo Nix is the real deal. He’s shaken off the rookie stuff and he’s gained confidence. We haven’t traveled well to Denver the last couple times. In 2018 we played a great game. Then in 2019 I think I’m still hoarse from yelling at (then-Browns coach) Freddie Kitchens. I hate to say this, but the Broncos defense is too tough and Bo Nix will do his thing. The Browns will go down, 24-14.”