Worried about a history of ankle injuries to Broncos quarterback Bo Nix? There’s another pro athlete with notoriously bad ankles. Goes by the name of Stephen Curry. If Nix turns out to be the NFL’s version of Curry, I think Broncos Country would be OK with it.

– E.N., sitting by dock of the bay

Kiz: Know what I found most intriguing about Nix boldly calling a press conference in order to rebut the woe-is-me whining by Sean Payton that it wasn’t a matter of if, but when, his quarterback would break an ankle? When NIx took charge of the narrative, it signaled a shift in the power structure at Broncos headquarters. During a week when there was bickering about Bill Belichick suffering a first-ballot snub for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I hold this truth to be self-evident: Coach Hoodie would’ve had no shot at a gold jacket without quarterback Tom Brady. QBs rule the NFL. As Nix enters his third pro season, the Broncos’ chances of reaching the Super Bowl are far more dependent on him than Payton. Question is: Can Nix be to the Broncos what Drew Brees was to the Saints?

Kiz, I’d like to know your thoughts on the Broncos firing Joe Lombardi as offensive coordinator when Payton calls the plays. Payton made a dumb mistake that cost the Broncos a chance to go to the Super Bowl by not going for a field goal to increase Denver’s lead to 10 points over the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Payton’s ego wouldn’t allow him to be accountable for the decision, so I believe he used Lombardi as a scapegoat.

– Ron, calling unsportsmanlike conduct

Kiz: It’s difficult to see Lombardi as anything except a scapegoat unless …  Payton had already decided to part ways in the days or weeks before the damn shame of losing to the Patriots. Although Lombardi had served as a trusted assistant to Payton for 15 seasons, I spent the hours before his dismissal writing a column that argued quarterback coach Davis Webb should be elevated to the position of offensive coordinator. Well, maybe great minds think alike, and Payton reached the conclusion long before his regrettable fourth-and-1 call that the Broncos needed the fresh ideas Webb could bring with the offensive playsheet in his hands. So Lombardi had to go.

The interesting thing is: Late in his coaching career with the Dallas Cowboys, Bill Parcells gave up play-calling duties to … Payton.

– M.M., an elephant never forgets

Kiz: At age 65, in the last of his 19 seasons as an NFL coach with four franchises, Parcells did turn over the offensive reins to his favorite protege and let Payton call plays for the Cowboys. Payton will celebrate his 63rd birthday late this year. In order to get the Broncos to the Super Bowl, would Payton put aside his ego and give Webb primary responsibility for the Denver offense on game day? Maybe Payton will follow in the footsteps of his beloved football mentor one more time.

And today’s parting shot is a reminder that, despite Denver TV newscasters wearing team colors on game day, not every journalist covering the team is required to be a cheerleader.

Kiz, at least you have the guts to call it like it is, unlike most other members of the Broncos media.

– T.B., New York