Mile High Links: Colorado Sports News 10/9

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets are starting to get things rolling in the preseason. The Denver Broncos are Twitter-beefin’. The Colorado Avalanche are off to a 3-0-0 start under new coach Patrick Roy. The Colorado Rockies are assessing their plan for the off-season.

Here’s today’s news and notes from around Colorado Sports.

From Dilan Ames: Could Peyton Manning Become the NFL’s First 6,000 Yard Passer? (Bleacher Report)

"Regardless of how the Denver Broncos’ season turns out, it looks like this could not only be Manning’s best season, but possibly the greatest performance by a quarterback in a single season ever.“At the rate he’s going, Manning is set to crush the single-season passing record (Drew Brees’ 5,476 yards in 2011) and the touchdown record (Tom Brady’s 50 touchdowns in 2007). After crunching the numbers, Manning is on pace to throw for 6,029 yards and 64 touchdowns. If his statistics at the end of the season are anywhere near his projected numbers, then he will undoubtedly have completed the best regular season for an NFL quarterback ever.”"

From SteveHouse: Game 3 Recap: Avalanche 2, Maple Leafs 1 (Mile High Hockey)

"It only took 2:30 into the third for the Avs to take the lead. Nathan MacKinnon lifted Colton Orr‘s stick, stole the puck, and fed it to McGinn, who entered 2 on 1 with Parenteau. McGinn delivered the sauce over the stick of a sprawling Jake Gardiner and PA does. not. miss. from there. 2-1 Avs. The situation room ruled the puck Not Kicked In. The Avs of the past would have settled back and tried to not give up a goal–but not these Avs."

From Christopher Dempsey: Nuggets coach Brian Shaw wants all his players to shoot when open (Denver Post)

"The directive isn’t aimed at players such as Ty Lawson, Nate Robinson, Randy Foye, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and even Evan Fournier. Those players understand, and have always known, that when the opportunity presents itself, they are free to shoot.“But for players such as Jordan Hamilton, Quincy Miller and to certain extents Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee, shooting the ball came with restrictions in the past, everything from where they were on the court to who else was on the court with them.“Not anymore.”"

From Hayden Kane: Rockies Exercies Jorge De La Rosa’s 2014 Option (Rox Pile)

"The Rockies have been through a lot with Jorge De La Rosa. He was a hot-head disappointment when they acquired him. They worked with him, were patient with him, hired a mental coach to work with him, and have now reaped the benefits for years. He might not be a draft pick, but you better believe the Rockies should take pride in the way that De La Rosa has developed into a stud pitcher on their watch.“If they do work out an extension, De La Rosa will be one of the longest tenured Rockies pitchers that we have ever seen. And that’s the way it should be.”"