ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — These rookies get younger and younger every year.

As part of the Broncos’ rookie orientation this week, Patrick Smyth, the team’s public relations guru, asked me to provide the young men with a local media’s perspective.

One common complaint I’ve heard from players over the years is how the sports media is filled with people who don’t understand the work that goes into their craft or performing their particular sport under pressure. And that’s true.

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But I often use the movie analogy to help players understand how it’s not necessary to have played the game in order to fairly and accurately sit in judgment of a team or players’ performance.

I asked the players if they had heard of Siskel & Ebert. Not one player raised their hands. Not one.

After taking a moment to digest my gap with the young men I was addressing, I then explained how Siskel & Ebert were never actors, but everyone wanted to know what they thought about an upcoming movie.

“They can tell you – and so can you – you know a good movie,’’ I said. “You guys never acted. You know a bad movie and you guys never acted.’’

This was the Broncos’ fifth consecutive rookie class I was invited to address. The first was the class of 2015. You know how many players are left from the Broncos rookie class of 2015?

One. Jeff Heuerman.

Let it all hang out, guys.

I then softened this harsh reality by pointing out the 2015 rookies were trying to break into a Super Bowl-winning roster. For instance, Shane Ray was the team’s first-round pick that year. Before he had a chance to get full of himself, he showed up at his first practice and realized none other than Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware were the starters ahead of him.

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With the current Broncos coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since the early 70s, they are going to need stronger contributions from this current rookie crop.

One thing you want to get across to the rooks is a reminder they’re not in college anymore. And because they are no longer playing for free, the critiques of their performance will be a little tougher because more is expected.

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Viewers, readers and fans look to the media “to tell them the truth,’’ I said. “Sometimes the truth hurts. That’s why … the relationship between the media and the players, there will always be a stiff-arm between us. That doesn’t mean there can’t be give here and there. That doesn’t mean there has to be a wall. It’s not adversarial. It’s just a common respect.”

We talked about how stupid questions can generate the most provocative sound bites.

“Because generally what happens is it gets you a little agitated, it gets you irritated and you get a little emotion built up and you’ll say something that you’ll regret,’’ I said. “And a lot of times the best sound bites, the biggest headlines come from stupid questions.’’

We talked about how enormous it is to be a Denver Bronco player in Broncos Country. Watch out for those cellphones, guys.

Then we conducted three mock interviews and for the sake of exercise, I did ask some leading questions. Starting with Dre’Mont Jones, a promising defensive lineman and the Broncos’ third-round draft pick.

Me: Do you think you’re more prepared for the NFL than the rest of these guys in this room because you played for Ohio State?

Jones: “I wouldn’t say that. I’d say Ohio State prepared me because they had me on their team. They prepared me in a professional way and they instilled things in me so I can carry them on to the next level.’’

PR assistant Erich Schubert, who was conducting this particular media session with the rookies, later called up second-round quarterback Drew Lock and Kelvin McKnight, an undrafted receiver from Samford, for practice interviews.

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After each interview, Smyth and Shubert offered their critiques.

“When you guys are doing these interviews, there’s really three things,’’ Smyth told the group. “What you say. How you say it. And what you look like when you say it.

“That last part with Dre’Mont, he had great posture, great eye contact. His arms weren’t crossed, he wasn’t defensive. He wasn’t looking away.’’

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He offered another tip: If seated at locker when approached by reporter, stand up to conduct the interview. Keeps you sharp, looks professional.

Some things I learn from these seminars.

I called Lock the MVP of the Broncos’ Field Day last week. He won the 3-point and chipping contests. He had three basketball scholarship offers – from Oklahoma, Wichita State and Missouri. So why did he choose football?

“My biggest thing with going football instead of basketball is I think a lot of us can go on a basketball court and hit threes. At least I thought we could until I went 6 for 6 and no one else did.”

His fellow rookies cracked up at that.

I talked to McKnight about the crowded nature of the Broncos’ receiver room with Emmanuel Sanders, Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton and Tim Patrick assured of the top four spots.

What skill does McKnight have that the other guys in the room don’t have?

“Really, all of us are great players,’’ he said. “All of us are here for a reason. We need to all come together and try to get better each and every day.’’

If the kid makes it, he’ll be ready.

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