Denver, CO
Keeler: CU Buffs legend Rashaan Salaam “would love” seeing Travis Hunter win Heisman Trophy, Salaam’s mother says
Rashaan Salaam would want the company.
“He would love that,” Khalada Salaam-Alaji, mother of the late CU Buffs icon told me Tuesday when I asked about Travis Hunter and the 2024 Heisman Trophy. “He would love that.
“These young men, who weren’t even born when he was playing football — he’s old enough to be their father. He would love to be a part of that. I know Rashaan would really love this. I hope it happens. It’s amazing.”
Some 2,700 miles and a coast away from Manhattan, Salaam-Alaji on Saturday will be rooting in San Diego for Hunter to become CU’s second member of the Heisman fraternity. Because nobody would be pulling harder for #HE12MAN, the Buffs’ two-way star, than her late son.
“He’s in Colorado,” Khalada said of Salaam, the ex-CU tailback whose Heisman victory (Dec. 10, 1994) celebrated its 30th anniversary on Tuesday. “His remains are in Boulder. His spirit’s there. He would really want something good to happen in Boulder.”
Khalada continues to honor her son’s legacy, and his memory, as a driver for good. She represented Rashaan when he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022 and into the California High School Hall of Fame at the Rose Bowl last year.
These days, Salaam-Alaji is the wind beneath the wings of The Rashaan Salaam Foundation, a non-profit committed to “help children, adolescents, young adults, and athletes navigate through our complex and mentally challenging society.” The foundation held a fundraiser in Atlanta earlier this month in honor of Rashaan’s 50th birthday (Oct. 4).
“What we’re hoping is we can use all the wonderful recognition in his memory that we’ve received since he’s been gone, and do something with it,” Khalada said. “And we want the foundation to be generational. We want it to be here long after I’m gone.”
Salaam took his own life in Boulder on Dec. 5, 2016. He was 42.
“It’s so difficult this week,” Salaam-Alaji said. “It’s so difficult.”
For most Buffs fans over 35, Salaam still runs to daylight in their hearts. The minute he de-planed in Broomfield, Deion Sanders stuck a giant CU pin on the national map again. If you happened to join Buffs Nation on Dec. 3, 2022, do yourself a favor: Go to YouTube.com, or Google. Then type “Rashaan Salaam, highlights.”
Watch him juke one Miami defender, then drag two more Hurricanes with him into the end zone. Watch him fly like Superman into the end zone at Michigan Stadium. Watch him hurdle Oklahoma defenders. Watch him shatter about 486 Kansas State arm tackles. Watch him rumble for 134 yards at Nebraska. Just for fun.
Peak Salaam was the complete package, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound hammer who ran with Leroy Kelly’s anger and Gene Kelly’s grace.
In 1994, he became just the fourth Football Bowl Subdivision player to rack up at least 2,000 rushing yards before a bowl game. He led the country in rushing, scoring (24 TDs) and all-purpose yardage. His 141 yards at Michigan were the most by any opponent in Ann Arbor since Archie Griffin’s 163 back in 1973. His 11-1 Buffs faced six ranked teams over the season’s first eight weeks. Salaam averaged 173.5 rushing yards against that dirty half-dozen.
And yet the play he was proudest of came on Sept. 24, 1994, at the Big House — the block in the backfield that freed up teammate Kordell Stewart to throw the “Miracle at Michigan” to Michael Westbrook. On a team of superstars, Salaam was a bashful giant, deferential and unselfish to the last.
“I would tell (Hunter’s family) to not be fearful,” Khalada continued. “To enjoy the moment. And to help him with his finances, to make sure that (that’s taken care of) … football’s not going to last forever.
“Just enjoy it. Enjoy it. Try not to ego-trip it too hard, with the Heisman … stay connected to the God within. In the long run, that’s all I would say. Take care of yourself. Enjoy it. But protect your finances if you can.
“I appreciate it now more so than I did when it was happening.”
Her son’s relationship with the Heisman, and the expectations that came with it, became complicated. Over the 22 years after winning the award, the ex-Buffs great returned to the Heisman ceremony, as a member of college football’s most elite fraternity, just five more times. This week, like the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio, is a homecoming weekend for past winners, a chance to share in the spotlight again, to catch up.
Salaam wanted to move on. He sold his Heisman ring for roughly $8,000 in 2011; he sold his statue three years later. In 2016, it fetched $399,608 in an online auction, raising funds to CTE-related medical research in Salaam’s memory.
When the soft-spoken Buffs back attended Heisman festivities as a finalist, one of his running buddies in New York was a gregarious Miami Hurricane defensive lineman named Warren Sapp.
Three decades later, that same Sapp is now a member of the CU football family, having joined Sanders’ coaching staff as a senior quality control analyst.
Sometimes, history can tie things together with wonderful, unexpected bows.
“He would love (Hunter),” Salaam-Alaji said. “There would be no competition. It would be only encouragement. And being proud. That’s who Rashaan was.”
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For more information on The Rashaan Salaam Foundation, or to donate, visit rashaansalaamfoundation.org
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Originally Published:
The Denver Broncos hosted eight tryout players at mandatory minicamp this week, including quarterback Sawyer Robertson. It sounds like the team has made decisions on those tryout players, and Robertson won’t be signed (at least not right now).
Instead, the Broncos are signing offensive lineman Reid Holskey (according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler) and cornerback Blake Cotton (according to the Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel). Holskey (6-6, 306 pounds) spent time on the Houston Texans’ practice squad in 2025 before joining the New York Giants in January. He was cut by New York last month. Cotton (6-2, 195 pounds) is a rookie who spent last fall at Utah, totaling 30 tackles and seven pass breakups in 13 games.
The two moves came one day after Denver wrapped up minicamp. The 91-man offseason roster was already full, so the Broncos will need to make corresponding moves to make room for Holskey and Cotton on the roster.
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Sean Payton has seen enough. The Denver Broncos’ third practice of mandatory minicamp, which was set to happen on Thursday, has been canceled.
“Just schedule-wise, today will be our last day,” Payton said after Wednesday’s practice. “I just finished telling them that. It’s unusual because there’s a lot of packing, a little bit more than normal when you’re moving into another facility. So when we’re back here, we’ll be in the new building.”
The Broncos are moving into their new state-of-the-art facility, but the decision to cancel the final practice of the offseason was motivated primarily by what Payton has seen thus far and how the team is shaping up.
Thus concludes the Broncos’ offseason training program, which featured eight total practices as a team, four of which were open to the media. There was more on-field activity than that, including walkthrough practices unseen by the press, but in essence, we’re talking about eight sessions.
Some players have already begun to separate themselves in their respective competitions. Others have really popped, while some have failed to really stand out in any meaningful way.
By way of a Broncos stock report, let’s get to the biggest winners and losers of mandatory minicamp.
Winner: Bo Nix | QB
Nix finally returned to the practice field on Tuesday, the first day of minicamp. He was limited to individual drills only, but it was still great to see him out there.
On Day 2, though, Nix took another big step forward, participating in a 7-on-7 drill that included a highlight-reel touchdown pass to RJ Harvey. Just getting Nix back on the field was a big win for the Broncos, but seeing him progress over two days and look overall very sharp was more than a little encouraging.
Winner: Jaylen Waddle | WR
Waddle has been a lightning rod since the practices were opened to the media. He just looks different. That speed and explosiveness really add an element to the Broncos’ offense that has been lacking.
It’s been palpable. But arguably just as exciting is what Waddle’s teammates and coaches have been saying about him. Payton has called him a “force multiplier,” which is another way of saying that he makes everyone around him better.
Not that we really had reason to doubt it, but Waddle has been as advertised thus far, and then some.
Loser: Marvin Mims Jr. | WR
Mims is not listed as a loser because of any specific negative plays, like a dropped pass or a mental miscue. It’s just that, with other receivers, including Waddle, shining, generating buzz, and earning plaudits from Payton, Mims didn’t really.
Mims is a similar receiver type as Waddle, but the newcomer made it clear how much separation exists between them in practice. Now, Mims is still important to the Broncos, especially as a returner, and Payton did compliment his clutch gene and contributions in big games, but you have to wonder how he fits into the game plan on offense. That question still hasn’t been answered.
Winner: J.K. Dobbins | RB
Dobbins was his usually talkative self at minicamp, but the fact that he was healthy and out there doing his thing is a major win for the Broncos. It’s good to have him part of the daily process at Broncos HQ again because he’s one of those veterans that takes players under his wing, and elevates them.
Winner: Que Robinson | OLB
With the recent off-the-field drama the Broncos have dealt with, some extra attention was paid to the Broncos’ outside linebackers. Robinson, in particular, separated himself during minicamp.
His get-off is something else, and he was dispruptive during the Broncos’ team periods. Vance Joseph has said he views Robinson as a “future starter.” Pending Cooper’s situation, the future could be now, though Elliss will also have something to say about that.
Robinson had one heck of an offseason. I’m really looking forward to his second year.
Loser: Jonathon Cooper | OLB
After being arrested twice in the span of a week, the Broncos excused Cooper from mandatory minicamp. It would seem the Broncos want to create some distance from Cooper until his legal troubles are resolved, one way or another.
It’s a shame, in more ways than one. Beyond what legal ramifications might await Cooper, he’s very likely to be suspended by the NFL, and the Broncos releasing him at some point is not outside the bounds of the plausible. It’s a good thing that rush linebacker room is stacked.
Winner: Matt Henningsen | DL
None of these winners has been quite as surprising as Henningsen. He made a huge play on Day 1 of minicamp, tipping a Sam Ehlinger pass and returning it to the house.
Henningsen followed that up with another disruptive Day 2. He’s gone from being an after thought in the Broncos’ defensive line conversation to establishing himself as a bona fide threat for the roster.
Loser: Jahdae Barron | CB
Like Mims, Barron wasn’t bad during the offseason; he just didn’t pop, really, in any way. He broke up one pass on Day 2 of minicamp, but beyond that, there wasn’t much to see.
It will be interesting to see how Barron performs in training camp. We know the Broncos have high expectations for him, and a role on defense, even if as a depth piece, will be created for him, but I was hoping to see more signs of a Year-2 leap by now.
Winner: Jonah Coleman | RB
Another as-advertised player. Coleman has proven he’s ready for the NFL, which was partly what attracted the Broncos to him in the draft.
Coleman stood out in a major way at minicamp and made it clear that the Broncos have more than just a J.K. Dobbins insurance policy on their hands. Coleman is a force to be reckoned with.
Winner: Tyler Onyedim | DL
Like Coleman the Broncos’ first pick in the 2026 draft has looked NFL-ready. The Broncos still haven’t signed Onyedim, but that didn’t stop him from participating in the offseason program, which is a good harbinger.
Rocking the No. 98 jersey, it’s easy to mistake Onyedim for the guy he was drafted to replace: John Franklin-Myers. That’s especially true when the rookie is out there making plays like JFM. Onyedim has earned praise from his teammates, including the All-Pro Zach Allen.
Winner: Evan Engram | TE
Engram looked very good in minicamp this week. He looked like a big, athletic, smooth, explosive receiver, which is what he’s been in the NFL.
Engram wasn’t really all those things in his first year with the Broncos, but I’m hopeful that Year 2 will be different for the two-time Pro Bowler. He’s had a good summer.
Winner: Troy Franklin | WR
Franklin seems like the obvious No. 3 receiver in the pecking order. That doesn’t mean he’ll get the No. 3 snaps on an exclusive basis, though.
As the Broncos’ No. 2 last year, Franklin wasn’t able to fully live up to that, although he took some big steps forward in his second year. As the No. 3, it’s more his natural spot and that should allow him to continue to thrive in the offense, especially with the connection he has with Bo Nix dating back to Oregon.
Winner: Sam Ehlinger | QB
Ehlinger had a great offseason. He looked way more comfortable and far sharper in the offense in what is his second go-around in Payton’s offense.
Ehlinger was sharp this summer, and if he can continue to build on the foundation he’s created, it could create some uncomfortable conversations at Broncos HQ.
Loser: Jarrett Stidham | QB
Stidham has been less noteworthy this summer, but that doesn’t mean he’s been bad. In comparison to Ehlinger, though, Stidham wasn’t as good, which is curious, considering his standing as the team’s primary backup since 2023.
If Ehlinger ends up leapfrogging Stidham, what do the Broncos do? They’re holding a competition for QB2, and they have to be prepared for the possibility of Ehlinger winning it, especially after his strong summer.
If Ehlinger forces this issue, Stidham could become expendable. Stidham is very unlikely to be a cut candidate because of his contract, but as a trade piece? There’s a reason the rumor mill has been active on the Stidham topic this offseason. It’s something to watch.
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The Mecca Sports Bar in Denver will be allowed to continue operations after it reached a settlement agreement with the city. According to the Denver Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, the business will be required to pay a $5,000 fine and have employees complete specialized training.
The bar had been under investigation for prostitution since 2024.
According to the Denver Police Department, there were two arrests for prostitution as a result of the investigation into the bar, in addition to a merchant guard license violation for failure to comply.
According to the city’s licensing department, the business will be under a probationary period, where if there are any other violations of law or rules and regulations, it could face harsher penalties, including license suspension or revocation.
Denver police investigators said they conducted three undercover prostitution stings at the bar. In every operation, officers said they were offered sex for money and told about a scheme where the women would overcharge for alcohol and keep the extra cash.
Mecca Sports Bar is located off West Mississippi Avenue and Federal Boulevard near Huston Lake Park and was formerly known as Club Dubai.
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