Colorado

NFL scouting is broken. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders is all the proof you need | Andrew Lawrence

Published

1 year ago

April 17, 2025

NFL scouting is broken. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders is all the proof you need | Andrew Lawrence

NFL scouting is broken, and Shedeur Sanders is the proof. Everything about him screams future star quarterback, and yet teams would sooner assume the worst.

Make no mistake: there is no prospect in this year’s draft who is better equipped to turn around a struggling franchise than the 23-year-old Texan, a savior to not one but two college fanbases. The last four years saw him restore the proud football tradition at Jackson State and put Colorado back on the college football map. Sanders did this despite skeptics casting doubt on his ability to make the jump up from competing against small historically Black schools to playing against major college powers in the Pac 12 and Big 12 conferences. Last year he led a 9-4 turnaround at Colorado, the school’s first winning season in seven years, while snapping a four-year drought of postseason bowl appearances.

Although a touch slight at 6ft1in and 212lb, Sanders has nonetheless proven to be durable, missing a grand total of two games in his four years as a starter. All the while Sanders rated among the nation’s most prolific throwers while at Jackson State (which competes in college football’s secondary Football Bowl Subdivision) and at Colorado (which competes in college football’s biggest stage, the Bowl Championship Subdivision). In his senior season Sanders paced the Big 12 in completion percentage (74%), yards (4,134) and touchdowns (37) on the way to being named the conference’s offensive player of the year. What’s more, Sanders has pedigree. He’s a coach’s kid – scouts love coaches’ kids! – and the pros will mark the first time Sanders plays for a head coach who isn’t also his father. That father? None other than NFL hall of famer Deion Sanders: Colorado’s Coach Prime, the feared shutdown cornerback who caught passes and played Major League Baseball on the side.

Shedeur figures to be among the first three quarterbacks picked at next week’s NFL draft behind the University of Miami’s Cam Ward and perhaps even Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart as well. But where Dart (who excelled at two schools) is being hyped as a sleeper pick and Ward (who excelled at three) appears to be the consensus top pick, Sanders keeps sliding down the draft board. Most projections have him down as a bottom-10 pick; many NFL scouts haven’t even given him a first-round grade. An anonymous NFC team executive who spoke to ESPN dismissed Sanders as “a fringe starter” in the mold of Teddy Bridgewater – the former Louisville star who has spent the majority of his decade-long pro career as a backup. Scouts further say that Sanders can be slow to make up his mind under pressure and even slower to react when overwhelmed. (At Jackson State, Sanders was among college football’s most sacked starters.)

Shilo Sanders (21), Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and Shedeur Sanders (2) walk on the field during senior day celebrations prior to the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field in November. Photograph: Andrew Wevers/Getty Images

But more than Sanders holding on to the ball too long, teams really don’t like that Sanders isn’t desperate for a job. He comes from money already; in fact, Coach Prime – who has remained a sought-after pitchman in the decades since his dual playing prime – just signed a $54m extension that puts him in league with college football’s highest-paid coaches. At one point only USC basketball prodigy Bronny James was making more money in name, image and likeness endorsement deals than Shedeur. Famously, Shedeur tootled around campus in exotic cars and celebrated big plays by flashing a diamond-encrusted watch. Teams look at Shedeur and see more than just a chip off the old block; they see something they’re not used to seeing in Black quarterback prospects: a nepo baby on a Rocky Mountain confidence high.

If those teams could set Shedeur’s luxury accessories to the side for a moment, they might appreciate him for what he truly is – maybe the best-nurtured NFL quarterback prospect ever. Consider: top draft picks Peyton and Eli Manning had their father, Archie, for a role model – but he was no better than a solid NFL starter with the New Orleans Saints through the 1970s. John Elway’s father, Jack, was a respected college football coach – but he got hired at Stanford the year after John left school for the 1983 draft. Andrew Luck’s dad, Oliver – a former quarterback for the Houston Oilers – moved to Europe to launch his post-playing career as a football executive. He wasn’t an especially hands-on coach for Andrew, a youth soccer player before he was the top pick in 2012.

Meanwhile, the youngest Sanders son has been at his father’s knee from the beginning, barnstorming the country with Deion’s Texas-based youth football teams. In between working as an NFL Network analyst, Deion took a job as the offensive coordinator at Shedeur’s Dallas-area high school expressly to continue guiding his football career. When Deion left that post to take the head coaching job at Jackson State, Shedeur and his older brother Shilo were his first recruits. (“I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to help level the playing field & pursue equality for HBCU’s!” Shedeur wrote after his commitment was announced. “Dad I got your back!”) The gravitational force of Coach Prime’s personality has given Shedeur access to some of the brightest minds in the game. Tom Brady has been mentoring Shedeur his entire college career, and former NFL coach Pat Shurmur was his offensive coordinator at Colorado.

Shedeur wasn’t just productive on the field. Colorado was in the midst of a 20-year doldrums before Shedeur turned up on the Boulder campus with his whole family. Shedeur turned Travis Hunter, a dual-threat cornerback, into his top receiver; now the Heisman-winner projects as a top three pick in the draft. Teammates praise Shedeur’s leadership and toughness. At Colorado’s pro day showcase for league scouts earlier this month Shedeur took snaps from a young equipment manager named Samantha Burrows – the conspicuous woman among the crowd of football men on the field. (Sanders wanted to make a point of showcasing his rapport with Burrows.) A month earlier Shedeur made headlines at the NFL combine for his 3.9 GPA. Shedeur never caused trouble off campus, never ran into trouble farther afield. In that respect he’s a lot like his father, who never put a foot wrong off the field even as his Dallas Cowboys teammates were setting the NFL standard for bad behavior.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been projected as a first-round pick in next week’s NFL draft. Photograph: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

But the main hang-up scouts seem to have with Shedeur is that he veers from the Black quarterback archetype. Unlike Ward, he doesn’t wow with arm strength and foot speed. He stands in the pocket and delivers a catchable ball time and again. If scouts were honest in their appraisals of Shedeur, they’d be comparing him favorably with Peyton Manning. In two-minute drill situations alone, Shedeur has a career 92.3 passer rating against top-level opponents – the highest-ever mark recorded by Pro Football Focus. He was even more efficient in third-down situations last year, his 64% overall completion percentage jumping to 85% in short-yardage situations.

If NFL scouting was an actual science, Sanders would be the no-brainer, eminently justifiable top pick. Instead, teams trip over one another to find reasons to talk themselves out of taking him off the board early. Last month the excuse was: most of the teams picking in the top-10 had more urgent needs to address. This month, it’s: he’s a terrible interview. To hear Shadeur tell it, teams really don’t like when he channels his father and turns the tables on them either. “When I go visit these coaches and when I go to all these different franchises, I ask them truly what I think and how I feel,” Shedeur recently told NFL Network. “Some get offended, some like it, some don’t. Make some people uncomfortable, some people invite that. They know what type of person and what type of player they’re gonna get out of me, so I just have to make sure, you know, what type of culture or what type of dynamic I’m going to have with them also.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers, rumored to be interested in trading up from the 21st pick, are among a handful of teams who are genuinely bullish on Shedeur – not least because he’d be a better long-term option than 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers or a second tour of Mason Rudolph. The Saints, who pick ninth, have only really started seriously considering Shedeur since incumbent starter Derek Carr was recently reported to have suffered a serious shoulder injury that could stall his availability for the 2025 season. This week the New York Giants, also mired in the Rodgers sweepstakes, worked out Shedeur again in Colorado – but the team is holding its cards close. The farther Shedeur drops, the more you wonder if he isn’t purposefully turning scouts off so he can wind up playing for his mentor Brady in Las Vegas. Or you wonder if the Giants aren’t in for another round of Saquon Barkley-level regret.

Really, any team would be lucky to land Shedeur. He has the skills, the swagger and a family name that he absolutely can’t let down. It’s a shame the scouts are too blinkered by their own hangups to spot a sure thing.

Source link

Colorado

Southern Colorado farmers’ market season is here

Published

2 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Southern Colorado farmers’ market season is here

(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — Spring brings the first fresh produce, which means it will soon be time for farmers’ markets to kick off around the area.

For those in Southern Colorado who want to buy their products from local vendors and growers, check out the list below.

North Colorado Springs

Western Museum of Mining and Industry

225 North Gate Boulevard, near the I-25 exit
Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Runs from May through September

Briargate Farmers Market

7610 North Union Boulevard, near Briargate Boulevard
Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Runs from May 27 through Sept. 30

Cordera

11894 Grandlawn Circle, near Briargate Parkway and North Union Boulevard
Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Runs from May 24 through Sept. 6

Colorado Farm and Art Market

7350 Pine Creek Road, near East Woodmen Road and I-25
Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Runs from June 20 through Oct. 17

Banning Lewis Ranch at Vista Park

8833 Vista Del Pico Boulevard, near Dublin Boulevard and Marksheffel Road
Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Runs from May 28 through Aug. 27

Backyard Market in Black Forest

6845 Shoup Road, near Black Forest Road
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Runs from May 23 through Oct. 17

South Colorado Springs

Colorado Farm and Art Market

132 West Cimarron Street, at the corner of Sierra Madre Street, Downtown
Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Runs from June 17 through Oct. 21

Old Colorado City Farmers Market

Bancroft Park at West Colorado Avenue and South 24th Street in Old Colorado City
Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Runs from June 6 through Oct. 17

Colorado Springs Sunday Market

Acacia Park 115 East Platte Avenue, Downtown
Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Runs from May 10 through Oct. 25

Southeast Farmer’s Market

2050 Jet Wing Drive, near Chelton Road
Sundays from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m.
Runs from June 14 through Oct. 11

Fountain

Fountain Community Market

Metcalfe Park, 618 East Ohio Avenue, near Fountain Mesa Road
Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Runs from May 30 through Sept. 26

Woodland Park

Woodland Park Farmers Market

At Memorial Park, 117 Center Avenue, near East Lake Avenue
Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Runs from June through September

Pueblo

Pueblo Farmers Market

Mineral Palace Park, 1604 North Santa Fe Avenue, at West 15th Street
Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to noon
Runs from May 2 through Oct. 31

Source link

Colorado

Thornton marks 70 years: Exhibit traces Colorado city’s roots from developer’s dream to thriving suburb

Published

15 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Thornton marks 70 years: Exhibit traces Colorado city’s roots from developer’s dream to thriving suburb

Seventy years ago, a housing developer looked at an empty stretch of land north of Denver and saw the future. What Sam Hoffman built there became the city of Thornton — and a free public exhibit is now telling that story for the first time in a generation.

CBS Colorado is excited to shine the spotlight on Thornton, as Colorado marks 150 years as a state.

“The history of Thornton is really the history of suburbia,” said Lance Jones, the historian and curator of the city’s 70th anniversary exhibit. “Thornton was planned. Thornton was intentionally created as a city.”

City of Thornton

Hoffman, Jones explained, recognized an opportunity in the postwar boom. “He realized the Denver Metro area was going to really explode and he wanted in on the ground floor,” Jones said. To sell his 5,000 planned homes, Hoffman turned to an unlikely marketing asset — Hollywood.

Three of his employees happened to be the brothers of Jane Russell, one of the biggest film stars in America at the time. “She was an A-list actress. I mean, she was really top of the game,” Jones said. Hoffman asked the brothers if their sister might make an appearance, and she agreed.

“One day in 1954, his grand opening celebration, she came out. And a lot of people came out to see her — big, big crowd,” Jones said. “Thousands of people showed up to see her, to get a glimpse, to take a picture.” Russell would return to Thornton more than three decades later, appearing at the opening of the Thornton Parkway interchange in 1986.

The homes Russell helped promote were advertised at $9,950, with a down payment for GI’s of $532.30 and a monthly mortgage of $65. Jones noted those were not trivial sums for working families of the era. “That represented a big chunk of the average person’s paycheck. People would have to save up for that,” Jones said.

A Denver Post clipping from Jan. 31, 1954, on display at the exhibit, documents the arrival of the city’s first residents. “This is one of the first families in Thornton moving in,” Jones said. “This was a unique thing. They created the city. It just sprang from nothing.”

By 1956, residents had established enough civic infrastructure to pursue formal incorporation. “There were a lot of civic organizations, a lot of clubs, a lot of veterans organizations — it was a big joiner kind of town,” Jones said. “And, eventually, in 1956, they were able to get incorporated.”

That civic spirit, Jones argued, never left. “The culture here in Thornton kind of developed from that. It’s still a city with a lot of civic involvement, a lot of events, a lot of cohesion.”

Loretta Garcia, the first person born in the City of Thornton in 1956.

City of Thornton

The exhibit highlights several residents whose stories reflect the city’s early character. Among the artifacts is a cheerleading uniform that belonged to Loretta Garcia — the first baby born in Thornton after its incorporation. She and the city share the same milestone birthday. “Thornton is 70, and so is she,” Jones said. Garcia was delivered at home on Rowena Street because the trip to a Denver hospital was considered too far. “The doctor came up here and delivered her at home.”

Another featured resident is Norma Ellman, a Thornton High School teacher, who in 1956 traveled to California to compete on a CBS game show called “High Finance.” She won the equivalent of what Jones estimates would be more than $1 million today. The victory was significant enough that the mayor authorized Ellman to present the show’s host with a key to the city of Thornton.

Jones said the exhibit is designed to connect newer residents with the people who built the community, noting that from its earliest days Thornton had a strong Hispanic presence that continues today alongside a growing diversity of other ethnicities.

“The younger people really do need to hear from the folks who made Thornton, Thornton,” Jones said. “You have to know where we came from to know where we’re going.”

The 70th anniversary exhibit is free and open to the public at the Thornton Arts and Culture Annex. Visit this page for days and hours.

Source link

Colorado

Is Elitch Gardens open? Your guide to Colorado amusement parks

Published

1 day ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Is Elitch Gardens open? Your guide to Colorado amusement parks

Last year, the buzz around Elitch Gardens was that 2025 could have been its last year — or at least the last year at its current site near Ball Arena.

But a June property deal gave sole ownership of the park’s land to Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, the owner of the arena, the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche and other assets. That deal seemed to save Elitch Gardens at its current location for the immediate future, although the specter of a wrecking ball still looms.

Here’s a look at what Colorado’s amusement parks, water parks, fun centers and other activities have to offer in 2026.

Elitch Gardens in Denver

Colorado’s oldest amusement park kicked off its 136^th year April 18 and has new events and activities planned for 2026.

Where: Downtown Denver

When it’s open: It opened for the season on April 18. Hours can vary and the most up-to-date information can be found online at its website.

Can’t miss rides: The park boasts multiple roller coasters, including Twister III, a 4,640-foot wooden coaster featuring a 90-foot drop and a pitch black tunnel. The attraction was listed as temporarily unavailable as of April 20, but other roller coasters include the Mind Eraser, Boomerang and Sidewinder.

Tickets and season passes: A day pass can run as much as $72.99, although discounts can often be found. Season passes start at $84.99, with multiple tiers of perks, with discounts sometimes available. Kids age 2 and younger get in free. Get more season pass information online

More information: elitchgardens.com

Lakeside Amusement Park in Denver

The low-cost alternative to Elitch Gardens is still finalizing plans for the 2026 season, but will be up and running for its 119th year in the same location.

Where: Denver

When it’s open: Lakeside has yet to announce an opening day but typically opens for weekends starting in mid-May before moving to a six-day-a-week schedule (no Tuesdays) from early June through mid-August. It usually closes out the season with weekends-only admission into September. Hours can also vary, so call Lakeside at 303-477-1621 to confirm hours before going.

Can’t miss rides: A smaller park, Lakeside has classic rides such as the Scrambler and the Tilt-A-Whirl. Its roller coasters include the Pinfari and Chipmunk. There’s no update on if its landmark coaster, the Cyclone, will reopen after nearly four years of sitting idle.

Tickets: 2026 pricing has not been announced yet.

More information: www.lakesideamusementpark.com

Glennwood Caverns Adventure Park near Glenwood Springs

The highest amusement park in the land, Glenwood Caverns sits at more than 7,100 feet elevation and offers both rides and chances to explore.

Where: On top of Iron Mountain

When it’s open: It has year-round operations, with all rides slated to open on May 1. The schedule is lighter outside of the summer. Its online schedule shows the park open every day from May 13 through Sept. 7, with hours stretching from 9 am. to 7 p.m. for much of that time before it starts mixing in off-days again.

Can’t miss rides: A gondola ride to the top of Iron Mountain has been a staple of the park dating to its founding, and its alpine coaster back down and cave tours all plays to its unique location. Not all rides are open every day and the harsh weather common on Colorado mountaintops can shut some attractions down, so check the weather and the website before going.

Tickets: Single-day advance tickets start at $32.99 for just gondola rides up Iron Mountain, ranging up to $62.99 for a Fun Day ticket that includes access to two cave tours, alpine coaster and other attractions on the mountaintop. Through April 30, local residents can get free annual gondola passes and a $63 discount on annual thrill passes. Annual passes without the discount are $157 for adults and $147 for children.

More information: www.glenwoodcaverns.com

North Pole – Santa’s Workshop near Colorado Springs

Experience the magic of Santa and the North Pole as early as the spring at this park on Pikes Peak.

Where: Cascade

When it’s open: May 16 marks the return of Santa and the reopening of the shops and rides. The park will be open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. into the fall, according to its website. From Oct. 28 through Dec. 24, it is slated to typically be open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Holiday week schedules can be different and weather could cause the park to close.

Can’t miss rides: The park was built for little kids, with some rides gentle enough to bring an infant on. The Candy Cane Coaster is a right-sized first coaster for preschooler, while the 60-foot high Ferris wheel gives great views of the park.

Tickets: During the summer and fall, admission to the park is free. To ride rides, purchase an all-access wristband at the park for $38 for those ages 3 to 59. Military family members and seniors can receive discounts in the spring and summer. From Oct. 28 through Dec. 24, all visitors age 3 and up entering must pay a yet-to-be-announced admission fee, which includes unlimited rides, and reservations will be required on peak days for individuals. Season passes are available, with some blackout dates.

More information: northpolecolorado.com

Water World near Denver

One of the nation’s top-rated water parks, Water World’s updates in the off-season includes its new Summit Canyon area with new waterslides and a toddler splash area.

Where: Federal Heights

When it’s open: Season starts May 23. Park hours are typically 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., although Summit Canyon will be open to 6 p.m. and special events could alter hours.

Can’t miss rides: The park has more than 50 attractions across 70 acres, including the Mile High Flyer water coaster, the Voyage to the Center of the Earth waterslide and Water World’s lazy river. All were recognized in 2025 in the USA TODAY 10BEST Reader’s Choice Awards in their respective categories.

Tickets: Advance single-day tickets for any day the park is open are $53.99 for people 48 inches and taller and $48.99 for those shorter, with discounts for tickets bought for specific days. A full season Splash Pass starts at $144.99 for people under 48 inches and $154.99 for people 48 inches and taller, with prices going up to add perks like discounts and meal plans. Guests under 40 inches always receive free admission.

More information: waterworldcolorado.com

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park in Cañon City

There is no shortage of ways to experience the beauty of one of Colorado’s most famous landmarks. Some are tame and one gives a unique thrill.

Where: Cañon City

When it’s open: Weather permitting, the park is open year round. The visitor’s center is typically open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and rides typically open at 10 a.m.

Can’t miss rides: The world’s highest suspension bridge is awe-inspiring on its own, and the aerial gondola gives stunning views, but the Royal Rush Skycoaster — which dangles riders 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River — can really get the heart pumping.

Tickets: General admission purchased in advance online is $34.95 for ages 12 and up and $29.95 for kids ages 3 to 11. There are additional fees for the Zipline, Skycoaster or Via Ferrata. A one-year pass is $80 for kids 3 to 11, $90 for ages 12 and up and $260 for a family of four. Discounts on season passes are available for Colorado residents through April 30.

More information: royalgorgebridge.com

Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs

The chain of hotels with their own indoor waterparks has one location in Colorado, offering guests access to waterslides and other entertainment under the same roof as their hotel.

When it’s open: Year-round. Hours vary.

Can’t miss rides: You can spin through the six-story funnel of the Howlin’ Tornado, stand up to the lapping waves of the Slap Tail Pond and race your family in the Mountain Edge Raceway.

Tickets: Rates for day passes and rooms vary greatly, so interested vacationers should look online. Deep discounts are easy to find.

More information: greatwolf.com/colorado-springs

Ski towns

With ski season largely over, many of Colorado’s ski towns are getting ready to start their summer activities. While they do not have full-fledged amusement parks, many of the ski resorts offer mountain coasters, alpine slides and other attractions to keep people entertained in the summer. Check out the options at Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Keystone, Purgatory, Steamboat, Vail and Winter Park long after the snow has melted.